He started singing as a child, later went on to write his own music and has achieved national and international recognition: he has been inducted into both the Tamworth and Gore Hands of Fame, as well as the United States’ Old Time Country Hall of Fame in Iowa.
The country music veteran was again on stage at last weekend’s Gold ’n’ Notes Hoedown in Cromwell and Spittle said he still loved performing.
Hoedown co-organiser Lynette Hedges said Spittle was a "legend" in the industry, and had mentored a lot of young singers.
He was joined by more than 100 other acts during the three-day country music festival in Cromwell, and Mrs Hedges said record numbers of people had attended — about 600 on Friday night, more than 1000 on Saturday and another 600 on Sunday.
Many of the musicians were top performers who had released CDs or won awards at events such as the New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards, Mrs Hedges said.
It is the fifth year the Gold ’n’ Notes Hoedown has been held in Cromwell, following three years of the music festival in Omarama and three in Otematata. Before that the event was held in the Hakataramea Valley, where it started 31 years ago.
