In their young days, Bill, Ross and Max Kettle were simply typical Australian country boys. They were born and raised in the small town of Lilydale, Tasmania. Their singing career began at church socials and school functions and it was their local minister who "christened" them. One night in his introduction he said "...You have all heard whistling kettles, but now here are the Singing Kettles" – and the name stuck! The Singing Kettles became one of the most well loved country and western singing groups that Australia has known.
In their first few years after leaving school, the Kettles worked as timber cutters on Tasmania's north east coast. Every day, their guitars would go with them, and during their lunch break the sounds of country harmonies would soar through the Tasmanian bushland.
Their first recording was released in 1961. Bill and Ross were working as a duo at that time, because Max was only about 11 years old. That first record was Judy and it was not only the first commercial recording by the Singing Kettles, it was also the first release for the then brand new Hadley record label, which was then based in Launceston, Tasmania. A string of singles, extended play and album releases followed.
In 1969, the Singing Kettles, then a trio, made their next big step. They planted their feet permanently on mainland soil in that year, basing themselves initially in Tamworth and then moving to Sydney to enter the hurley burley of the club scene.
On January 22, 1971, tragedy struck the trio with the sudden death after a show in Sydney of young Max from a massive asthma attack; the affliction had plagued him since birth. Max had celebrated his 21st birthday only a fortnight before. To a lesser act, this would have meant the end of the road, but knowing their brother's wishes, Bill and Ross continued and made the drastic changes necessary to turn their act into the professional duo that toured Australia for the next 17 years.
Among their honours, prior to their elevation to the Roll of Renown, was their induction into the Hands of Fame in Tamworth in 1978. The end of the Singing Kettles came in 1988. The act broke up, Ross becoming a solo singer, and Bill and fiance, Kathy Thomson, working as a duo.
Ross battled cancer for a long time and succumbed to the disease on September 12, 2007.
Photo: An early publicity shot of The Singing Kettles – Ross (left), Max (centre) and Bill.
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