Thelma Ready
Thelma Ready | |
|---|---|
 Thelma Ready c. 1926 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 23 September 1903 Tasmania, Australia |
| Died | 28 July 2004 (aged 100) |
| Instrument(s) | Banjo |
Thelma Constance Ready (1903-2004) was an Australian banjo musician, based in Melbourne.[1]
Career[edit]
Thelma Ready was born in Tasmania 23 September 1903,[2] and begun playing banjo when her father visited America and bought the instrument for her as a gift.[3] After taking lessons, she began finding work as a soloist and as leader of her own orchestra.[4]
She led what is considered "Australia's first all-girl dance band", The Thelma Ready Orchestra in Melbourne during the 1920s.[5] The band were formed in 1928,[6] and featured Ready (banjo), Kath McCall (piano), Lena Sturrock (violin), Alice Organ/Dolphin (saxophone, clarinet, cornet), and Lillian Stender (vocals, drums). They had residencies at the Mayfair Cafe in St Kilda, and hotels such as Menzies, Oriental, and Hotel Australia, as well as regular appearances on radio.[5][7]
She also performed with The Kentucky Three,[8] Thelma Ready's Melody Maids,[9] and Thelma Ready's Mayfair Maids.[10]
Personal life[edit]
Thelma Ready was the second daughter of Australian senator Rudolph Keith Ready and his wife Pia.[11] She had four siblings.[12]
In September 1933, Thelma Ready was engaged to Eric Alexander Badenach.[11] They were married at the Holy Trinity Church, Kew in March 1935.[13] On 31 October 1941, their daughter Gael was born.[14]
Thelma died 28 Jul 2004 and is buried at Springvale Botanical Cemetery.[2]
Gallery[edit]
-
Thelma Ready's Orchestra performing at Hotel Australia c1928. Musicians include: Alice Organ/Dolphin, Kath McCall, Thelma Ready, Lena Sturrock, and Lilian Stender. -
Thelma Ready's Orchestra on stage at the Grill Room, Hotel Australia c1929. Musicians include: Lilian Stender, Kath McCall, Thelma Ready, Alice Organ/Dolphin, and Lena Sturrock.
References[edit]
- ^ Currency companion to music and dance in Australia. Aline Scott-Maxwell, John Whiteoak, Currency House. Sydney: Currency House Inc. 2003. ISBN 978-0-9581213-1-6. OCLC 53110405.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ a b "Thelma Constance Badenach". Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
- ^ "3LO's Shortwave Service - Wireless Weekly, Vol. 12 No. 1". Trove. 27 April 1928. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ "Programme Personalities - Thelma Ready Back Again" (PDF). Wireless Weekly. 13 (3): 8. 11 January 1929.
- ^ a b Horne, Craig (2019). Roots : How Melbourne Became the Live Musical Capital of the World. Melbourne Books. ISBN 978-1-925556-93-3. OCLC 1127944344.
- ^ "No title". Table Talk. 16 February 1928. p. 56. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ "Thelma Ready" (PDF). Wireless Weekly. 13 (19): 12. 3 May 1929.
- ^ "The Kentucky Three - Wireless Weekly Vol. 9 No. 19". Trove. 4 March 1927. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ "Wireless Weekly - Vol. 15 No. 8". Trove. 14 February 1930. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ "Everyone Vol.9 No.434 page 44". Trove. 27 June 1928. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ a b "No title". Weekly Times. 30 September 1933. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ "READY, Rudolph Keith (1878–1958)Senator for Tasmania, 1910–17 (Labor Party) | The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate". Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ "Family Notices". Table Talk. 21 March 1935. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ "Family Notices". Herald. 22 October 1941. Retrieved 18 April 2023.