Rose Bygrave (born 1955) grew up in Western Victoria and later attended art school in Ballarat and Melbourne. Her musical career began in 1979 (early band: The Salty Dogs). Bygrave was invited to join The Goanna Band, rising to prominence as keyboardist/vocalist alongside Shane Howard and Marcia Howard in the early '80s. The band recorded three albums and toured extensively, performing in some of the remotest areas of Australia and forging strong bonds with Aboriginal people and their culture. Their debut album 'Spirit of Place' won the ARIA Best Album of the Year, 1982, with "Solid Rock" winning Best Single of the Year. In 1986 she toured briefly playing reggae with Wendy Saddington with Mick Liber (ex-Python Lee Jackson) on guitar, Angelica Booth on bass, Javier Fredis on congas and Des McKenna on drums.
Bygrave issued a solo single, "Maybe Midnight" in June 1989 and commenced work on a solo album but nothing eventuated. Bygrave began performing solo in 1991 and has worked as a sought-after session musician. Goanna reprised with a fourth album, 'Spirit Returns', in 1998, on which Bygrave contributed three songs. The album was released at the Melbourne Concert Hall as part of the 1999 Melbourne International Festival Program. Between 1998-99 Bygrave was involved as a mentor in the Aboriginal Song Lines program, which fosters emerging indigenous musicians.
In mid-1999, Bygrave produced and released her first solo album 'White Bird'. Four of the songs were added to compilation CDs and America's Mollie O'Brien recorded one of the songs as well. In 2000 at the Woodford Folk Festival Bygrave was invited to be the soloist with the choir during the famous fire event. This was broadcast live to 1.5 billion people on a worldwide link via the BBC. In 2001 she released her second solo album 'Walking Home'. In 2002, Bygrave performed as the support act for Luka Bloom on his Australian National tour. In December that year she organised a major Benefit Concert called 'Bridges to Bali' to raise money for the Balinese victims of the terrorist attack.
From 2003 to 2004, she continued her work as a musical mentor/Artist in residence to troubled young people in regional Australia. She supported Dennis Locorriere and Paul Brady on their respective National Tours. Some of Bygrave's songs have also selected for use on various soundtracks. Bygrave's work is renowned for compassionate songwriting - reflecting on the land, love, and especially issues of indigenous and social justice - and her voice and musicianship are regarded as among the best in Australian contemporary folk. In 2009 she released a third solo album, 'North', which was released at the Port Fairy Folk Festival.
In 2011, Rose collaborated with long-time friend and Goanna Member Marcia Howard, to produce a CD called 'Pearl'. The CD was written and recorded by them at their respective home studios and once again launched at Port Fairy Folk Festival to capacity crowds. They continue to work together with Jon Emry Playing Drums, Isaac Barter- Bass and Matiss Schubert on Mandolin and Fiddle. In 2014 Bygrave wrote and arranged the anthemic song "Carry Memory", for a 60-piece choir from the Geelong region. This project culminated in a performance of the song at Sunset, to a large audience in the YouYang Mountains near Geelong, Victoria. The song was commissioned by The City of Greater Geelong as part of the Mouth2Mountain Song Lines inaugural community arts program directed by Meme McDonald. The song was recorded with the choir in 2014 as part of the soundtrack to that event.
In 2015 Bygrave was invited by longtime friend and legendary Aboriginal musician Bart Willoughby, to perform as part of his band on his 'We Still Live On' tour. The performance centred around Willoughby's exploration of his songs played by him on the Grand Organ. Rose contributed vocals and keyboards during this tour and backing vocals. Bygrave lives in Queenscliff, Victoria with her husband writer and poet Barry Hill.
In mid-1999, Bygrave produced and released her first solo album 'White Bird'. Four of the songs were added to compilation CDs and America's Mollie O'Brien recorded one of the songs as well. In 2000 at the Woodford Folk Festival Bygrave was invited to be the soloist with the choir during the famous fire event. This was broadcast live to 1.5 billion people on a worldwide link via the BBC. In 2001 she released her second solo album 'Walking Home'. In 2002, Bygrave performed as the support act for Luka Bloom on his Australian National tour. In December that year she organised a major Benefit Concert called 'Bridges to Bali' to raise money for the Balinese victims of the terrorist attack.
From 2003 to 2004, she continued her work as a musical mentor/Artist in residence to troubled young people in regional Australia. She supported Dennis Locorriere and Paul Brady on their respective National Tours. Some of Bygrave's songs have also selected for use on various soundtracks. Bygrave's work is renowned for compassionate songwriting - reflecting on the land, love, and especially issues of indigenous and social justice - and her voice and musicianship are regarded as among the best in Australian contemporary folk. In 2009 she released a third solo album, 'North', which was released at the Port Fairy Folk Festival.
In 2011, Rose collaborated with long-time friend and Goanna Member Marcia Howard, to produce a CD called 'Pearl'. The CD was written and recorded by them at their respective home studios and once again launched at Port Fairy Folk Festival to capacity crowds. They continue to work together with Jon Emry Playing Drums, Isaac Barter- Bass and Matiss Schubert on Mandolin and Fiddle. In 2014 Bygrave wrote and arranged the anthemic song "Carry Memory", for a 60-piece choir from the Geelong region. This project culminated in a performance of the song at Sunset, to a large audience in the YouYang Mountains near Geelong, Victoria. The song was commissioned by The City of Greater Geelong as part of the Mouth2Mountain Song Lines inaugural community arts program directed by Meme McDonald. The song was recorded with the choir in 2014 as part of the soundtrack to that event.
In 2015 Bygrave was invited by longtime friend and legendary Aboriginal musician Bart Willoughby, to perform as part of his band on his 'We Still Live On' tour. The performance centred around Willoughby's exploration of his songs played by him on the Grand Organ. Rose contributed vocals and keyboards during this tour and backing vocals. Bygrave lives in Queenscliff, Victoria with her husband writer and poet Barry Hill.
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Bygrave
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Bygrave
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