Molly Byron
Molly Byron | |
|---|---|
 Molly Byron 1948 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Carolina Carrie, Nina |
| Born | Mary Alice Byron 1911 Fitzroy North, Victoria |
| Died | 1975 (aged 63–64) |
Mary Alice "Molly" Byron (sometimes written Mollie Byron) (1911-1975) was an Australian singer, musician, and male impersonator.
Career
Mary Byron was born in Fitzroy North, Victoria in 1911.[1] As a teenager, she began performing at the Tivoli Theatre, Melbourne as a male impersonator under her performer name Molly Byron.[2][3] Then, at nineteen, she began broadcasting under the name Nina with Al Hammett's ABC Dance Band.[3]
In the 1930s, she toured Australia as Molly Byron.[2][4] She continued her act as a male impersonator during this time,[5][4] and performed scat singing and blues.[6][3][2]
During World War II, Byron led a 12-man jazz band who performed for American troops stationed around Victoria.[7][8]
In 1945, Byron was making appearances on ABC Radio programs such as the Victory Show and Happy-Go-Lucky.[3] Later, she led the Nine Off Beats, Australia's first "all-girl jazz band" in 1947.[7] She sang and played bass, drums, and first trumpet.[8] She also performed with a group known as her Slick Chicks.[9] In 1946, Larry Crosby, Bing Crosby's brother, had offered Byron a contract in America, however she had turned it down.[8]
Byron also performed on Melbourne radio station 3DB under the alias Carolina Carrie.[10] Across her career she sang with Jim Davidson’s and Ern Pettifer’s orchestras, and Graeme Bell.[11]
Her brother James Norman Byron was an entertainer and composer. He had played for the Fitzroy Football Club and composed their Premiership Song for their win in 1944.[12] Molly Byron and her brother composed the song When they find a Possie for the boys from Aussie to entertain troops during World War II.
Although she was said to have made recordings during World War II, these were taken back to America,[7] and none are known to exist now.[2]
Molly Byron died in 1975 in Belgrave, Victoria.[13][14]
References
- ↑ Birth Registration: "Victoria Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages" Victoria Births Index; Registration number: 19814 / 1911 BDM Victoria (accessed 8 May 2026) Mary Alice BYRON; Year: 1911; Place: FITZROY NORTH, VIC, Australia; Father: Jas Norman Lyon; Mother: Margt Josine; Mother's LNAB: COLEMAN.
- 1 2 3 4 "Paul Marks: the roots of Australian blues". ABC Radio National. 2014-12-14. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
- 1 2 3 4 ""STARS OF THE AIR." SCAT SINGER, MOLLY BYRON". Kilmore Free Press. No. 4086. Victoria, Australia. 10 May 1945. p. 6. Retrieved 8 May 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
- 1 2 "Dancin' Time". Table Talk. 12 Jan 1933. p. 28.
- ↑ "The Serenaders". The Merredin Mercury. 25 June 1936. p. 5.
- ↑ "Crooner Wants To Blow Own Trumpet". ABC Weekly. 7 (18): 42. 5 May 1945 – via Trove.
- 1 2 3 "Girls Only". Morning Tribune. 4 November 1947. p. 2.
- 1 2 3 Gough, Lucy (8 Oct 1947). "Nine Girls - Eight To A Bar". The Sun News-Pictorial. p. 1.
- ↑ "Amusements". The Age. 6 Feb 1948. p. 7.
- ↑ "ROSANNA GOLFERS TOP LIST FOR FAGS". The Sporting Globe. 6 July 1940. p. 6.
- ↑ Blum, Kaya (2017-08-25). "New digital project puts St Kilda's jazz heritage on the map". AustralianJazz.net. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
- ↑ BYRON, PETER ARTHUR (15 May 2001). "First families 2001". First Families 2001. Archived from the original on 17 Feb 2005. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
- ↑ "789/213 Mary Alice Byron: Will; Grant of probate". Public Record Office Victoria Collection | PROV. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
- ↑ Death: "Victoria Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages" Victoria Deaths Index; Registration number: 9065 / 1975 BDM Victoria (accessed 8 May 2026) Mary Alice BYRON ; Age: 16; Year: 1975; Place: Belgrave, Australia; Father: Jas Norman Lyon; Mother: Margt Josine; Mother's LNAB: COLEMAN.
