10/12/2024
The Dusty family are saddened to share that on 25th November Heather McKean passed away peacefully with family by her side. Heather was one of the great pioneers in Australian country music; a precious mother, aunt, grandmother, and of course sister to Joy McKean. Heather will be greatly missed, but her legacy and memory will live on.
The Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) wrote a beautiful piece on Heather that we share with you below.
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Vale: Heather McKean
B: 20 February 1932 – D: 25 November 2024
The board of the Country Music Association of Australia is saddened to advise of the passing of Australian country music pioneer, Heather McKean on 25 November surrounded by her family.
Most will know Heather as the younger sister of Joy McKean, and their rise to fame in the 1940s through to the 1950s as the McKean Sisters, including hosting their own radio programme, Melody Trail for 7 years, publishing country music magazine ‘Spurs’ and recording their own songs.
Heather went on to record numerous singles and albums as a solo artist, marrying Reg Lindsay in 1954 and later raising three daughters (Dianne, Sandra and Joanne), all whilst touring with Reg, managing his burgeoning career, tour management, and even co-producing Reg’s popular television shows ‘Country & Western Hour’ and ‘Country Homestead’, the latter earning several Logie awards. In 1973 she was invited to represent Australia in the International Fan Fair Show in Nashville, which was considered quite an honour!
Heather won a Golden Guitar in 1976 for Female Vocalist of the year, and in 1977 moved to the US with Reg where she worked with the Country Music Association in Nashville for three years and represented Australia in the International Country Show. Heather was the very first Australian female performer on the Grand Ole Opry, and went on to perform on that revered stage over 20 times, leading the way and opening doors for all female Australian artists who were to come. She was known to be a dedicated an passionate advocate for all Australian artists during her time in the US.
Returning home, Heather began touring once again with Slim, the McKean Sisters back in the saddle once again, performing together at every opportunity over the following years. She also managed the massive Slim Dusty Fan Club for many years, and was President of Country Music Australia, one of country music’s early industry groups.
The recipient of numerous awards and accolades, Heather was inducted into the Hands of Fame in 1977, had her wax likeness (along with Joy as the McKean Sisters) added to the Galaxy of Stars Wax Museum in Tamworth in the 1980s. Heather and Joy were inducted into the Roll of Renown in Tamworth in 1983, added to the Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2002, in 2010 Heather was presented with the Tex Morton Award for services to the country music Industry, and was even recognised by the Lane Cove Municipal Council for her lifetime contribution to the entertainment industry.
In 2013, Heather was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her services to country music and the entertainment industry. Country music identity Alan Clement fondly commented on the occasion of the news of Heather’s OAM “she’s little, but she’s loud … and we all took notice”.
Heather was known to be a strong, intelligent, resilient, and funny woman, and a loyal and caring friend. The Australian country music industry is very much the richer for her contribution.
The CMAA would like to offer it’s sincere and heartfelt condolences to Dianne, Sandra and Joanne and their families, and to David and Anne and their families on the loss of their much-loved Mum and Aunty.