Musician Frank Ifield, who played a significant role in the early success of the Beatles, passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 86 on Saturday, as reported by his friend, journalist and music historian Glenn A. Baker.
Within a span of six years, Ifield released 44 records, achieving popularity in Tasmania, New Zealand, and Australia. After relocating to the UK, he introduced The Beatles to his audience, as they had previously opened for him. In 1965, he had the honor of performing for the late Queen at the Royal Variety Show.
In 1986, Ifield suffered from pneumonia, necessitating surgery to remove a portion of his lung, which unfortunately damaged his vocal cords and curtailed his musical career for several years. Nevertheless, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2005 in recognition of his contributions to the arts.
Ifield is survived by his spouse, Myra, along with their two children.
