Lionel Long

Lionel Long was born in Burwood, Sydney however he spent his early years growing up in Bondi. Learning to play the guitar while studying at the Hawkesbury Agricultural College, where he studied commercial art, he went on to become one of Australia's most well known and successful country & western/folk singers of the 1960's whose singing career continued well into the 1980's. In 1962, Lionel took over as host of the Johnny O'Keefe Show for one year. The show was renamed Sing Sing Sing. In 1963 Lionel married Carole Newgrosh whom he met at a charity function in 1962. Lionel is also known for his acting roles during the 60's & 70's. Notably as Senior Detective Bert Costello in the long running TV series, Homicide. During the 1980s, Lionel taught acting classes to children in Bankstown. Lionel passed away on 1 January 1998 in the Sacred Heart Hospital at Darlinghurst, Sydney.