George Assang

George Assang
Also known as Vic Sabrino
Born 1927
Thursday Island, Queensland, Australia
Died 1997 (aged 69-70)
Nowra, New South Wales, Australia
Genres jazz, blues
Occupation(s) Singer, Actor
Instruments Vocals
Associated acts Red Perksey & His Orchestra, Graeme Bell and his Skiffle band

George Assang (19271997) was a singer and actor from Thursday Island, Queensland, Australia. He performed under his own name and the stage name Vic Sabrino. Assang was of Aboriginal, Pacific Islander, and Asian descent.[1]

As Vic Sabrino he may have made the first Australian Rock'n'Roll recording. A single he recorded with Red Perksey and his orchestra included a version of the Rock Around The Clock. This single may have been recorded in 1955, before Johnny O'Keefe's Wild One in 1957.[2]

As an actor Assang had a major part in the TV series Barrier Reef[3] (1971–1972), appeared in episodes of Skippy and Hunter (1968), Spyforce (1971), Boney (1972 and Number 96 (1974). He also acted in several films, the 1969 film The Intruders, the 1973 film And Millions Will Die, and was one of the voices in the animated movie Dot and the Kangaroo (1977).[4] Under the Vic Sabrino name he had a short-lived television series in 1958 called Vic Sabrino Sings.

Discography

George Assang

with Trevor Jones' Orchestra

George and Ken Assang

Vic Sabrino

with Red Perksey & His Orchestra and Sheila Sewell

with Red Perksey & His Orchestra

with Dave Owens and his Blue Boys with The Blue Notes

with Gus Merzi's Orchestra and with Harry Willis Orchestra; and The Belltones & Iris Mason Singers

with Graeme Bell and his Skiffle band

References

  1. Walker, Clinton (2000). "Last of the Red Hot Mammas". Buried Country: The Story of Aboriginal Country Music. Pluto Press. pp. 62–63. ISBN 1-86403-152-2.
  2. The Age 4 June 2005 Discovered: rock'n'roll's scratchy start
  3. Great Australian Television: Barrier Reef, http://www.classicaustraliantv.com/BarrierReef1.htm
  4. IMDb: George Assang, http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039768/, accessed 22 August 2012
  5. Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book (19401969). Turramurra, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.

External links

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