COL HARDY

 

Colin Hardy, musician and Gamilaraay man, was born in July 1940 and raised at Brewarrina, north-western New South Wales, one of eleven children. Hardy won a talent quest in Walgett NSW, and did a short tour with the Willie Fennell Travelling Show. He stated ''I grew up with music all around me,” he says. “Before I moved to Sydney, I worked in the shearing shed with my dad and we used to listen to the radio at night. In those days one of my favourite singers was Roy Orbison''.

In 1962, Col moved to Sydney to pursue a career in music. During the 1960's he was part of the Opals a little country outfit, which at times became house-band for Jimmy Little's travelling All Coloured Revue. In Sydney, he worked for the Water Board, while still performing at parties, dances and charity shows. In 1963, he appeared on Bandstand. 

In 1971 he recorded his first EP 'Protest; Protest! on Opal Records based in Tamworth. In 1973 Col recorded his debut album 'Black Gold'. In the same year the first Australasian Country Music Awards was held in Tamworth. Col was the first Aboriginal singer to be awarded with a Golden Guitar. He won the Radio Listener Award, which has not been awarded since. The song ''Black Tracker'' from his second album 'Country' tells its own story of the days when black trackers were called upon by the police to track bushrangers, convicts. Other singers have written songs about black trackers. Brian Young recorded ''Black Man Jacky Jacky'' for his album 'Brian Young Country' in 1976. Throughout the 1970s he toured Australia extensively and performed with some of the biggest names in country music. He would often do club work with Auriel Andrew. In 1979 he was inducted into the Hands of Fame at Tamworth.

In 1983 he released his third album 'Black and White Tangle' followed by 'Remember Me'. In 1990 during NAIDOC Week, Hardy was voted Aboriginal Artist of the Year for New South Wales. In 2007 he won an OAM for service to country music and in 2011 he won the Jimmy Little Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 he recorded his last album 'I Am Me' of songs that were his favourites and held special meaning.

SINGLES

''Don't She Look Good / (A Land They Call) Down Under'' 1972 Opal
''Excuse Me / Words'' 1976 Opal
''Black And White Tangle'' 1983 Opal

EPs
'Protest; Protest!' 1971 Opal 

ALBUMS
'Black Gold' 1973 Opal 
'Country' 1978 Opal 
'Black & White Tangle' 1983 Opal 
'Remember Me' 1991 Opal 
'I Am Me' 2014 Swingin Doors Studio