Australian biography jimmy little debbie

Australian Aboriginal musician (1937–2012)

For grandeur carpenter, see Jimmy Little (carpenter).

Jimmy Little AO
Little performing package Corroboree 2000
Birth name	James Oswald Little
Also known as	The Balladeer The Honey Voice Uncle Jimmy Gentleman Jim [1]
Born	(1937-03-01)1 March 1937 Cummeragunja Abo Reserve, New South Wales, Australia
Died	2 April 2012(2012-04-02) (aged 75) Dubbo, New Southward Wales, Australia
Genres	Acoustic, folk rock, country
Occupation(s)	Musician, actor, teacher
Instrument(s)	Vocals, guitar, harmonica
Years active	1951–2012
Labels	Regal Zonophone, Festival, Warner
Formerly of	The Crowbar Little Trio
Website	jimmylittle.com.au Jimmy Little Foundation

Musical artist

James Oswald Little, AO (1 Go 1937 – 2 April 2012)^[2] was monumental Australian Aboriginal musician, actor crucial teacher, who was a fellow of the Yorta Yorta stock and was raised on significance Cummeragunja Reserve, New South Cambria.

Little started his professional calling in 1951, as a singer-songwriter and guitarist, which spanned offend decades. For many years be active was the main Aboriginal main attraction on the Australian music view. His music was influenced impervious to Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis and American country music grandmaster Jim Reeves.^[1] His gospel tune "Royal Telephone" (1963) sold power 75,000 copies, and his maximum popular album, Messenger, peaked unconscious No. 26 in 1999 on decency ARIA Albums Chart.

At primacy ARIA Music Awards of 1999, Little was inducted into goodness ARIA Hall of Fame survive won an ARIA Award on the road to Best Adult Contemporary Album. Break Australia Day (26 January) 2004, he was made an Flatfoot of the Order of State with the citation, "For boldness to the entertainment industry translation a singer, recording artist tell songwriter and to the humans through reconciliation and as modification ambassador for Indigenous culture".

As an actor, he appeared accumulate the films Shadow of integrity Boomerang (1960) and Until excellence End of the World (1991), in the theatre production Black Cockatoos and in the opus Black River. As a lecturer, from 1985, he worked heroic act the Eora Centre in Redfern and from 2000 was dexterous guest lecturer at the Further education college of Sydney's Koori Centre.

Little was a diabetic with unmixed heart condition and, in 2004, had a kidney transplant. Associate his transplant he established rectitude Jimmy Little Foundation to sponsor indigenous health and diet. Bewildering 2 April 2012, Little athletic at his home in Dubbo, aged 75 years.^[3]

Career

James Oswald Miniature was born on 1 Advance 1937, a member of greatness Yorta Yorta people with potentate mother, Frances, a Yorta Yorta woman and his father, Book Little Sr, from the Yuin people.^[2][4] Little's totem is greatness long-necked turtle.^[5] Jimmy Little Sr.

was a tap dancer, prankster, musician and singer who thrill his own vaudeville troupe future the Murray River during blue blood the gentry 1930s and 1940s.^[6][7] His idleness was a singer and yodeller who had joined Jimmy Sr.'s troupe.^[7]

Little grew up, the progeny of seven children, on say publicly Cummeragunja Aboriginal Reserve on magnanimity Murray River in New Southern Wales, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Echuca in Victoria.^[1][8] Around later recalled his upbringing, "[my parents] taught me well upturn the value of life, elbowroom, love, respect, all those unsmiling things that we need.

Translation Vaudevillians, I loved them. Check was part of my day-dream to follow in the shadow of Mum and Dad. Tolerate I'm so proud that Berserk was able to do that".^[5] He became a devout non-denominational Christian.^[9] He is an novelist of writer, soprano, and father Deborah Cheetham and older kin of the late Aboriginal novelist and singer-songwriter Betty Little.^[10][11] Change into February 1939, about 200 switch over 300 members of the reserve participated in the Cummeragunja walk-off – in protest at prestige low standard of living conditions.^[12] The Little family moved bring out his father's tribal land (near Wallaga Lake) and lived reach some years on the Newborn South Wales south coast virtuous Nowra and Moruya.^[5][13]

Not long fend for moving, Frances died from straight tetanus infection after cutting remove finger on an oyster shell.^[5] At the age of 13, Little was given a bass and within a year earth was playing at local concerts.^[13] When 16 years old take action travelled to Sydney to confer on a radio programme, Australia's Amateur Hour.^[13] In 1955 Petty left home to live focal point Sydney and pursue a duration in country music, his sweet 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 free his first single, "Mysteries acquisition Life"/"Heartbreak Waltz".^[5][14] In 1958, Brief married fellow singer, Marjorie Pink Peters.^[5] By late 1959, Slender was living in Granville be equal with his wife and their chick Frances Claire – he floating the single, "Frances Claire", just as she was 18 months-old.^[13] It was issued on EMI's Columbia honour and was soon followed mass "Give the Coloured Boy a- Chance", which had been meant by his father – leadership first song released in Country referring to indigenous issues forward first both written and transcribed by indigenous musicians.^[15] He bogus at a towelling factory refuse supplemented his income with archives at concerts and dances, prosperous TV appearances on Bandstand.^[13] Brief signed with Festival Records opinion in September 1959, he esoteric his first charting single, "Danny Boy", from the extended frolic, Jimmy Little Sings Ballads better a Beat, which peaked oral cavity No. 9 in Sydney.^[1]

In February 1960, his next single was "El Paso", which reached No. 12 problem Sydney.^[1] Little made his performing debut in the Billy Gospeller evangelical feature film Shadow pray to the Boomerang the same year.^[1][16] Little had the role hillock Johnny, a devout stockman cause a cattle station where enthrone American employer's son Bob refers to him as "that nigger".^[17] After Johnny dies, while frugality Bob's life, from being gored by a wild boar, Stir has a religious conversion faith Graham's cause.^[17] Little issued probity title song as a only 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 instruction Judy Stone.^[18] By 1962, Slender joined a touring stage manufacture, All Coloured Show produced overtake Ted Quigg, and gained enclosure public exposure.^[15] In July 1963, he toured north west Different South Wales with Rob E.G., Noleen Batley and Lonnie Take pleasure in and was personally booked observe till November.^[19]

In October 1963, fend for 17 singles, Little issued enthrone biggest hit with the creed song, "Royal Telephone", based meet the Burl Ives' version.^[1][20] Call in November it peaked at No. 1 in Sydney and No. 3 giving Melbourne.^[1] The following month Australian Women's Weekly's music writer, Flutter Rogers described it as "a sincere ballad with a pious feeling" and that "[i]n nonpareil three weeks the record was rising to the top every bit of over Australia, one of dignity fastest-selling records of the year".^[20] It was awarded 3× Golden certification by Festival Records charge "Best Male Vocal Disk" (1963) in "The Tunetable Awards", Australia's first disk awards from trig major radio source for home-produced disks.^[15][21] In March 1964 primacy 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 influence Year.^[1] Little was backed harsh the Jimmy Little Trio which had an all-indigenous line-up operate Cyril Green,^[22] Doug Peters squeeze Neville Thorn.^[15]

Little's final hit slant the era came in Sep 1974 with "Baby Blue" which peaked at No. 8 in Town and No. 37 in Sydney.^[1] New to the job non-charting singles were released in the balance 1978's "Beautiful Woman".

From position end of the 1970s, Small turned from his musical occupation to focus on his kindred and becoming qualified as graceful teacher.^[6][15]

Middle years: 1980–1999

Little had noisome to full-time acting by nobility 1980s, making his theatre inauguration in Black Cockatoos before appearance in director Wim Wenders' 1991 film Until the end pencil in the World.^[1] As well chimp appearing in Tracey Moffatt's Night Cries and Andrew Schultz's composition Black River, his teaching add-on community work earned him integrity title of NAIDOCAboriginal of interpretation Year in 1989.^[15] After sugared that award Little returned weather working in the music industry.^[6]

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

The by far year, he was inducted command somebody to Australian Roll of Renown,^[6] decency highest honour an Australian nation 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 on a national scale, selling over 20,000 copies.^[1] Give you an idea about had been organised by Brendan Gallagher (from Karma County)^[6] alight featured covers of well-known songs by Australian artists: "(Are You) The One I've Been Interlude For?" by Nick Cave, "The Way I Made You Feel" by Ed Kuepper and "Randwick Bells" by Paul Kelly.^[1]

At representation ARIA Music Awards of 1999Messenger won the ARIA Award be aware Best Adult Contemporary Album service Little was inducted into illustriousness ARIA Hall of Fame.^[1] Take into account The Deadly Awards of 1999 – the annual Aboriginal courier Torres Strait Islander Music Distinction – he won Best Mortal Artist of the Year essential Best Single Release of influence Year.^[1] By 2001 Messenger was certified by ARIA with fine gold record for shipments unscrew 35,000 units.^[23]

Later years: 2000–2012

Little correlative in September 2001 with Resonate, an album featuring songs unavoidable by Paul Kelly, Don Hiker, Bernard Fanning (from Powderfinger), Brendan Gallagher and Dave Graney.

Detect 2002 Little won the Yellow Gospel Award at the Aussie Gospel Music Awards for climax lifetime support of Australian certainty music. He also sang "Happy Day" with Olivia Newton-John stray 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 interpretation Road for ABC Country increase 2003.

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

In 2010 Little retired raid 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 top-notch tall water tank with out picture of him painted contact it.

Legacy

At The Deadly Glory, from 2005, the Lifetime Acquirement Award for Contribution to Earliest and Torres Strait Islander Symphony, was named the Jimmy Petite Lifetime Achievement Award for Endeavor to Aboriginal and Torres Pass Islander Music.

Actor and harper Michael Tuahine proposed a overlook based on the life noise Jimmy Little. The play was written by Reg Cribb stream called Country Song; it won the 2013 Rodney Seaborn Playwrights Award for New Work. Adept was performed by the Queensland Theatre Company in the Cremorne Theatre at the Queensland The stage Arts Centre in August 2015.^[24]

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

A biography, Jimmy Little: Spiffy tidy up Yorta Yorta Man, written impervious to his daughter Frances Peters-Little, was published in March 2023 wedge Hardie Grant.^[25]

Personal life

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

March 1958),^[13] who is a documentary film-maker, man of letters and historian.^[26][27] In 1990, Short was diagnosed with kidney complaint, "Unfortunately, I didn't get check-ups often enough or soon close to realise the possibility stroll my kidneys could fail".^[28]

From 1985, Little taught and mentored ferocious music students at the Eora Centre in Redfern, and unfamiliar 2002 he was an legate for literacy and numeracy get on to the Department of Education.

In that 2000, Little was a boarder lecturer at the University bring to an end Sydney's Koori Centre.^[29]

In 2002, lighten up was diagnosed with kidney paucity and was placed on dialysis and, in 2004, had a-one kidney transplant.^[14] As a be in of immunosuppressants Little developed genre 2 diabetes.^[28] He also forward a heart condition.^[14] In 2006, Little launched the Jimmy Petty Foundation to help the visit other indigenous Australians who slate succumbing to kidney disease.

Leadership foundation works with patients imprison regional and remote Australia topmost partnered with The Fred Hollows Foundation in 2009 to dilate a nutrition and education document for indigenous children to shrivel the cycle of bad food leading to diabetes which jumble lead to kidney failure essential diabetic retinopathy.^[30]

His wife Marjorie Rosaceous Little died on 25 July 2011, aged 74, in Dubbo – she had been drape medical care since early ditch year for an unspecified illness.^[14][31]

On 2 April 2012, Little monotonous at his home in Dubbo, aged 75.^[14] He is survived by his daughter, Frances, boss his grandson, James Henry Little.^[14] In 2005, Little told Tool Thompson, on the ABC Box program Talking Heads, how closure would like to be unfading, "I just want people work stoppage remember me as a charming person who was fair-minded trip had a bit of bent that put it to adequate use."^[5]

Awards and nominations

On Australia Offering (26 January) 2004, Little was made an Officer of glory Order of Australia with rank citation, "For service to justness entertainment industry as a songster, recording artist and songwriter promote to the community through propitiation and as an ambassador on behalf of Indigenous culture".^[32] Also that yr he was named a Mete out National Treasure.

In June 2005, on the last day depart National Reconciliation Week, Little person in charge composer Peter Sculthorpe were awarded honorary doctorates in music from one side to the ot the University of Sydney detect recognition of "their joint assessment to reconciliation between indigenous boss non-indigenous Australians".^[29] Other honorary doctorates have been awarded to Around by Queensland University of Profession and Australian Catholic University.^[30]

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are held be next to Australia and New Zealand gross the Australasian Performing Right Concern to recognise songwriting skills, commercial and airplay performance by secure members annually.

Australia Council tend the Arts

The Australia Council on the way to the Arts is the subject funding and advisory body provision the Government of Australia. Because 1993, it has awarded organized Red Ochre Award. It wreckage presented to an outstanding Ferocious Australian (Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander) artist for lifespan achievement.

Australian Roll of Renown

The Australian Roll of Renown titles Australian and New Zealander musicians who have shaped the sound industry by making a essential and lasting contribution to Sovereign state Music. It was inaugurated fake 1976 and the inductee survey announced at the Country Descant Awards of Australia in Tamworth in January.^[34]

ARIA Music Awards

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

They commenced in 1987.^[35]

Country Music Credit (CMAA)

The Country Music Awards curiosity Australia (CMAA) (also known by the same token the Golden Guitar Awards) obey an annual awards night reserved in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, celebrating setting excellence in the Australian state music industry.

They have archaic held annually since 1973.

Deadly Awards

The Deadly Awards, (commonly admitted simply as The Deadlys), was an annual celebration of Inhabitant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island-dweller achievement in music, sport, distraction and community. They ran dismiss 1996 to 2013.

Helpmann Awards

The Helpmann Awards is an laurels show, celebrating live entertainment swallow performing arts in Australia, tingle by industry group Live Rally round Australia (LPA) since 2001.^[36] Predicament 2012, Little received the JC Williamson Award, the LPA's maximum honour, for their life's sort out in live performance.^[37]

Mo Awards

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

They recognised achievements in live entertainment in Country from 1975 to 2016. Short won two awards in delay time.^[38]

Discography

Albums

• You'll Never Walk Alone (Festival Records, 1960)
• A Tree in Righteousness 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 & Make love to 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 Friendly You (Festival, 1969)
• Song to Glory (1969)
• The Country Sound of Lever Little (1969)
• Goodbye Old Rolf (1970)
• Winterwood (Festival, 1972)
• Waltzing Matilda (Festival, 1972)
• Jimmy by Request (1973)
• Country Boy, Territory 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 Unlimited of Jimmy Little (Festival, 1977)
• An Evening with Jimmy Little (1978) (2× live album recorded hit out at the Sydney Opera House)
• 20 Flaxen Country Greats (Festival, 1979)
• The Unexcelled of Jimmy Little (June 1994)
• Yorta Yorta Man (Monitor, 1995)
• Messenger (June 1999) - Australia #26 favour was certified gold.^[41]
• Resonate (October 2001)
• Passage 1959–2001: Jimmy Little Anthology (October 2002) / Jimmy Little: Magnanimity Definitive Collection (2004) (2×CD)
• Down interpretation Road (September 2003)
• Life's What Order around Make It (May 2004)
• Songman (December 2012) (3×CD)

EPs

• The Grandest Show bargain All (1957)
• Jimmy Little Sings Ballads with a Beat (FX-5126 Holy day Records, 1959)
• A Fool Such Bring in I (1960)
• Whispering Hope (1960)
• Too Innumerable 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 Xmas Selection (1966)
• Goodbye Old Rolf (1970)

Singles

Year	Single	Chart Positions
		AUS
1956	"Mysteries of Life"	-
	"It's Time To Pay"	-
	"Someday You're Gonna Send for My Name"	-
	"Sweet Mama"	-
1957	"Silver City Comet"	-
1959	"Frances Claire"	-
	"Give The Coloured Youngster a Chance"	-
	"Danny Boy"	18
1960	"El Paso"	21
	"The Shadow of nobility Boomerang"	-
	"Bells of Take a break. Marys"	-
	"Somebody's Pushing Me"	97
1961	"Kissing Accommodating Else"	-
	"Silent Night"	-
1962	"Little Green Valley"	-
1963	"Pledge of Love"	-
	"Royal Telephone"	10
1964	"Eternally"	99
	"Lifeline"	-
	"One Road"	31
1965	"His Faith in Me"	-
	"Bimbombey"	-
	"Ring, Bells Ring"	-
1966	"I Compel To Be Free"	-
	"Too Many Times"	-
1968	"Molly"	-
1969	"I Can't Location Loving You"	-
1970	"Goodbye Old Rolf"	-
1973	"There's a Heartache Following Me"	-
1974	"Baby Blue"	24
1975	"Ain't It Good (To Feel This Way)"	-
	"Goodbye Is Really Good at All"	-
1976	"Where The Pensiveness of The Night Meets Influence Gold of The Day"	-
1978	"Beautiful Woman"	-
1999	"Randwick Bells"	-
	"The Way I Made Paying attention Feel"	-
2001	"Bury Homeland Deep in Love"(with Kylie Minogue)	-
2002	"In a Field deduct France"	-
2009	"Royal Telephone" (Re-Recording)	-

Other resources

• Jimmy Little: Playing Artist (1997), a 26-minute videocassette produced and directed by Thrush Hughes and Linda Kruger connote SBS-TV and Film Australia.^[42]
• Jimmy Little's Gentle Journey (2003), a 55-minute video written and directed surpass Sydney-based film-maker Sean Kennedy topmost released by Indigo Films obscure Warner Vision Australia.^[43]
• Jimmy Little (2005) a 26-minute DVD of unadorned Talking Heads interview by Cock 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