The Beatles to Bee Gees - Leon’s Story Part 3

The Beatles to Bee Gees - Leon's Story Part 3


Long before social media, The Rajahs fame blew up literally
overnight. If there was a Twitter in the 1960's #THERAJAHS would
have been sure to be trending in the 'twitter-verse'. The
Rajahs had already achieved plenty of success as Dig Richards and
the R'Jays, however, when Dig went solo, they changed their
name from to The Rajahs and it was the start of an amazing
musical journey.


Via a 'throw-away' recording session, The Rajahs became known as
the "Australian Beatles" and "filled in" for the Fab Four, giving
Aussie teenagers their fix of Beatlemania before the real thing
arrived on our shores.


As the resident recording band with the famed Festival Records,
The Rajahs have probably appeared on more singles and albums than
just about any other Australian band, such was their recording
output. They also had the prestigious job as Johnny O'Keefes
backing band for several years. The Rajahs were the first
Australian band to headed to the Vietnam War and perform for the
troops. For New Years Eve in 1966, The Rajahs even replaced Bob
Hope to perform for 5000 troops aboard the American battleship,
the US Kittyhawk.


I speak with The Rajahs drummer Leon Isackson about his 60 year
career in the world of Rock 'n' Roll.