CANDY WILLIAMS

 

Claude ‘Candy’ Williams was an Aboriginal musician, actor and activist who made an important contribution to Australian music, television and Aboriginal advocacy during the mid-twentieth century. Born in 1929 at Erambie Mission, near Cowra in New South Wales, Williams developed a career that crossed music and acting. In 1957, he was best man at famous country singer Jimmy Little's wedding. During the 1960s, he appeared on a number of television programs aimed at teenage audiences and toured with Jimmy Little’s All Coloured Show. He also recorded for the Rex label. Williams established himself as an actor at a time when Aboriginal performers had relatively few opportunities in Australian film and television. In 1961, he played Charlie in the television production Burst of Summer, based on Oriel Gray’s stage play, and by 1963 had appeared in two films made for television. He later appeared in the television series Wandjina! and in two episodes of A Country Practice.

Music was also an important part of the Williams family. Candy’s brother, Harry Williams, performed in a musical duo with Wilga Munro, who later became his wife and was known as Wilga Williams. Harry and Wilga were also associated with the band the Country Outcasts. Candy performed with the Country Outcasts as well, touring throughout New South Wales and Victoria. Beyond his career as an entertainer, Williams was a committed advocate for Aboriginal people. He was a member of the Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs and the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI), organisations involved in the struggle for Aboriginal rights and social equality. Williams lived in Sydney with his family until his death in 1983 from a urinary tract infection. His contribution to Aboriginal music was recognised posthumously in 2002, when he received a Deadly Award for Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal Music.

SINGLES
''Thou Shalt Not / My Blue Heaven'' 1960 Rex
''Five Brothers'' 1960 Rex

EPs

'Rex 4 Star' *Candy has a track on this EP ''My Blue Heaven''

References

https://ia.anu.edu.au/biography/williams-claude-candy-31741