Cathy Wayne
Cathy Wayne | |
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Cathy Wayne publicity shot
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Background information | |
Birth name | Catherine Anne Warnes |
Born | Arncliffe, New South Wales, Australia |
7 December 1949
Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. Da Nang, Vietnam |
Genres | pop, rock |
Occupation(s) | singer, dancer |
Years active | 1965–1969 |
Associated acts | Col Joye, Sweethearts on Parade |
Cathy Wayne was the stage name of Australian entertainer Catherine Anne Warnes (7 December 1949 – 20 July 1969) who was killed during the Vietnam War by United States Marine Sergeant James Wayne Killen.[1][2][3][4] Wayne had just finished a song for US Marines at a Non-commissioned officer's club near Da Nang in South Vietnam.[2][3] Killen was convicted of the unpremeditated murder of Wayne; at his court-martial it was alleged that he was aiming for his commanding officer, Major Roger E. Simmons.[1][2][3] Wayne had intended to use money earned from her performances in Vietnam to revive her recording career;[1][3] and to marry her fiancé, Clive Cavanagh, who was the drummer for her performance troupe, Sweethearts on Parade.[2] Wayne was the first Australian woman killed during the Vietnam War.[1][2]
Biography
Cathy Wayne was born as Catherine Anne Warnes on 7 December 1949 in Arncliffe, New South Wales, Australia.[2] Wayne was the child of George Warnes and Nancy Starnes, née Buck.[1][2] She went to Athelstane Public School where she began singing and dancing classes.[1] Wayne later attended Arncliffe Girls' High School, and, before the age of 12, had performed in school concerts and local community stage shows.[1] She took up a dancing spot on Sydney television, TCN-9, programme Opportunity Knocks.[1] She also appeared on an Australian TV special, A Night with Leslie, starring US entertainer Leslie Uggams.[2][3] At the age of 16, after winning a talent contest, Wayne was offered a regular role on television variety show, Bandstand, alongside veteran Rock 'N' Roll performers Col Joye and Little Pattie.[1][2][3] Wayne signed with Joye's agency ATA and was managed by his sister Carole Jacobsen.[2][3]
Although under legal drinking age, Wayne performed in licensed clubs around Sydney, she also recorded advertising jingles and uncharted singles.[1][2] Concert tours along the east coast of Australia, headlined by Joye, led to her first tour of South Vietnam at the age of 17, in early 1967.[1][2] This tour was sanctioned by the Australian Forces Advisory Committee on Entertainment.[1] Wayne was presented as a modette version of fellow Bandstand regular Little Pattie.[3] Upon return to Australia, Wayne continued her appearances on Bandstand and touring with Joye.[1]
In mid-1969, Sweethearts on Parade, an Australian pop group / performing troupe, was established by Sydney promoter Les Maisler to tour Vietnam.[2][5] Sweethearts on Parade consisted of Wayne on lead vocals, Clive Cavanagh on drums, Jacqui Edwards as a Go-Go dancer, Rick Hoare on guitar, Jeff Howison as MC / singer / comedian, Jimmy Taylor on organ / bass guitar and Natalia Woloch as a Go–Go dancer.[2][5] Wayne, as lead singer of Sweethearts on Parade, returned to South Vietnam on an unsanctioned tour.[3][4] Wayne's parents and Col Joye attempted to dissuade her from this second tour,[3] but Wayne insisted and intended to use money earned from her performances in Vietnam to restart her recording career.[1][3] Wayne wanted to marry her fiancé, Cavanagh, who was the drummer in Sweethearts on Parade.[2] The group arrived in Vietnam on 26 June 1969, Wayne stayed in Saigon between shows for Australian and US troops.[2]
The tour agent was Ingrid Hart,[1][4] who recalled that "[Wayne] wanted to be there with her boyfriend, they were going to get some money together and get married".[4] On 20 July 1969, Sweethearts on Parade were performing for about 75 US Marines at a Non-commissioned officer's club 7 km (4 mi) south-east of Da Nang in South Vietnam.[2][3] At about 9:15 p.m., Wayne had just finished a song and was still on stage to introduce her fellow performers when she was shot in the chest by a bullet fired by US Marine Sergeant James Wayne Killen.[1][2][3] Wayne died almost instantly as the bullet severed her aorta.[2] In Entertaining Vietnam, a 2003 documentary directed and produced by Mara Wallis,[6] Taylor was interviewed on the events of Wayne's death, footage of a Sweethearts on Parade performance with Wayne singing was shown (see screenshot at left).[6] Taylor recalled that he was sitting about a metre (three feet) behind Wayne and that Cavanagh had stepped forward to cradle his fiancée when she slumped to the floor.[2][5][6]
At his court-martial, Killen was charged with premeditated murder and was alleged to have been aiming for his commanding officer, Major Roger E. Simmons.[1][2] Killen was convicted of the unpremeditated murder of Wayne;[1][2] he was stripped of all service privileges, dishonourably discharged and sentenced to 20 years hard labour.[1][2][3] Killen denied all murder claims but admitted to drinking heavily on the night.[2][3] After the autopsy in Saigon, Wayne's body was returned to Sydney and cremated according to Anglican rites.[1][2]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. NOTE: On-line version has limited access.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.