Tamworth Country Music Festival 2022 Worth Their Weight in Gold: Cheryl 'Chez' Brown a true icon behind the scenes of the festival's success

IF YOU know country music, you know Cheryl 'Chez' Brown.

An icon behind the scenes and absolute stalwart of Tamworth Country Music Festival - she's played a crucial part in its success.

Her career started in 1979, while at TAFE she did work experience at Radio 2TM and a week with BAL marketing.

A year later, she was offered a job with BAL, "based on family history", Ms Brown said.

"It's not what you know, it's who you know," she said.

Shortly after she became the receptionist for 2TM, meeting and greeting all the stars where she was secretary to a number of managers and the sales team.

"It was such an exciting time in that era of radio with more than 60 people on staff," she said.

Eventually she was asked to be an onstage hostess at the Golden Guitars, responsible for guiding the stars to the stage and back to their seats for about six years.

It was an exciting time, she said.

"In the early years I would give the media, TV camera guys and photographers a win to the left or right so they had an idea where the next winner was seated, so they could get that special shot," she said.

For a few years she was charged with the nerve-wracking task of typing up the media alert 'telex' to send to Australian Associated Press with the list of winners for the Golden Guitars.

It's a job she took seriously, and with pride.

"I was always so private and never told a soul who had won, even when Patsy Riggir stayed at our home and was the big winner, I never ever let on," she said.

In 1984, the Slim Dusty Movie directed by Rob Stewart, starring Slim, Joy McKean, John Blake, Mary Charleston and Buck Taylor was released.

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In an unexpected competition win, Ms Brown became known as Miss Slim Dusty runner-up, and was flown to the Gold Coast and a weekend at The Rocks in Sydney.

Two years later, The Longyard's June Smyth phoned her up.

"She said, 'Chezza, my girl has pulled out of the quest, will you step in? Judging is in two weeks time," she said.

"Not wanting to let June down I said, 'sure thing'.

"And I was crowned the third Queen of the Country Music Festival."

For a while she left country music to start her family, having her two children Jordan and Claudia.

In the 90's, she made her comeback with the old team at Max Ellis Marketing, alongside Max and his business partners Kate Nugent and Bob Kirchner.

"It was the secretariat for the Country Music Association of Australia, so there was a great deal of activity always," she said.

"Preparing for the Golden Guitars, the festival, and in 2000 I was the coordinator of the academy where I met the most fabulous artists, including Grant Richardson who I managed for a few years after that." Her client list grew quickly, adding Sara Storer, Travis Sinclair, Kylie Sackley, Tracy Killeen, Nikki Sweeney and others to the bill.

For a time she worked with The Pub's Joan Douglas in artist management, looking after The Feral Swing Katz, Felicity Urquhart and a number of young artists - including Tamworth's own Aleyce Simmonds.

"... this was such a thrill as my dad, Tamworth country music pioneer Geoff Brown, was always working with young artists to guide them with their careers, so it felt like I was able to carry on for him."

She worked for Country Music Capital News, Toyota Star Maker and the Directory of Australian Country Music.

"It's been a wonderful opportunity to expose Tamworth, Star Maker and Australian country music," she said.

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