Laurel Lea

Lorraine May Chapman (3 October 194231 January 1992), professionally known as Laurel Lea, was an Australian popular singer of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Lea appeared regularly on TV series, Bandstand, Six O'Clock Rock and Saturday Date. In 1974 and 1975 she toured throughout Australia with contemporaries Johnny O'Keefe, Johnny Devlin, Lonnie Lee and Barry Stanton. On 31 January 1992 Lea died of leukaemia.

Biography Laurel Lea was born as Lorraine May Chapman. She was raised in Armidale, New South Wales by Con Lianos and was known as Lorraine Lianos. Con and his wife ran a travelling performance troupe and Laurel joined them from the age of 15. Her younger brother Doug (born c. 1946) performed as a drummer, Little Rock Billy in the early 1960s. In 1958 Lea signed with Leedon Records and was promoted by its founder, United States-born Lee Gordon.

At the end of 1960, Lea broke her jaw in a fall and was unable to sing for six months. Lea recorded several singles, but had limited chart success.

In 1974 and 1975, she joined her contemporaries Johnny O'Keefe, Johnny Devlin, Lonnie Lee, Barry Stanton, Jade Hurley and Tony Brady in the Good Old Days of Rock 'n' Roll Tour which travelled throughout Australia. Lea returned to the updated Bandstand ‘76 show now hosted by Daryl Somers for a one off live performance.

She also had a band in the 1980s called Chockarock.

Personal life In 1960 or 1961 she married fellow Bandstand singer Kevin Todd (born ca. 1943), and the couple had a son Mark (born ca. 1962). The pair often performed duets and by December 1963 had signed with CBS Records. By November 1975, Lea had been married and divorced twice, "[she] has finished with two husbands and has a son of 13".

Laurel Lea died of leukemia on 31 January 1992 in Camperdown, New South Wales, aged 49.

Legacy From 12 October 2003, ABC-TV series, Love Is in the Air, was a five-part documentary on Australian pop music with "Episode 2: She's Leaving Home" describing female pop stars and how many travelled overseas to try to further their careers, Lea was described, "ccomplished television regulars like Laurel Lea had the look, the sound and the talent". The program featured two of her tracks, "Alfie" and "Tomorrow".

Discography Singles "I'll Save the Last Dance" (December 1960) "Bermuda" (1962) "Treasure of Your Love" / "What I Don't Know Won't Hurt Me" (CBS BA-221104, 1964) "I Shall Take My Leave" / "You're Closer to Me" (Parlophone A-8807 1969)

TELEVISION YearTitlePerformanceType 1959-1962 Six O'Clock Rock Herself - Singer ABC TV series 1962 Saturday Date Herself - Singer TV series 1962 The Johnny O'Keefe Show Herself - Singer TV series, 1 episode 1963-1968 Bandstand Herself - Singer TV series, 12 episodes 1963 Sing Sing Sing Herself - Singer TV series, 2 episodes 1966 Jimmy Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode 1969 This Day Tonight Herself - Singer sings "Alfie" ABC TV series, 1 episode 1975 The Ernie Sigley Show Herself - Singer TV series, 2 episodes 1975 This Is Your Life Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode "Johnny O'Keefe" 1976 Countdown Herself - Singer ABC TV series, 1 episode 1976 Bandstand '76 Herself - Singer sings "You're No Good" TV series, 1 episode 1978, 1979 The Mike Walsh Show Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode 1978 Reg Lindsay's Country Homestead Herself - Singer sings "Crazy Arms" / "I Still Miss Someone" TV series, 1 episode 1979; 1980 The Mike Walsh Show Guest Performer TV series, 1 episode 1980 Country Music Herself - Guest ABC TV series, 1 episode 1980, 1981 The Mike Walsh Show Guest with Warren Williams, Bryan Davies, Little Pattie, Lucky Starr. TV series, 1 episode 1981 Australian Music Stars Of The 60s Herself - Archive clip TV special 1981 Channel Nine Celebrates: 25 Years Of Television Herself - Archival 'Bandstand' clip with Brian Henderson TV special 1981; 1983 The Mike Walsh Show Guest Performer TV series, 1 episode 1983; 1984 The Mike Walsh Show Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode 1984 The Mike Walsh Show Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode 1995 Australian Women In Rock And Pop Music Herself - Archive clips TV Documentary 2001 Long Way to the Top Herself - Archive clip ABC TV series, 1 episode 2003 Love Is in the Air Herself - Archive clip 'This Day Tonight' ABC TV series, 1 episode 2: "She's Leaving Home"