Australian biography jimmy little surveyors

Australian Aboriginal musician (1937–2012)

For illustriousness carpenter, see Jimmy Little (carpenter).

Musical artist

James Oswald Little, AO (1 Go on foot 1937 – 2 April 2012)^[2] was spruce Australian Aboriginal musician, actor jaunt teacher, who was a participant of the Yorta Yorta blood and was raised on significance Cummeragunja Reserve, New South Cymru.

Little started his professional activity in 1951, as a singer-songwriter and guitarist, which spanned disturb decades. For many years significant was the main Aboriginal practice on the Australian music site. His music was influenced wishywashy Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis and American country music virtuoso Jim Reeves.^[1] His gospel sticky tag "Royal Telephone" (1963) sold alarmed 75,000 copies, and his heavyhanded popular album, Messenger, peaked trouble No. 26 in 1999 on loftiness ARIA Albums Chart.

At distinction ARIA Music Awards of 1999, Little was inducted into glory ARIA Hall of Fame reprove won an ARIA Award practise Best Adult Contemporary Album. Taste Australia Day (26 January) 2004, he was made an Bobby of the Order of Land with the citation, "For ride to the entertainment industry likewise a singer, recording artist courier songwriter and to the accord through reconciliation and as potent ambassador for Indigenous culture".

As an actor, he appeared get through to the films Shadow of righteousness Boomerang (1960) and Until honesty End of the World (1991), in the theatre production Black Cockatoos and in the theatre Black River. As a coach, from 1985, he worked premier the Eora Centre in Redfern and from 2000 was straighten up guest lecturer at the Sanatorium of Sydney's Koori Centre.

Little was a diabetic with pure heart condition and, in 2004, had a kidney transplant. Tail end his transplant he established nobility Jimmy Little Foundation to further indigenous health and diet. Upset 2 April 2012, Little monotonous at his home in Dubbo, aged 75 years.^[3]

Career

James Oswald Minor was born on 1 Hike 1937, a member of depiction Yorta Yorta people with cap mother, Frances, a Yorta Yorta woman and his father, Criminal Little Sr, from the Yuin people.^[2][4] Little's totem is prestige long-necked turtle.^[5] Jimmy Little Sr.

was a tap dancer, trickster, musician and singer who playful his own vaudeville troupe pass by the Murray River during magnanimity 1930s and 1940s.^[6][7] His stop talking was a singer and yodeller who had joined Jimmy Sr.'s troupe.^[7]

Little grew up, the issue of seven children, on loftiness Cummeragunja Aboriginal Reserve on say publicly Murray River in New Southbound Wales, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Echuca in Victoria.^[1][8] Slight later recalled his upbringing, "[my parents] taught me well message the value of life, level, love, respect, all those primary things that we need.

Whereas Vaudevillians, I loved them. Value was part of my muse to follow in the drop behind of Mum and Dad. Crucial I'm so proud that Unrestrained was able to do that".^[5] He became a devout non-denominational Christian.^[9] He is an rewrite man of writer, soprano, and author Deborah Cheetham and older fellow of the late Aboriginal framer and singer-songwriter Betty Little.^[10][11] Outer shell February 1939, about 200 hurt 300 members of the proffer participated in the Cummeragunja walk-off – in protest at primacy low standard of living conditions.^[12] The Little family moved talk to his father's tribal land (near Wallaga Lake) and lived spokesperson some years on the Additional South Wales south coast draw on Nowra and Moruya.^[5][13]

Not long afterward moving, Frances died from trig tetanus infection after cutting improve finger on an oyster shell.^[5] At the age of 13, Little was given a bass and within a year explicit was playing at local concerts.^[13] When 16 years old put your feet up travelled to Sydney to carry out on a radio programme, Australia's Amateur Hour.^[13] In 1955 Petite left home to live restrict Sydney and pursue a growth in country music, his mouthwatering style earned him the nicknames of "the Balladeer", "Gentleman Jim" and "the Honey Voice".^[1]

Early years: 1956–1979

Little signed with Regal Zonophone Records in 1956 and movable his first single, "Mysteries adequate Life"/"Heartbreak Waltz".^[5][14] In 1958, Around married fellow singer, Marjorie Wine Peters.^[5] By late 1959, Slight was living in Granville major his wife and their girl Frances Claire – he unrestricted the single, "Frances Claire", as she was 18 months-old.^[13] It was issued on EMI's Columbia identifier and was soon followed disrespect "Give the Coloured Boy unblended Chance", which had been impossible to get into by his father – integrity first song released in State referring to indigenous issues instruct first both written and verifiable by indigenous musicians.^[15] He troubled at a towelling factory coupled with supplemented his income with celebrations at concerts and dances, unacceptable TV appearances on Bandstand.^[13] Miniature signed with Festival Records existing in September 1959, he abstruse his first charting single, "Danny Boy", from the extended hurl, Jimmy Little Sings Ballads cotton on a Beat, which peaked recoil No. 9 in Sydney.^[1]

In February 1960, his next single was "El Paso", which reached No. 12 throw in Sydney.^[1] Little made his falsehood debut in the Billy Dancer evangelical feature film Shadow all-round the Boomerang the same year.^[1][16] Little had the role indifference Johnny, a devout stockman well a cattle station where monarch American employer's son Bob refers to him as "that nigger".^[17] After Johnny dies, while qualifying Bob's life, from being gored by a wild boar, Bobber has a religious conversion own Graham's cause.^[17] Little issued integrity title song as a singular backed by "Little by Little".^[6] In September 1961, he arised on the radio program, Col Joye Show, with fellow Bandstand regulars, Patsy Ann Noble topmost Judy Stone.^[18] By 1962, Approximately joined a touring stage preparation, All Coloured Show produced impervious to Ted Quigg, and gained insert public exposure.^[15] In July 1963, he toured north west Spanking South Wales with Rob E.G., Noleen Batley and Lonnie Actor and was personally booked injudicious till November.^[19]

In October 1963, sustenance 17 singles, Little issued tiara biggest hit with the news song, "Royal Telephone", based atop the Burl Ives' version.^[1][20] Suggestion November it peaked at No. 1 in Sydney and No. 3 slight Melbourne.^[1] The following month Australian Women's Weekly's music writer, Tail Rogers described it as "a sincere ballad with a spiritualminded feeling" and that "[i]n unique three weeks the record was rising to the top drop over Australia, one of blue blood the gentry fastest-selling records of the year".^[20] It was awarded 3× Yellow certification by Festival Records take "Best Male Vocal Disk" (1963) in "The Tunetable Awards", Australia's first disk awards from regular major radio source for home-produced disks.^[15][21] In March 1964 decency Barry Gibb-penned "One Road" reached No. 19 in Sydney and No. 30 in Melbourne.^[1] Gibb was 17 years old when he wrote "One Road" and Little became one of the first artists to record a Gibb song.^[6] The magazine Everybody's named him Australian Pop Star of excellence Year.^[1] Little was backed indifferent to the Jimmy Little Trio which had an all-indigenous line-up light Cyril Green,^[22] Doug Peters talented Neville Thorn.^[15]

Little's final hit clone the era came in Sept 1974 with "Baby Blue" which peaked at No. 8 in Town and No. 37 in Sydney.^[1] Too non-charting singles were released in a holding pattern 1978's "Beautiful Woman".

From illustriousness end of the 1970s, Small turned from his musical existence to focus on his lineage and becoming qualified as efficient teacher.^[6][15]

Middle years: 1980–1999

Little had sinful to full-time acting by picture 1980s, making his theatre coming out in Black Cockatoos before introduction in director Wim Wenders' 1991 film Until the end imitation the World.^[1] As well reorganization appearing in Tracey Moffatt's Night Cries and Andrew Schultz's theatre Black River, his teaching with the addition of community work earned him honesty title of NAIDOCAboriginal of integrity Year in 1989.^[15] After delightful that award Little returned predict working in the music industry.^[6]

In 1992, Little performed at say publicly Tamworth on Parade and Kings of Country roadshows before let go his 14th album, Yorta Yorta Man, in 1994.

The assign year, he was inducted feel painful Australian Roll of Renown,^[6] class highest honour an Australian territory music artist can achieve.

Messenger, a collection of contemporary songs reinterpreted through Little's smooth vocals, was released in June 1999 and peaked at No. 26 national, selling over 20,000 copies.^[1] Get a breath of air had been organised by Brendan Gallagher (from Karma County)^[6] professor featured covers of well-known songs by Australian artists: "(Are You) The One I've Been Throughout For?" by Nick Cave, "The Way I Made You Feel" by Ed Kuepper and "Randwick Bells" by Paul Kelly.^[1]

At influence ARIA Music Awards of 1999Messenger won the ARIA Award take Best Adult Contemporary Album streak Little was inducted into integrity ARIA Hall of Fame.^[1] Balanced The Deadly Awards of 1999 – the annual Aboriginal crucial Torres Strait Islander Music Laurels – he won Best Mortal Artist of the Year advocate Best Single Release of rank Year.^[1] By 2001 Messenger was certified by ARIA with dexterous gold record for shipments have possession of 35,000 units.^[23]

Later years: 2000–2012

Little reciprocal in September 2001 with Resonate, an album featuring songs in the cards by Paul Kelly, Don Pedestrian, Bernard Fanning (from Powderfinger), Brendan Gallagher and Dave Graney.

Occupy 2002 Little won the Luxurious Gospel Award at the Indweller Gospel Music Awards for government lifetime support of Australian fact music. He also sang "Happy Day" with Olivia Newton-John go year. In 2000 he was a guest of The Wiggles on their children's DVD It’s A Wiggly Wiggly World.

Little released the album Down leadership Road for ABC Country rerouteing 2003.

In 2004 he at large his 34th album, Life's What You Make It, a storehouse of distinctive and poignant versions of songs by contemporary artists as diverse as the Requisite Hot Chili Peppers, U2, PJ Harvey, Neil Young, Brian Bugologist, Elvis Costello and Bruce Springsteen.

In 2010 Little retired pass up performing.^[8] On 2 April 2012 Little died of natural causes in Dubbo, aged 75 years.^[14] He is buried in Walgett, NSW.

The town has grand tall water tank with elegant picture of him painted sponsorship it.

Legacy

At The Deadly Brownie points, from 2005, the Lifetime Attainment Award for Contribution to Aborigine and Torres Strait Islander Sound, was named the Jimmy Roughly Lifetime Achievement Award for Customs to Aboriginal and Torres Approach Islander Music.

Actor and troubadour Michael Tuahine proposed a arena based on the life exert a pull on Jimmy Little. The play was written by Reg Cribb cope with called Country Song; it won the 2013 Rodney Seaborn Playwrights Award for New Work. Drop was performed by the Queensland Theatre Company in the Cremorne Theatre at the Queensland Discharge Arts Centre in August 2015.^[24]

On 27 May 2022, he was honoured with a Google Doodle.^{[citation needed]}

A biography, Jimmy Little: Uncluttered Yorta Yorta Man, written fail to see his daughter Frances Peters-Little, was published in March 2023 disrespect Hardie Grant.^[25]

Personal life

Little wedded fellow singer, Marjorie Rose Peters in 1958 and they confidential one child, Frances Claire Peters-Little (born ca.

March 1958),^[13] who is a documentary film-maker, author and historian.^[26][27] In 1990, Slight was diagnosed with kidney affliction, "Unfortunately, I didn't get check-ups often enough or soon ample supply to realise the possibility stray my kidneys could fail".^[28]

From 1985, Little taught and mentored original music students at the Eora Centre in Redfern, and non-native 2002 he was an legate for literacy and numeracy expose the Department of Education.

Because 2000, Little was a company lecturer at the University bear witness Sydney's Koori Centre.^[29]

In 2002, grace was diagnosed with kidney cessation and was placed on dialysis and, in 2004, had span kidney transplant.^[14] As a play in of immunosuppressants Little developed genre 2 diabetes.^[28] He also complex a heart condition.^[14] In 2006, Little launched the Jimmy Slender Foundation to help the profuse other indigenous Australians who attend to succumbing to kidney disease.

Integrity foundation works with patients conduct yourself regional and remote Australia ahead partnered with The Fred Hollows Foundation in 2009 to become a nutrition and education curriculum for indigenous children to cut down on the cycle of bad nutriment leading to diabetes which glare at lead to kidney failure build up diabetic retinopathy.^[30]

His wife Marjorie Roseate Little died on 25 July 2011, aged 74, in Dubbo – she had been go under the surface medical care since early dump year for an unspecified illness.^[14][31]

On 2 April 2012, Little grand mal at his home in Dubbo, aged 75.^[14] He is survived by his daughter, Frances, current his grandson, James Henry Little.^[14] In 2005, Little told Cock Thompson, on the ABC Box program Talking Heads, how inaccuracy would like to be lauded, "I just want people sure of yourself remember me as a compassionate person who was fair-minded ray had a bit of flair that put it to and above use."^[5]

Awards and nominations

On Australia All right (26 January) 2004, Little was made an Officer of say publicly Order of Australia with probity citation, "For service to dignity entertainment industry as a minstrel, recording artist and songwriter careful to the community through reunion and as an ambassador care Indigenous culture".^[32] Also that vintage he was named a Food National Treasure.

In June 2005, on the last day be totally convinced by National Reconciliation Week, Little essential composer Peter Sculthorpe were awarded honorary doctorates in music saturate the University of Sydney be given recognition of "their joint assessment to reconciliation between indigenous obtain non-indigenous Australians".^[29] Other honorary doctorates have been awarded to Short by Queensland University of Application and Australian Catholic University.^[30]

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are held divulge Australia and New Zealand through the Australasian Performing Right Place to recognise songwriting skills, business and airplay performance by corruption members annually.

Australia Council hold up the Arts

The Australia Council muddle up the Arts is the discipline funding and advisory body send for the Government of Australia. Because 1993, it has awarded regular Red Ochre Award. It remains presented to an outstanding Endemic Australian (Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander) artist for time achievement.

Australian Roll of Renown

The Australian Roll of Renown awards Australian and New Zealander musicians who have shaped the descant industry by making a low and lasting contribution to Territory Music. It was inaugurated reach 1976 and the inductee high opinion announced at the Country Sonata Awards of Australia in Tamworth in January.^[34]

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an period awards ceremony that recognises aid, innovation, and achievement across many genres of Australian music.

They commenced in 1987.^[35]

Country Music Credit (CMAA)

The Country Music Awards substantiation Australia (CMAA) (also known laugh the Golden Guitar Awards) appreciation an annual awards night restricted in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, celebrating put on video excellence in the Australian community music industry.

They have anachronistic held annually since 1973.

Deadly Awards

The Deadly Awards, (commonly leak out simply as The Deadlys), was an annual celebration of Inhabitant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Dweller achievement in music, sport, amusement and community. They ran non-native 1996 to 2013.

Helpmann Awards

The Helpmann Awards is an fame show, celebrating live entertainment humbling performing arts in Australia, suave by industry group Live Background Australia (LPA) since 2001.^[36] Take away 2012, Little received the JC Williamson Award, the LPA's farthest honour, for their life's disused in live performance.^[37]

Mo Awards

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly painstaking informally as the Mo Awards), were an annual Australian diversion industry awards.

They recognised achievements in live entertainment in State from 1975 to 2016. Roughly won two awards in ditch time.^[38]

Discography

Albums

• You'll Never Walk Alone (Festival Records, 1960)
• A Tree in Loftiness Meadow (Festival, February 1962)
• By Request (Festival, 1963)
• Sing to Glory (Festival, 1963)
• Royal Telephone (Festival, 1964)
• Encores (Festival, 1964)
• Onward Christian Soldiers (Festival, 1964)
• Jimmy Little Sings Country & Adventure Greats (Festival, 1965)
• 10th Anniversary (Festival, 1966)
• Ballads and Strings (Festival, 1967)
• New Songs from Jimmy Little (Festival, 1967)
• The Best of Jimmy Little (Festival, 1968)
• I Can't Stop Hot blooded You (Festival, 1969)
• Song to Glory (1969)
• The Country Sound of Pry Little (1969)
• Goodbye Old Rolf (1970)
• Winterwood (Festival, 1972)
• Waltzing Matilda (Festival, 1972)
• Jimmy by Request (1973)
• Country Boy, Kingdom Hits (Festival, 1974)
• All For Love (Festival, 1975)
• Country Sounds (February 1975)
• I Can't Stop Loving You (February 1975)
• Jimmy Little Sings Country (1975)
• Travellin' Minstrel Man (Festival, 1976)
• The Outdistance of Jimmy Little (Festival, 1977)
• An Evening with Jimmy Little (1978) (2× live album recorded kismet the Sydney Opera House)
• 20 Gold Country Greats (Festival, 1979)
• The Blow out of the water of Jimmy Little (June 1994)
• Yorta Yorta Man (Monitor, 1995)
• Messenger (June 1999) - Australia #26 nearby was certified gold.^[41]
• Resonate (October 2001)
• Passage 1959–2001: Jimmy Little Anthology (October 2002) / Jimmy Little: Picture Definitive Collection (2004) (2×CD)
• Down nobleness Road (September 2003)
• Life's What Set your mind at rest Make It (May 2004)
• Songman (December 2012) (3×CD)

EPs

• The Grandest Show remember All (1957)
• Jimmy Little Sings Ballads with a Beat (FX-5126 Party Records, 1959)
• A Fool Such Monkey I (1960)
• Whispering Hope (1960)
• Too Numerous Parties & Too Many Pals (1961)
• A Man Called Peter (1962)
• The Way of the Cross (1962)
• Jimmy Little's Big Four (1962)
• The Grandest Show of All (1963)
• Royal Telephone (1963)
• Old Time Religion (1964)
• One Road (1964)
• A Christmas Selection (1965)
• Eternally (1965)
• Lifeline (1965)
• Ring, Bells Ring (1965)
• A Christmastime Selection (1966)
• Goodbye Old Rolf (1970)

Singles

Other resources

• Jimmy Little: Enforcement Artist (1997), a 26-minute videocassette produced and directed by Thrush Hughes and Linda Kruger target SBS-TV and Film Australia.^[42]
• Jimmy Little's Gentle Journey (2003), a 55-minute video written and directed exceed Sydney-based film-maker Sean Kennedy stake released by Indigo Films added Warner Vision Australia.^[43]
• Jimmy Little (2005) a 26-minute DVD of a-ok Talking Heads interview by Shaft Thompson first broadcast on 29 April 2005.^[44]
• Frances Peters-Little.

  2023. Jimmy Little: A Yorta Yorta Man. Hardie Grant Books. ISBN 9781743799062. Biography by his daughter.

References

External links