With a back catalogue of 60 albums and more than 500 compositions to his name, musician Reg Lindsay leaves behind a thriving Australian country music industry thanks to his ground-breaking work.

Lindsay died from pneumonia in Belmont Hospital, Newcastle, shortly after 3pm yesterday, surrounded by his second wife, Roslyn Lindsay; daughters Dianne, Sandra and Joanne; and their families.

His death followed a lengthy illness.

His son-in-law, Peter Simpson, said fans had flooded the family with condolences. ''There's been an absolute flood of phone calls and well-wishers. It's absolutely astonishing.'' Born in Waverley, Sydney, in 1929, Lindsay spent his early years in Parkes and Adelaide.

As a boy he had sought out country music on the radio dial and honed his skills with his first guitar, given to him by an aunt at 15.

In 1950 he left for Sydney on a motorbike to make his name in country music on radio station 2SM's Tim McNamara talent quest.

He won the final and in 1951 cashed in his first prize a recording contract with Rodeo Records.

He shifted to Sydney in the early '50s, playing gigs in between stints in wool sales and as an ABC rural broadcaster before he committed himself to music full time.

His first country music radio program the first of several platforms he provided for up-and-coming country stars aired on Sydney's 2CH in 1952.

Later that year The Reg Lindsay Show switched to 2SM, where it stayed for many years.

In 1954 he married Heather McKean, of the popular McKean Sisters, and in doing so became Slim Dusty's brother-in-law.

He hosted The Country and Western Hour on Channel Nine, Adelaide, from 1964.

The program went national soon afterwards and ran on Nine for eight years.

Lindsay had his own TV program, Country Homestead, for another four years. The programs earned him four Logies.

In 1968 Lindsay tried his hand in the US music market, becoming became one of the first Australians to be invited to perform at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry, the home of country music.

His best-known hit, Armstrong inspired by astronaut Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon in 1969 is part of a time capsule at NASA's space centre in Houston.

Lindsay won three Golden Guitars at the Tamworth Country Music awards in 1974, 1978 and 1980 and his name was added to the Tamworth Roll of Renown in 1984, and three years later to the Hands of Fame. He was given a Medal of the Order of Australia in 1989 for services to country music and the industry.