Digby ‘Dig’ Richards

Australian singer Digby George Richards was born the son of a policeman in Dunedoo in New South Wales on 12 September 1941.

Digby (or ‘Dig’ as he was better known) began his singing career at Narooma primary school, continuing through his terms at Moruya High School before moving to Sydney in the late 50s.

Forming a band (The R’Jays) with some lads he met in a music shop, Dig organised and promoted dances at community halls around Sydney, debuting at the Castlecrag Community Centre.

In late 1959 the band recorded their first single, I Wanna Love You. They returned to the studio in 1961 to record the very first Australian-produced modern day LP.

Dig and The R’Jays worked the Australian dance circuit for a further 18 months – appearing on the TV music show Bandstand –  before disbanding in late 1962.

Dig began working as a solo singer, forging a successful career for eight years in clubs and making many tours of the Philippines, Hong Kong and Bangkok.

He returned to the Australian charts in 1971 with the self-penned A Little Piece of Peace.

Dig was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in April 1982 and passed away in February 1983, aged just 42.

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