George Assang


George Assang was an Australian jazz and blues singer and actor from Thursday Island, Queensland, Australia. He performed under his own name and the stage name Vic Sabrino. Assang was of Aboriginal, Pacific Islander, and Asian descent.

Music career

As Vic Sabrino he may have made the first Australian Rock'n'Roll recording. A single he recorded with French-jazz artist Red Perksey and his orchestra included a version of the Rock Around The Clock. This single may have been recorded in 1955, some three years before Johnny O'Keefe's recording of Wild One in 1958.

Acting career

As an actor he featured un television and film. Assang had a major part in the TV series Barrier Reef, appeared in episodes of Skippy and Hunter, Spyforce, Boney. He also acted in several films, the 1969 film The Intruders, the 1973 film And Millions Will Die, and was one of the voices in the animated movie Dot and the Kangaroo. Under the Vic Sabrino name he had a short-lived television series in 1958 called Vic Sabrino Sings. He was briefly married to actress Rowena Wallace from 1973 until their divorce 1974.

Discography

George Assang

;with Trevor Jones' Orchestra
;with Red Perksey & His Orchestra and Sheila Sewell
;with Red Perksey & His Orchestra
;with Dave Owens and his Blue Boys with The Blue Notes
;with Gus Merzi's Orchestra and with Harry Willis Orchestra; and The Belltones & Iris Mason Singers
;with Graeme Bell and his Skiffle band