Archibald William Roach was born on 8 January 1956. According to Roach, "My name is Archie Roach and I represent 'Nature's gifts' because my song ''Took the Children Away'' won a human rights award. My lyrics draw attention to the hardship and humiliation suffered by many Indigenous Australians"; "I was born in Mooroopna, way there by the river bend.".Mooroopna is named after an Aboriginal word referring to a bend in the Goulburn River, near Shepparton in central Victoria.
In 1956, Archie Roach's family, along with the rest of the area's Indigenous population, were re-housed on Rumbalara mission. Roach and his family subsequently moved to Framlingham, where his mother had been born. While still a very young child, Roach and his sisters, along with the other Indigenous Australian children of the stolen generations, were forcibly removed from their family by Australian government agencies and placed in an orphanage. After enduring two unpleasant placements in foster care Roach was eventually fostered by the Coxes, a family of Scottish immigrants in Melbourne. The Coxes' eldest daughter, Mary, played keyboards and guitar in a local Pentecostal church, and taught Roach the basics of both instruments. He was further inspired by his foster father's record collection, which included old Scottish ballads and songs by Billie Holiday, the Ink Spots, the Drifters and Nat King Cole.
As a young man, Roach received a letter from an older sister, describing to him the events of their childhood. Angry and hurt, he left his foster home carrying only a guitar. Penniless, he travelled to Sydney and Adelaide, and spent time living on the streets, trying to make sense of his upbringing and find his natural family. He went through periods of alcoholism and despair, but also began to produce music. During this time Roach met his lifelong partner, and musical soulmate, Ruby Hunter. They started a family. Later in their marriage, their home became an open house for teenage Aborigines living on the streets.
In the late 1980s Hunter and Roach formed a band, the Altogethers, with several other Indigenous Australians, and moved to Melbourne. There he was overheard by a bandmate of songwriter Paul Kelly, who persuaded Kelly to give Roach an opening slot for some of his concerts. In 1990, with the encouragement of Kelly, Roach recorded his debut solo album, 'Charcoal Lane'. This album included the song ''Took the Children Away'', a moving indictment of the treatment of indigenous children of Roach's generation, and a song which 'struck a chord' not only among the wider Aboriginal community, but also nationally. The song was awarded two ARIA Awards, as well as an international Human Rights Achievement Award, the first time this had been awarded to a songwriter because of a song. The album it came from featured in Rolling Stone magazine's Top 100 Albums for 1992.
In May 1993, Roach released his second studio album 'Jamu Dreaming'. The album was recorded with musical assistance from David Bridie, Tiddas, Paul Kelly, Vika and Linda Bull, Ruby Hunter, Dave Arden and Joe Geia. The album peaked at #55 on the ARIA Charts. In October 1997, Roach released his third studio album, 'Looking for Butter Boy' which was recorded on his traditional land at Port Fairy in South-Western Victoria. The album's lead single "Hold On Tight" won the ARIA Award for Best Indigenous Release in 1997 and the album won the same award at the 1998 award ceremony.
In July 2002, Roach released his fourth studio album, 'Sensual Being' which peaked at #59 on the ARIA charts. In 2002, Roach worked on the Rolf de Heer film The Tracker. In 2004, Roach and Hunter collaborated with the Australian Art Orchestra and Paul Grabowsky to create a musical experience titled Ruby. Ruby tells the story of Ruby Hunter from birth near a billabong on banks of the Murray River, through the stolen generation, search for identity and the discovery of hope through love. In 2004, it won The Deadly Awards for "Excellence in Film & Theatrical Score".
In October 2007, Roach released 'Journey', an album of songs as a companion piece to a documentary film called Liyarn Ngarn, made with Archie, Patrick Dodson and Pete Postlethwaite. In 2012, Roach released 'Into the Bloodstream', an album Roach describes as being built on pain following the death of his wife Hunter in February 2010. At the APRA Music Awards of 2015 2015, Roach (and Shane Howard won Best Original Song Composed for the Screen "The Secret River" from The Secret River.
In November 2015 Roach celebrated the 25th anniversary of 'Charcoal Lane' with a deluxe remastered edition. The new edition included a second disc featuring previously unreleased Triple J - 'Live At The Wireless' recordings and new interpretations of classic 'Charcoal Lane' material by various artists. In November and December 2015, Roach undertook a national tour to celebrate the album's 25th anniversary. In November 2016, Roach released his seventh studio album 'Let Love Rule' which peaked at #24 on the ARIA Charts, becoming his highest charting album to date.
In 1956, Archie Roach's family, along with the rest of the area's Indigenous population, were re-housed on Rumbalara mission. Roach and his family subsequently moved to Framlingham, where his mother had been born. While still a very young child, Roach and his sisters, along with the other Indigenous Australian children of the stolen generations, were forcibly removed from their family by Australian government agencies and placed in an orphanage. After enduring two unpleasant placements in foster care Roach was eventually fostered by the Coxes, a family of Scottish immigrants in Melbourne. The Coxes' eldest daughter, Mary, played keyboards and guitar in a local Pentecostal church, and taught Roach the basics of both instruments. He was further inspired by his foster father's record collection, which included old Scottish ballads and songs by Billie Holiday, the Ink Spots, the Drifters and Nat King Cole.
As a young man, Roach received a letter from an older sister, describing to him the events of their childhood. Angry and hurt, he left his foster home carrying only a guitar. Penniless, he travelled to Sydney and Adelaide, and spent time living on the streets, trying to make sense of his upbringing and find his natural family. He went through periods of alcoholism and despair, but also began to produce music. During this time Roach met his lifelong partner, and musical soulmate, Ruby Hunter. They started a family. Later in their marriage, their home became an open house for teenage Aborigines living on the streets.
In the late 1980s Hunter and Roach formed a band, the Altogethers, with several other Indigenous Australians, and moved to Melbourne. There he was overheard by a bandmate of songwriter Paul Kelly, who persuaded Kelly to give Roach an opening slot for some of his concerts. In 1990, with the encouragement of Kelly, Roach recorded his debut solo album, 'Charcoal Lane'. This album included the song ''Took the Children Away'', a moving indictment of the treatment of indigenous children of Roach's generation, and a song which 'struck a chord' not only among the wider Aboriginal community, but also nationally. The song was awarded two ARIA Awards, as well as an international Human Rights Achievement Award, the first time this had been awarded to a songwriter because of a song. The album it came from featured in Rolling Stone magazine's Top 100 Albums for 1992.
In May 1993, Roach released his second studio album 'Jamu Dreaming'. The album was recorded with musical assistance from David Bridie, Tiddas, Paul Kelly, Vika and Linda Bull, Ruby Hunter, Dave Arden and Joe Geia. The album peaked at #55 on the ARIA Charts. In October 1997, Roach released his third studio album, 'Looking for Butter Boy' which was recorded on his traditional land at Port Fairy in South-Western Victoria. The album's lead single "Hold On Tight" won the ARIA Award for Best Indigenous Release in 1997 and the album won the same award at the 1998 award ceremony.
In July 2002, Roach released his fourth studio album, 'Sensual Being' which peaked at #59 on the ARIA charts. In 2002, Roach worked on the Rolf de Heer film The Tracker. In 2004, Roach and Hunter collaborated with the Australian Art Orchestra and Paul Grabowsky to create a musical experience titled Ruby. Ruby tells the story of Ruby Hunter from birth near a billabong on banks of the Murray River, through the stolen generation, search for identity and the discovery of hope through love. In 2004, it won The Deadly Awards for "Excellence in Film & Theatrical Score".
In October 2007, Roach released 'Journey', an album of songs as a companion piece to a documentary film called Liyarn Ngarn, made with Archie, Patrick Dodson and Pete Postlethwaite. In 2012, Roach released 'Into the Bloodstream', an album Roach describes as being built on pain following the death of his wife Hunter in February 2010. At the APRA Music Awards of 2015 2015, Roach (and Shane Howard won Best Original Song Composed for the Screen "The Secret River" from The Secret River.
In November 2015 Roach celebrated the 25th anniversary of 'Charcoal Lane' with a deluxe remastered edition. The new edition included a second disc featuring previously unreleased Triple J - 'Live At The Wireless' recordings and new interpretations of classic 'Charcoal Lane' material by various artists. In November and December 2015, Roach undertook a national tour to celebrate the album's 25th anniversary. In November 2016, Roach released his seventh studio album 'Let Love Rule' which peaked at #24 on the ARIA Charts, becoming his highest charting album to date.
At the APRA Music Awards of 2017 in March 2017, Roach was 2017 won the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music. In April 2018 he performed at the Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony on the Gold Coast with Amy Shark. In November 2019, Roach released a memoir and companion album titled, 'Tell Me Why'. The album's lead single "Open Up Your Eyes" is the first song Roach ever wrote, dating back to the late 1970s, but had not before been recorded. 'Tell Me Why' became Roach's first top-ten album on the ARIA Charts. In March 2022, Roach released his career-spanning anthology, titled 'My Songs: 1989–2021', which was subsequently nominated as the Album of the Year for the 2022 National Indigenous Music Awards two weeks before his death. Roach died on 30 July 2022 at Warrnambool Base Hospital in Victoria, after a long illness.
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archie_Roach
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archie_Roach
Move It On is a great song. Rest in peace to this man with a giant and warm voice that warmed you up. A true icon, legend & upstanding First Nation's human being.
ReplyDeleteHad a cassette copy of 'Charcoal Lane' back in the day :-)
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