Born Richard Carey in Sydney on the 13th
August 1927. Finishing his schooling at Technical College in Sydney, Rick trained as a radio
technician for a period of three years after which he joined the Air Force as a radio technician
for the last two years of the second world war. During his time in the airforce Rick learned to
play guitar. Rick met his future wife In 1959.
Thel was born Thelma Hoctor in Glossodia NSW on the
9th October 1929. and until 12 years of age lived on a vegetable and poultry farm. To allow Thel
to gain a secondary education the family moved to Sydney where she attended Fort Street Girls
High School before moving onto Sydney Teachers College for another four years. Gaining a posting
as an art teacher at a Sydney Suburban School until March 1958 when after financial help and
encouragement from her
brother, Thel purchased a guitar and at 19 taught herself to play by picking away at meledies.
It wasn't long before the young Thel was playing chords and singing along to her own accompaniment.
It was at a club where they were both members, that Rick & Thel met and found they
they found they had something in common and started singing together.
They entered and won the Australian Amateur Hour on the 12 th January 1950. After their win they started
getting work around the Sydney Club scene.
The partnership became permanent on January 5th 1952 and
with no time for relexation after the wedding the Carey's made a number of appearences on the Tim McNamara
& Ted Quigg Shows as well as the Reg Lindsay and Slim Dusty Shows. As well as being
frequent guests on the McKean Sisters 2KY radio show.
Two daughters were born to Rick & Thel, Lynne on the 28th January 1955 and Susan on January 8th 1960.
Lynne's early schooling was done by correspondance during the many touring dates of her parents, at 8 she
started boarding school. Susan had a serious illness as a youngster and passed away at the age of 14 on the
22nd November 1974.
In 1954 Rick & Thel had their first single released on the Regal
Zonaphone label [EMI]. The tracks were I'll Never Be Fooled Again and She Was Happy
Till She Met You.
They stayed with EMI till 1978 a period of 25 years. In December '78 the signed with Hadley Records.
Some of their best selling Regal albums were; Best of Buddies, Mr & Mrs Country Music, It Keeps Me
Movin' On, Anniversary Album, Sliprails And Saddles, Sons Of The Carter Family, & Lovin' And Fightin'
On the Hadley Label On Our Selection, On Tour & Mr & Mrs Country Music these albums were
released on CD.
The act went into retirement when Thel developed cancer during
the early 1980s. After retirement they lived in Denmark, Western Australia, until Thel passed away as a result of
her illness on the 2nd October, 1998.
The fabulous Rick & Thel Carey
2008 has seen the release of a brand new album featuring Rick, Daughter Lynne and friends Titled "Beyond the Dream"
2008 has seen the release of a brand new album featuring Rick, Daughter Lynne and friends Titled "Beyond the Dream"