Australian country music
Australian country music is a part of the
Early pioneers of the genre included Tex Morton, Smoky Dawson (touted as Australia's first singing cowboy), Buddy Williams, Slim Dusty and Johnny Ashcroft, Reg Lindsay and Jean Stafford (Early Hadley Recordings) who are all members of the Australian Roll of Renown.
Australian country stars
Notable musicians include:
Overview
Australia has a long tradition of country music, which has developed a style quite distinct from its US counterpart, influenced by English, Irish and Scottish folk ballads and by the traditions of Australian bush balladeers like Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson. Country instruments, including the guitar, banjo, fiddle and harmonica create the distinctive sound of country music in Australia and accompany songs with strong storyline and memorable chorus and lyrics.[1]
The style of Australian country music evolved under the influence of rock and roll forms. While some subject matter may be constant, musical styles differ between traditional and contemporary bush ballads. Exemplars of the traditional bush ballad style include Slim Dusty's "When the Rain Tumbles Down in July" or "Leave Him in the Long Yard" which have strong narrative in verses plus choruses set to a pick n' strum beat. Contemporary bush ballads may employ finger picking and strumming rock styles as in Lee Kernaghan's later version of "Leave Him in the Long Yard", or in Keith Urban reworking of the Slim Dusty/Joy McKean classic "Lights on the Hill".[2]
Early bush music
The distinctive themes and origins of Australia's
Later themes which endure to the present include the experiences of war, of droughts and flooding rains, of
"Waltzing Matilda", often regarded as Australia's unofficial national anthem, is a quintessential early Australian country song, influenced more by Celtic folk ballads than by US country and western music. The lyrics were composed by the poet Banjo Paterson in 1895. This strain of Australian country music, with lyrics focusing on strictly Australian subjects, is generally known as "bush music" or "bush band music".[3]
Country and folk artists such as
Development of modern country
Pioneers of a more Americanised popular country music in Australia included Tex Morton (known as The Father of Australian Country Music) in the 1930s and other early stars like Buddy Williams, Shirley Thoms and Smoky Dawson. In 1932, Tex Morton arrived from New Zealand, aged 16, and humped his swag around outback stations where he began to earn a name as a performer. In 1936 he cut his first commercial records in Australia. He went on to establish a distinctly Australian bush ballad style, shifting from American songs to songs about Australia. He attained national popularity in the 1930s and formed a traveling "Rodeo and Wildwest Show" in the 1940s. In 1949 he travelled to North America and Europe enjoying great success as a stage hypnotist, working in film and with artists such as Hank Williams. He returned to Australia in the early 1960s, by which time a generation of performers had carved a place for the Australian themed country music he pioneered.[4]
Smoky Dawson cut his first recording in 1941: "I'm a Happy Go Lucky Cowhand". In 1952, Dawson began a radio show, and went on to national stardom as a yodelling, whip cracking, knife throwing, singing cowboy of radio, TV and film.[5]
Known as "Canada's Yodelling Cowboy", Donn Reynolds (1921–1997) began a 40-year international career upon cutting several popular sides in 1947 on the Regal Zonophone label including "Old Bush Shanty of Mine" and "Stockman's Lullaby". He toured with Willard (Bill) Ferrier's Famous Hillbillies in what was Sydney's first all-country format variety shows[6] and became the voice of Australia's iconic Peters Ice Cream as the "Peter's Singing Cowboy". Reynolds achieved notoriety through song and screen performances worldwide, and later established 2 world records for yodeling.[7][8]
Slim Dusty's wife Joy McKean penned several of his most popular songs including "Indian Pacific", "The Biggest Disappointment" and "Lights on the Hill".[10] Their daughter Anne Kirkpatrick is also a successful singer-songwriter. The family began annual round Australia tours in 1964 – encompassing a 30,000-mile, 10-month journey which was the subject of a feature film, The Slim Dusty Movie in 1984.
Although himself an accomplished writer of songs, Dusty had a number of other songwriters including Mack Cormack,
In 1951, country singer-songwriter
Another enduring talent of Australian country music has been
Singer-songwriter
In 1970, Tamworth's Radio 2TM organised the landmark Bicentennial Concert to mark the 200th anniversary of the voyage of Captain James Cook along the coast of Eastern Australia. The pioneers of Australian country music Slim Dusty, Joy McKean, Barry Thornton, "Smiling" Billy Blinkhorn, Smoky Dawson, Shirley Thoms and Buddy Bishop all featured in the concert which contributed to a revival of interest in Australian country music which had struggled for airplay since the arrival of rock and roll in Australia.[16] The Tamworth Country Music Festival began in 1973 and now attracts up to a 100,000 visitors annually.
In 1974, popular cross-over artist Olivia Newton-John received the Country Music Association's Top Female Vocalist award in the US, despite protest from American country purists. Her popular hits have included "I Honestly Love You" and "Tenterfield Saddler" by Australian singer-songwriter Peter Allen as well as country classics such as "Banks of the Ohio" and "Take Me Home, Country Roads".[17]
Aboriginal country
Country music has been particularly popular among the
Jimmy Little was a pioneer, Georgia Lee was of the same era (1940s–50s). Dougie Young, Lionel Rose, and Harry and Wilga Williams and their band the Country Outcasts were very popular during the 1960s and 1970s.[23][24][25][26]
The book, documentary film, and soundtrack Buried Country (2000) showcase significant Indigenous musicians from the 1940s to the 1990s.[28][29]
Contemporary
In 1992, the Country Music Association of Australia was launched in Tamworth, New South Wales to encourage, develop and promote Australian country music. Slim Dusty was its first chairman, John Williamson its vice chairman, Joy McKean was treasurer, Max Ellis secretary and Phil Matthews public officer. After negotiations, Tamworth's Radio 2TM agreed to hand over responsibility for the Golden Guitar Awards to the new body.[30]
By the 1990s, Country music had attained cross-over success in the pop charts with artists like
The cross-over influence of Australian country is also evident in the music of successful contemporary bands
Eclectic rocker Nick Cave has been heavily influenced by the US country music artist Johnny Cash. Cave has recorded a number of country covers including several on his 1986 album Kicking Against the Pricks, which has such well-known country classics as "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", "Long Black Veil" and "The Singer" (a.k.a. "The Folksinger"). In 2000, Cash, covered Cave's "The Mercy Seat" on the album American III: Solitary Man. Subsequently, Cave cut a duet with Cash on a version of Hank Williams' "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" for Cash's American IV: The Man Comes Around album (2002).[32]
Popular and emerging contemporary performers of Australian country include: Lee Kernaghan (whose hits include the contemporary country classic "Boys From the Bush") and sister Tania Kernaghan, Melinda Schneider, Gina Jeffreys, Beccy Cole, Felicity Urquhart, Shannon Noll, Tracy Coster, Sara Storer, and brother Doug Storer.
Sara Storer's award-winning second album Beautiful Circle prompted Melbourne's The Age newspaper to report that "As we lament the death of Slim Dusty, here is evidence that authentic, yet contemporary Australian bush country has not died with his passing". Her Australian accent, song subject matter and collaborations with established balladeers John Williamson and Paul Kelly link her to the oldest traditions of Australian country music.
In the United States, Australian country music stars including Sherrié Austin and Keith Urban have attained great success. In 1991, Urban released a self-titled debut album and charted four singles in Australia before moving to the United States in 1992 going on to chart more than fifteen singles on the US country charts, including ten number ones.[33] Urban has proven extremely successful internationally and has won the Country Music Association Award for Male Vocalist of the Year three times and their top Entertainer of the Year honour twice.
Awards and festivals
The
Indigenous country music is in evidence at the Deadly Awards, a celebration of Indigenous musicians and their music.
The Mildura Country Music Festival celebrates the Australian Independent Country Music Awards every October.
Other significant country music festivals include the Whittlesea Country Music Festival held north of Melbourne in February, Boyup Brook Country Music Festival held in Western Australian in February, Bamera Country Music Festival held in South Australia in June, the National Country Muster held in Gympie during August and the
Along with the festivals above, there are also event that include country music such as Musters, Field Days and rural shows.
Media
Australian country music is promoted heavily through dedicated media outlets in Australia including:
Television
- CMT (Country Music Television), the only country music video channel in Australia, which replaced Country Music Channel in 2020[35]
Radio
- ABC Country
- Triple M Country Digital[36]
- KIX Country
- Today's Country 94.1 (NSW Central Coast)[37]
- 98.9 FM (Brisbane), aka Triple A Murri Country[38]
- Australian Country Radio (digital only)[39]
Planet Country with Big Stu & MJ was a Sydney-based program, defunct since 2020; past programs are available on podcast services.[40])
References
- ^ a b "Australian country music - Australia's Culture Portal". Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
- ^ "The Australian Bush Balladeers Association Inc". Bushballadeers.com.au. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ a b "Bush songs and music - Australia's Culture Portal". Archived from the original on 6 April 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "A Tribute to Tex Morton". Historyofcountrymusic.com.au. Archived from the original on 26 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ "A Tribute to Smoky Dawson". Historyofcountrymusic.com.au. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ Eric Watson, Country Music in Australia (Rodeo Publications, 1975) p.111-120
- ^ McWhirter, Ross; McWhirter, Norris (29 September 1972). "Guinness Book of World Records". Sterling Publishing Company. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
- ISBN 9780851128689. Archivedfrom the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
- ^ Dave" Laing, "Slim Dusty: Country singer famous for A Pub With No Beer" Archived 4 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine, The Guardian, 20 September 2003
- ^ a b "Slim Dusty – Chronicler of the Bush". Historyofcountrymusic.com.au. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ "A Tribute to Reg Lindsay". Historyofcountrymusic.com.au. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ "Reg Lindsay, country great, takes final bow - Local News - News - General - the Canberra Times". Archived from the original on 7 August 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
- Sydney Morning Herald, 6 August 2008.
- ^ "It's an Honour – Honours – Search Australian Honours". Itsanhonour.gov.au. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ "JOHN WILLIAMSON - About John - John Williamson Official Site". Archived from the original on 19 August 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
- ^ "The famous Bicentenary Show on Tamworth". History of country music. Archived from the original on 14 October 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ "Cover Story: Pop's Hottest Pipes – Vol. 3 No. 7". People.com. 24 February 1975. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ "Artist: Brian Young". SecondHandSongs. 2 September 1935. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ a b c "Brian Young OAM". LBS Music Group Australia. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ a b c "Brian Young". History of Australian music from 1960 until 2000. 5 December 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Australian folk music". Culture.gov.au. Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
- ^ Ryan, Robin. "Buried Country: The Story of Aboriginal Country Music [Book Review." 2001. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, vol. 29, no. 1, Cambridge University Press, 2001, pp. 43–48, via Informit.
- ISBN 1-86403-152-2.
- ^ Ryan, Robin (2003). "Gumleaves or Paper Roses: Australian Aboriginal country". In Philip Hayward (ed.). Outback & Urban: Australian Country Music. volume 1. aicmPress.
- ^ a b "CD: Buried country : the story of Aboriginal country music, original film soundtrack". Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ "Album". Buried Country. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ "Indigenous country music". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ISBN 1-86403-152-2.
- ISBN 1-86403-152-2. Archived(PDF) from the original on 29 July 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2008.
- ^ "How the CMAA was born". Historyofcountrymusic.com.au. Archived from the original on 14 October 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ "Civics | Paul Kelly (1955–)". Archived from the original on 2 June 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
- ^ Cave, Nick (13 September 2003). "I saw music could be a beautiful, evil thing, while my parents shifted uncomfortably". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ^ "Country". Countrymusic.about.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ "The Gympie Muster". Historyofcountrymusic.com.au. Archived from the original on 14 October 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ Knox, David (4 May 2020). "Foxtel overhauls music channels". TV Tonight. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Triple M Country". Triple M. 26 June 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Home". Todays Country 94One. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Murri Country". Murri Country. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Home". Australian Country Radio. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ Planet Country on iheart
- Facebook
- ^ "Home". Country Music Capital News. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
External links
- Marilyns Country Music Muster Smoky Bay
- Country Music Association of Australia
- CountryMusicNetwork.com.au
- Vintage Country Music
- Country Music Channel Australia Archived 7 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- Ben Sorensen's REAL Country – Australian country music interviews
- Listen to an excerpt of Tex Morton's 'Wrap Me Up With My Stockwhip and Blanket' on australianscreen online
- 'Wrap Me Up with My Stockwhip and Blanket' was added to the National Film & Sound Archive's Sounds of Australiaregistry in 2010