Gary Rhett Shearston, born on 9 January 1939 in Inverell, New South Wales, Australia, was an Australian singer-songwriter. He began his career as a puppeteer with the Tintookies and later worked as an actor before transitioning to music. In 1962, Gary Rhett Shearston signed with Leedon Records for his debut single "The Ballad of Thunderbolt" (May 1963) and a three-track EP Australian Folk Songs. By February 1963 he appeared on TV shows such as Bandstand. Later, in April 1964, Gary Shearston released his debut album Folk Songs & Ballads of Australia under CBS Records. He co-wrote "We Want Freedom" with Oodgeroo Noonuccal in 1964 to advocate for constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians and their charter of rights. In 1965, Gary Shearston's single "Sydney Town", co-written with Frank Hardy from his second album Australian Broadside, reached number 10 in Sydney and number 40 nationally. In 1972, he re-recorded tracks for an album Dingo after moving to England. His deadpan interpretation of Cole Porter's "I Get a Kick out of You" (1974) reached number 19 on the Kent Music Report and number 7 on the UK Singles Chart. In 1989, Gary Rhett Shearston returned to Australia and became an Anglican priest, serving in rural New South Wales from 1991 until his death. On 1 July 2013, he passed away at Armidale Hospital following a stroke at his home near Tenterfield.
