I was born in New Zealand and as a young man in the 1960’s travelled across ‘The Ditch’ (the Tasman Ocean) to Australia in order to further his musical career.

I was a tenor sax and trumpet who, between the years 1970-71, toured war-torn Viet Nam for 18 months with his group, The Hy-Marques. What makes my journey unique is that I am totally blind, not that I have ever let that stop me from achieving my life goals.

My group the Hy-Marques hailed from Melbourne (originally NZ) and we signed on with the large Australian agency, Show Group Management to tour American and Aussie military bases in the Republic of South Viet Nam. There were four guys in the band, one female vocalist, and two dancers making the Hy-Marques a very slick and professional show. In order to get to the more isolated firebases and camps in Viet Nam, our group travelled by whatever means available – truck, (Duce-and-a-half) Choppers (Hueys) or fixed wing aircraft (C-123’s, C-130’s and Caribous). I am shown kneeling on the far left in this picture.

During our time “In country” we toured from the Delta to the DMZ, and out to the Cambodian Border. During that time we performed to tens of thousands of serving Allied men and women. It was a real honor and a pleasure to be able to do what we did. Although I won’t say the work was easy. As a matter of fact it was extremely tough, and at times, dangerous especially when we travelled out in the countryside on the open roads, many times not in a convoy and without guards. Still, we were young and considered ourselves ‘bullet-proof!’

There were times my blindness did have its’ drawbacks. We were doing a show at the massive base of Long Bin. We were mid-show and the dancers were on stage with us and of course I was playing the sax. Suddenly there was one massive, rumbling, ‘boom!’ The explosion shook the place and I could hear the G.I.’s diving under the tables, or making for the door. Small pieces of plaster from the ceiling fell on us, and dust filled the air. Someone shouted, ‘Everyone head for the bunkers!’ It sounds crazy now, but all I could think about was that my saxophone would be damaged. I thought, ‘I won’t put it on the stand as it might fall over, so I’ll lay it down in the case!’ I moved my foot around until I located the case, quickly took the sax off and laid it in the case, then stood up. I’m sure this took me no longer than a few seconds. It was then that it suddenly dawned on me, ‘There’s nobody on stage with me. All of the band members were gone and there was nobody left in the club!’ I was totally alone. Everyone had left and headed for the bunkers. Later I was told that the entire troupe had been rushed to the bunkers and in all the confusion I was left just sitting there. I can have a chuckle about it now, but at the time I didn’t think it was very funny. It was pretty eerie and a very lonely feeling, I can tell you!

In the bunker one of the dancers; Her name was Lucy, asked the other band members, ‘Where’s Ken?’ It was Lucy who returned to get me and ushered me out of the club and into the bunker. We learned later that it was not a communist rocket attack as everyone thought, but American ammunition dumps that had blown up. After the ‘all clear’ was eventually given we traipsed back inside and resumed the show. When our tour finished in 1971 Lucy and I got married. We spent 35 wonderful years together and had two beautiful daughters. Sadly, Lucy passed away from cancer.
I recently released my first solo album titled, ‘BETTER LATE THAN NEVER’ and continue to perform regularly around the South Eastern corner of the Australian state of Queensland.

For my service the Deputy Prime Minster of Australia, as well as the Certificate Of Appreciation, Viet Nam, awarded me the Vietnam Logistical and Support Medal.
~ Ken Smith, Group Entertainer, The Hy-Marques in the Vietnam War