Lonnie Lee - Defenceless (1960)

(Otis Blackwell)
 Australia
#17 Sydney #18 Melbourne #37 Brisbane

Single on Lee Gordon, chorus and orchestra directed by Johnny O’Keefe who is credited as Eddie Cash Jr.

Nat Kipner’s original composition on the B-side, I Found A True Love, was a bigger hit that charted in all Australian state capitals. It did well in the cities where both sides charted: Sydney (#2), Melbourne (#2), and Brisbane (#3).¹

Rock’n’roll star Lonnie Lee was from western New South Wales, born David Lawrence Rix (1940). He had his first hit in 1959, Ain’t It So, written with Johnny O’Keefe. Sometimes credited with his band The Leemen, he followed up with a number of national hits. In Sydney, for example, he charted eight times from 1959 to 1962. Like many early Aussie rockers, he moved on to a career in country music.

Footnote
1. Chart data is from Gavin Ryan’s chart books for the five larger state capitals. A 45cat user has posted chart placings for Hobart at #1 (Defenseless) and #2 (I Found A True Love) but does not give a source.

Further reading: 1. Biographical details from LonnieLee.com [archived page 2021]. 2. Lonnie Lee page from Howlspace [archived].