Frankly, he’s more than a horse whisperer

I had the pleasure of having a chat with Aussie actor and singer Tom Burlinson recently. Tom is on an Australian wide tour with his show ‘Now We’re Swinging’.

Tom is well known for his depiction vocally of Frank Sinatra and has toured internationally as well as providing the voice of Frank for a US mini series but ‘Now We’re Swinging’ encompasses a much larger range of personalities including Nat King Cole, Dean Martin and Bobby Darren.

Tom says that with the help of a new cool generation of Michael Buble, and even Robbie Williams, the great songs of Gershwin, and Cole porter are back in vogue. not that they were ever out of vogue. but now instead of just appealing to the generation that grew up with them and the music experts it is younger people that are taking their parents along to shows like Toms.

It was serendipity that started Tom on the successful career in music he now enjoys. When the acting roles were less Tom decided he would diversify and develop his musical talents. From a young age Tom was a Frank Sinatra aficionado asking his mum to play him the man in the hat.

Blessed with a voice that bears an uncanny similarity to Frank Sinatra, Tom’s background on living in several different countries has given him the useful tool of mastering dialects and accents.

Tom was born in Canada to English parents, he lived in New Jersey for a while and England before moving to Australia as a young anglophile. From those formative years of 10 onwards he made his home in Australia and it is Australia he calls home, and has lived in for most of the time, apart from a brief stint in Los Angeles in 1990. Indeed his big break in acting came when he secured the iconic Australian role of Banjo Patterson’s ‘Man from Snowy River. Acting wise this role holds a special place in Tom’s heart.

Not one to do anything half heartedly Tom learned to ride to authenticate the role. With this role and another centring on horses, including ‘Flesh and blood’ and ‘Man from Snowy River II’ and in the movie of ‘Phar Lap’ where he played Tommy Woodcock, Tom discovered another talent, an ability to put horses at their ease. He would spend time with them prior to the camera action and he found a great affinity with horses. Things have come full circle with Tom’s latest role of playing an Irish trainer in the movie ‘The Cup’, set for release in October. and it will be the re teaming of Tom with Simon Wincer who directed him on ‘Man from Snowy River‘. The film tells the story of the triumphant cup win of jockey Damien Oliver after the tragic loss of his brother prior to the race. In this role Tom gets another opportunity to test two of his greatest talents the ability to conquer an accent in this case the Irish one and also to resume his special bond with horses.

Tom has had a very diverse career including a sting as one of the original judges on Australia’s Got Talent Designated the nice one, Tom found being a judge a slightly uncomfortable business having to deal out criticism to aspiring stars, as he said he didn’t want to tread on their dreams. He is particularly proud of the program’s role in the discovery of talent Joe Robinson and Mark Vincent during his time on the show.

When asked what has been his favourite role, Tom says acting wise it is ‘Snowy River’ because it was his breakthrough role and he will always have special affection for it. He also cites playing Tommy Woodcock in ‘Phar Lap’ but Tom is in his element singing with a big band.

The connection with ‘Man from Snowy River’ also saw Tom give his support to a campaign to save the lifestyle of the cattleman of the mountains when it was decided they could no longer graze cattle there.

Tom would like to work in some more good Australian movies and perhaps if a movie were to be made of Australians astronaut Andy Thomas Tom could put his name forward as he has already done a children’s production where he depicted Andy in a film within a play.

Tom has been to Tasmania before but it’s been a long time between drinks. He was last here in 1980 when he toured with the State Theatre of SA in ‘The One Day of the Year’. That production toured Launceston, Burnie and the Theatre Royal at Hobart.

‘Now We’re Swinging’ is on at Wrest Point Casino Saturday 7th May at 8pm. Tom will be touring the show around Australia until September, see http://www.tomburlinson.com.au/?page_id=565 for upcoming dates.
Paula Xiberras