1930s – 1940s

About 1934, Morton recorded some "hillbilly songs" privately in Wellington, though they were not commercially issued.^[3][2] Soon after, he emigrated to Australia, apparently intent on a recording career.^[2] On 25 February 1936, Morton recorded four songs for the Columbia Graphophone Company in Sydney, Australia,^[4] and between 1936 and 1943, recorded 93 songs, accompanying himself on an acoustic guitar for most tracks, for Columbia's Regal Zonophone label. On some later tracks, he was accompanied by his band, The Rough Riders, and a female singer 'Sister Dorrie' (Dorothy Carroll). In 1943, he left Columbia following a dispute with Arch Kerr, the Record Sales Manager. He was billed as 'The Yodelling Boundary Rider' on records, though he apparently did not approve of the name.^[4]

During the 1930s and 1940s, Morton gradually incorporated Australian themes and motifs into some of the songs he wrote.^[2] This approach was followed by other Australian country artists who followed in his footsteps, such as Buddy Williams and Slim Dusty, leading to a particular genre of country music - the Australian bush ballad, which was also influenced by the turn-of-the-century poetry of Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson.^[5]

1950s – 1980s

From 1950 to 1959, Morton was based in North America. He toured with Pee Wee King in 1952 and recorded in Nashville in March 1953. Morton toured Canada and the United States as a stage hypnotist, memory expert, whip cracker and sharpshooter,^[2] and was associated for some time with the Canadian country singer, Dixie Bill Hilton.^[6]

He returned to Australia in 1959 with a Grand Ole Opry show, featuring Roy Acuff, the Wilburn Brothers and June Webb, but the show was not popular with Australian audiences and the tour had to be called off.^[6]

Morton continued to record during the 1960s and 1970s, and had a surprise hit with "Goondiwindi Grey" on the Australian Singles Charts, reaching No. 5 in June 1973.^[7] During this period, Morton showed an increasing interest in acting,^[2] hosting the Country Touch TV series in New Zealand,^[8] and in the 1980s appeared in Australian films Stir (1980), We of the Never Never (1982) and Goodbye Paradise (1983).^[1]

Morton was the first inductee into Australian Roll of Renown in 1976,^[9] recognising his pivotal role in the development of country music in Australia and New Zealand.^[10] He was inducted into the Country Music Awards of Australia Hands of Fame in 1977.^[9]

Country Music Awards of Australia

The Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA) (also known as the Golden Guitar Awards) is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. They have been held annually since 1973.