HOLLYWOOD—Last weekend, I spoke with the iconic legendary singer Diana Trask from her beautiful home in Georgia, where the international icon continues to create and sing amazing melodies, just as she did decades ago. She was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1940. Her parents Lew and Thelma Trask owned a furniture business in Melbourne, and she received her education at Lilydale Covenant and Presentation Convent in Windsor, Australia. At the early age of 17, Diana won Swallow’s Parade television talent quest. That milestone led to a job miming popular songs of the day on a series titled “The Astor Show.” By 1958, the beautiful singer was performing her own hit ballads on the local television variety show hosted by Graham Kennedy.
Diana recently released a compilation album, and it’s the best work she’s done yet. We all know by now, that’s saying a lot. New Jersey reader John O’Dowd tells Canyon News, “Tommy, my mom absolutely loved Ms. Trask’s singing. She bought all of her albums and listened to her on the radio for years.” Diana made her first recording on the W&G label “Comes Love” with Tommy Davidson and his Orchestra. In 195, American promoter Lee Gordon signed her as the support singer for the Stan Freberg tour of New Zealand, which also featured the Australian Jazz Quartet and Frank Ifield. Lee was impressed and immediately signed Diana to tour Australia with the Frank Sinatra show. Diana was rehearsing "My Funny Valentine" when Frank Sinatra and his manager came into the room.
After hearing Diana Trask perform, Frank Sinatra was very impressed with the young singer and suggested that she should try her luck in the U.S. In what we know is typical behavior for the blue-eyed singing sensation, he began speaking to people in the industry on Trask’s behalf. Then, after an appearance on Don McNeil’s “Breakfast Club,” Diana was noticed by Mitch Miller and this led to a recording contract with CBS. Diana released several albums and singles on the CBS label.
In 1961, Diana landed a regular singing spot on the national television series “Sing Along With Mitch” and was signed to a three-year contract by NBC television. Soon after, the stunning beauty became a household name in the U.S. and was a big attraction when she performed in Las Vegas. Diana worked with the big names in show business and formed friendships with performers such as George Burns, Danny Thomas and Jack Benny. She tested for a role in the 20th Century Fox film “State Fair” opposite Pat Boone as part of her 20th Century Fox starlet contract. She not only worked with Boone, but also in concerts with the legendary Sammy Davis, Jr. Then while on a plane with singer Johnny Mathis, he introduced her to Thom Ewen, who later became her husband.
After she started a family, the lovely Diana Trask returned to her homeland of Australia, where she appeared on “The Diana Trask Show.” By the late 1960s, Diana made the change from singing ballads to concentrate solely on country music songs with great success. She even did what all country music singers do and relocated to Nashville, where she signed with the DOT label. She had many successful hits after this, which include “Lock Stock and Teardrops,” “Hold on to what You Got,” “Lean it all on Me” and the popular “You’ve got What it Takes.” All total, Diana Trask recorded 16 singles for the DOT label, which made it into the Billboard Country Charts, including nine songs which made the Top 40 Hits. While performing, she also appeared on friend Johnny Cash’s TV show. In 1970, the gorgeous blonde singer from Down Under received a Grammy nomination for her version of “I Fall To Pieces.” Millions of American music fans fell to pieces when she did not win. Everyone knows she deserved to.
In 1973, she made the Top 20 List twice with “Say When” and “It’s a Man’s World.” Diana played venues all over the U.S. including the famed Grand Ole Opry House where she was introduced by Roy Acuff. Diana played Las Vegas for many years, with standing room only, appearing with Roy Clark, who grew up not far from where I did. She’s toured with Glen Campbell and even the legendary Hank Williams, Jr. She appeared on many prominent American national talk shows including “The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson and with Merv Griffin, to name only a few.
By the early 1980s, Diana recorded several more albums in Australia on the Hammard Label. This revival of her career was welcomed by her homeland. She lost the love of her life Thom Ewen a few years ago, however, she is now a devoted grandmother and even received a degree in natural medicine, graduating with honors as a master herbalist. She still maintains strong friendship bonds with fellow Aussie icons Olivia Newton John and Helen Reddy, who like me, refer to Diana as one of the most beautiful women in world history, both inner beauty and outward beauty. She is also the most talented female singer in Australian and American history. Diana’s cousin Kevin Trask, who hosts “High Noon” every weekend on Melbourne’s 96.5 Inner FM, cannot say enough great things about his relative. “Tommy, Diana is a true beauty, a truly special person and she got most of the beauty and talent in our family. She is one of a kind,” said Kevin Trask. I cannot agree more.
Diana’s story is chronicled in her biography titled “Whatever Happened to Diana Trask.” The book is available on Amazon.com. Her latest CDs are “Country Lovin” and “Diana Trask-Duets,” which are available on Amazon.com and on iTunes.
For an updated schedule of her upcoming appearances and other news, go to DianaTrask.com.
