Dinah was one of four 1960s stars who performed in the show ‘The Good Old Days of Rock ‘n’ Roll’ at the Palms at Crown on Sunday Oct 8, 2023. Alongside her were Little Pattie. Jade Hurley & Lucky Starr. It’s been 21 years since I last saw her perform on the ‘Long Way to the Top’ road show in 2002, arranged after the success of the TV show of the same name.

Backed by four musicians, the stars delivered a hugely professional show. I knew Dinah had recently turned 80 so I was curious to investigate the ages of the others. Jade is also 80. Little Pattie 74 & Lucky a mere 82. They sang together at various stages then each of them did 15 minutes in the first half & again in the second half.

From left: Little Pattie, Jade Hurley (seated at the piano), Dinah Lee, Lucky Starr.

It was great that Dinah delivered the hits I most know her for: ‘Don’t You Know Yokomo’, ‘Do the Bluebeat’ & ‘Reet Petite’. ‘Yokomo’ & ‘Reet Petite’ both charted in Australia in 1964, not long after she made her first trip across the Tasman. By the end of 1965 she had moved to Sydney.

In her second set she gave us a mighty version of ‘In the Midnight Hour’ – her voice doing justice to every note. Changing the tone she paid tribute to her long-time friend Max Merritt, who like her came from Christchurch, and delivered a moving version of his ‘Slipping Away’.

Of the others, Lucky Starr was a standout, his easy rapport with the crowd, his humour (along with some Dad-jokes) warming him to those who have never seen him perform before.