In this episode of Vinyl Vibes, Jack is joined by Dodie Stevens, '50s music star and singer of Pink Shoe Laces. Dodie has been singing her whole life. She recorded for the first time at age 8 in 1954 with a song called "Merry-Go Merry-Go Round". After making many appearances on TV throughout her young life, her big break came in 1958 when she performed on the TV show Strictly Informal. It was on this show she was discovered by Crystalette Records president, Carl Burns. He contacted Dodie's parents through the TV station and said he was interested in recording her. All he needed was the right song that the then 11 year old Dodie could sing. After some time, Carl Burns called and said he found the perfect song for Dodie. It was called Pink Shoe Laces. She would record the song in late 1958 hitting the charts early in 1959. The song would peak at number 3 in the US and and number 2 in Australia. With her third single Five Pennies, now signed to Dot Records, Dodie's music direction changed to covering standards of the '40s. A music change she now says was detrimental.

In 1963 Dodie would leave the music scene to get married and have a baby. She returned to music three years later in 1966. She would go on to have an extensive career as a backing singer working with the likes of Sérgio Mendes and Brasil '77, Loretta Lynn and Boz Scaggs. Today Dodie is still performing, now alongside her daughter Stephanie. Her most recent music output was her 2019 album Affirmasong: The Game Of Life, an album of motivational songs.

Jack phoned Dodie to talk about her early musical beginnings, the impact Judy Garland had on her, her first recording at age 8 in 1954, her TV performances in the mid '50s, how she came to be discovered by Carl Burns, the recording and success of Pink Shoe Laces, the follow-up single Yes-Sir-Ee, how fame impacted her, her 1959 tour of Australia with The Champs, Her music work into the early '60s, her work as a backing singer, her live music work today with her daughter Stephanie, and her recent album Affirmasong. 

"Because I had been trained since I was so young, I had a very mature voice and the songs that I gravitated towards were songs like Judy Garland and they had meaningful messages...so when I heard Pink Shoe Laces...lyrically it was beyond novelty, it was ridiculous...no I didn't like the song...but I'm very proud of it...to this day I am very proud of it." - Dodie Stevens on this episode of Vinyl Vibes talking about singing Pink Shoe Laces

Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins

To hear the full on-demand version of this program, go to https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes

The website for Vinyl Vibes. 

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