Archie Roach
| Archie Roach | |
|---|---|
 Roach in 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Archibald William Roach |
| Born | (1956-01-08) 8 January 1956 Mooroopna, Victoria, Australia |
| Genres | Alternative rock, world music, roots |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, six-string guitar |
| Years active | 1980s – present |
| Labels | Mushroom Records Liberation Music ABC Music |
| Associated acts | The Altogethers Ruby Hunter |
Archibald William "Archie" Roach, AM[1] (born 8 January 1956, Mooroopna)[2] is an Australian musician. He is a singer, songwriter and guitarist, as well as a campaigner for the rights of Indigenous Australians.
Roach's debut solo album, Charcoal Lane, was released in 1990. It featured the song "Took the Children Away", which was added to the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia registry in 2013.[3]
Also in 2013 he won a Deadly Award for Lifetime Contribution to Healing the Stolen Generations as well as for Album of the Year. Along with fellow Deadly winner Pat O'Shane, he called for an end to the Northern Territory Intervention.[4] Roach has toured around the globe, headlining and opening shows for Joan Armatrading, Bob Dylan, Billy Bragg, Tracy Chapman, Suzanne Vega and Patti Smith.[5]
Contents
1 Life and career
1.1 1956-1980s: Early life
1.2 1989-2000 : Charcoal Lane, Jamu Dreaming and Looking for Butter Boy
1.3 2001-2009: Sensual Being and Journey, death of Ruby Hunter
1.4 2010-present: Into the Bloodstream and Let Love Rule
2 Personal life
3 Awards and honours
3.1 ARIA Awards
3.2 Other awards and honours
4 Discography
4.1 Studio albums
4.2 Live albums
4.3 Soundtrack albums
4.4 Compilation albums
5 Singles
5.1 As lead artist
5.2 Other singles
6 References
7 External links
Life and career
1956-1980s: Early life
Archibald William Roach was born on 8 January 1956 in Mooroopna, Victoria. Mooroopna is named after an Aboriginal word referring to a bend in the Goulburn River, near Shepparton in central Victoria.[2] 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."[2] In 1956, 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.[6]
At the age of 4, 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.[7] After two unpleasant placements in foster care, Roach was eventually fostered by Alex and Dulcie Cox, a family of Scottish immigrants in Melbourne.[8] Alex Cox would sing traditional ballads and introduced Roach to guitar and keyboards. Roach said "He was a big influence on me — a good influence. I'll love him to the day I die."[8]
At the age of fifteen, Roach was contacted by his natural sister, who told him their birth mother had just died. He spent the next fourteen years on the streets, battling alcoholism. Roach met his future wife, Ruby Hunter, at a Salvation Army drop-in centre when she was sixteen.[7]
1989-2000 : Charcoal Lane, Jamu Dreaming and Looking for Butter Boy
In the late 1980s, Roach and Hunter formed a band, the Altogethers, with several other Indigenous Australians and moved to Melbourne. Roach wrote his first song, "Took the Children Away", which he performed on a community radio station in Melbourne and on an Indigenous current affairs program in 1988. Australian musician Paul Kelly invited Roach to open his concert early in 1989, where he performed "Took the Children Away", a song telling the story of the Stolen Generations and his own experience of being forcibly removed from his family.[9] His performance was met with stunned silence, followed by shattering applause.[7]
In 1990, with the encouragement of Kelly, Roach recorded his debut solo album, Charcoal Lane, which was released in May 1990. The album was certified gold and awarded two ARIA Awards at the 1991 ceremony. The album included "Took the Children Away" which became one of the most important songs in Australia's contemporary history.[10] In 1992, it won an international Human Rights Achievement Award and featured in the top 50 albums for 1992 by Rolling Stone magazine.[7]
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.[11] The album peaked at number 55 on the ARIA Charts.
In 1995, Roach toured extensively throughout the US, Canada, the UK and Europe. He returned to Australia to record the title track for ATSIC's Native Title CD, Our Home, Our Land, with Tiddas, Kev Carmody, Bart Willoughby, Shane Howard and Bunna Laurie. In 1996, Roach performed as part of a presentation to the Human Rights Commission's Inquiry into the Stolen Generations, before embarking on a national tour as a guest of Tracy Chapman.[12]
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.[11] 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.
2001-2009: Sensual Being and Journey, death of Ruby Hunter
In July 2002, Roach released his fourth studio album, Sensual Being, which peaked at number 59 on the ARIA charts. In 2002, he 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 her birth near a billabong on the 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".[13]
In October 2007, Roach released Journey, an album of songs as a companion piece to a documentary film called Liyarn Ngarn, made with Roach, Patrick Dodson and Pete Postlethwaite.[14]
In November 2009, ABC Music released previously unreleased Roach recordings from 1988 under the album title 1988.
2010-present: Into the Bloodstream and Let Love Rule
Roach performing at WOMADelaide in 2011.
In October 2012, Roach released Into the Bloodstream, an album he described as being built on pain following the death of his wife in February 2010. [15]
In October 2013, Roach released Creation, a 4-CD box set of his first four studio albums. The album was released to coincide with the premiere of Roach's new live show, also entitled Creation, which debuted at the inaugural Boomerang Festival in Byron Bay from 4-6 October 2013.[16]
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.[17]
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.[18]
In November 2016, Roach released his seventh studio album, Let Love Rule, which peaked at number 24 on the ARIA Charts, becoming his highest charting album to date.
At the APRA Music Awards of 2017 in March 2017, Roach won the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music.[9]
In April 2018, Roach performed at the Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony on the Gold Coast with Amy Shark.[19]
Personal life
Roach (right) with Ruby Hunter at the 2009 Tamworth Country Music Festival
Roach currently lives on a homestead near Berri, South Australia, with his children. His home has become something of a refuge for troubled Aboriginal youngsters, now dealing with some of the problems he himself faced.[citation needed] Roach is a supporter of Justice Action, a criminal justice reform organisation based in Sydney, Australia.
Roach's wife, Ruby Hunter, died on 17 February 2010 aged 54. On 14 October 2010, Roach suffered a stroke while working in the Kimberley region.[5] After recuperating, he returned to live performance in April 2011. He has also survived lung cancer, due to early diagnosis in 2011 and major surgery.[20]
Awards and honours
ARIA Awards
Roach has received five ARIA Music Awards from fourteen nominations.[21]
| Year | Nominee/work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Charcoal Lane | ARIA Award for Best New Talent | Won |
| ARIA Award for Best Indigenous Release | Won | ||
| ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist – Album | Nominated | ||
| "Took the Children Away" | ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist – Single | Nominated | |
| 1992 | "Down City Streets" | Best Indigenous Release | Nominated |
| 1994 | Jamu Dreaming | Best Indigenous Release | Nominated |
| 1997 | "Hold On Tight" | Best Indigenous Release | Won |
| 1998 | Looking for Butter Boy | Best Indigenous Release | Won |
| ARIA Award for Best Adult Contemporary Album | Won | ||
| 2002 | Sensual Being | Best Adult Contemporary Album | Nominated |
| The Tracker | ARIA Award for Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album | Nominated | |
| 2008 | Journey | ARIA Award for Best World Music Album | Nominated |
| 2010 | 1988 | Best World Music Album | Nominated |
| 2013 | Into the Bloodstream | ARIA Award for Best Blues and Roots Album | Nominated |
Other awards and honours
- Roach was one of the first people inducted to the Victorian Aboriginal HonourRoll in 2011.[22]
- In 2015, Roach was honoured in the Queen's Birthday Honours list as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to music as a singer-songwriter, guitarist and a prominent supporter of social justice.[23]
- At the APRA Music Awards of 2017 he won the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music.[24][25]
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Album details |
|---|---|---|---|
AUS [26] | |||
Charcoal Lane |
| 86 |
|
Jamu Dreaming |
| 55 | |
Looking for Butter Boy |
| 52 | |
Sensual Being |
| 59 | |
Journey |
| [A] | |
Into the Bloodstream |
| 49 | |
Let Love Rule |
| 24 | |
Dancing with My Spirit |
| - | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||
Live albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
AUS [26] | |||
Ruby (with Ruby Hunter, Paul Grabowsky and Australian Art Orchestra) |
| - | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||
Soundtrack albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
AUS [26] | |||
The Tracker |
| [B] | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||
Compilation albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
AUS [26] | |||
The Definitive Collection |
| - | |
Music Deli Presents Archie Roach 1988 |
| - | |
Creation |
| - | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||
Notes
^ Journey did not enter the ARIA Top 100 Albums Chart, but peaked at number 8 on the ARIA Hitseekers Chart.[28]
^ The Tracker did not enter the ARIA Top 100 Albums Chart, but peaked at number 14 on the ARIA Hitseekers Chart.[29]
Singles
As lead artist
This list of songs or music-related items is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
This list of songs or music-related items is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Took the Children Away" | 1990 | Charcoal Lane |
| "Down City Streets" | 1991 | |
| "From Paradise" | 1993 | Jamu Dreaming |
| "Walking into Doors"" | ||
| "Hold On Tight" | 1997 | Looking For Butter Boy |
| "Watching Over Me" | ||
| "All Men Choose the Path They Walk" | 2002 | The Tracker |
| "Alien Invasion" | Sensual Being | |
| "A Child Was Born Tonight" | 2005 | Ruby |
| "Song to Sing"[30] | 2012 | Into the Bloodstream |
| "We Won't Cry"[31] | ||
| "Colour of Your Jumper"[32] | 2013 | |
| "Freedom" (Mau Power featuring Archie Roach)[33] | 2014 | |
| "It's Not Too Late"[34] | 2016 | Let Love Rule |
| "Get Back to the Land"[35] |
Other singles
| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| "Our Home, Our Land" (as Various Artists) | 1995 |
| "Yil Lull" (as Singers For The Red Black & Gold) | 1998 |
| "You're the Voice"[36] (as United Voices Against Domestic Violence) | 2017 |
| "Song for Elijah (Wrap Our Arms Around You)"[37] (as Various Artists) | 2017 |
References
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to Archie Roach. |
^ "Queen's birthday honours". Sydney Morning Herald. 8 June 2015..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ abc Roach, Archie (1999). "Roach, Archie". HistorySmiths. National Library of Australia. Archived from the original on 23 January 2001. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
^ "National Film and Sound Archive". Sounds of Australia. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
^ "Deadly Archie wants action from Abbott". Sydney Morning Herald. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
^ ab "Aboriginal singer Archie Roach recovering from stroke". Daily Telegraph. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
^ Roach, A. (2002) lyrics to "Move It On" on Sensual Being
^ abcd "Archie Roach, 1992 (printed 2010)". portrait. 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
^ ab "From stolen child to Indigenous leader: Archie Roach sings the songs that signpost his life". ABC. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
^ ab "Archie Roach Receives Ted Albert Award". APRA AMCOS. 27 March 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
^ "Archie Roach's song: 'Took the Children Away'". Rumington. July 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
^ ab "Artist Archie Roach". ABC. 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
^ "Archie Roach Deadly". Deadly. November 2007. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
^ "Ruby's Story". AAO. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
^ "Archie Roach - Journey Archie's 2007 Studio Album on CD". Captain Stomp. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
^ "Out of the pain, a spirit rises". SMH. 19 October 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
^ "ARCHIE ROACH 4CD SET 'CREATION' IS OUT NOW!". Facebook. 3 October 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
^ "2015 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS". APRA AMCOS. 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
^ "Charcoal Lane (25th Anniversary Edition)". JBHiFi. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
^ "Commonwealth Games closing ceremony a disastrous finish to a brilliant event". Courier Mail. 15 April 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
^ "Into the Bloodstream, Archie Roach". ABC. 5 November 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
^ "ARIA Awards - History". Australian Record Industry Association. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
^ "2011 Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll". www.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
^ "Queens Birthday honours 2015: full list". 8 June 2015.
^ Brandle, Lars (27 March 2017). "Archie Roach to Receive Australia's Ted Albert Award". Billboard. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
^ "Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
^ abcd Australian (ARIA Chart) peaks:
- Top 50 peaks: "australian-charts.com > Archie Roach in Australian Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
- Top 100 peaks to December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- for Charcoal Lane and Sensual Being: "ARIA Report Issue 1183" (PDF). October 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
- Top 50 peaks: "australian-charts.com > Archie Roach in Australian Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
^ "Songlines Archie Roach". Retrieved 8 October 2018.
^ "ARIA Report Issue 925" (PDF). ARIA. November 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
^ "ARIA Report Issue 651" (PDF). ARIA. 19 August 2002. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
^ "Song to Sing (Official Video)". YouTube. October 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
^ "Archie Roach - We Won't Cry (featuring Paul Kelly)". airit. 8 October 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
^ "Colour of Your Jumper - single". iTunes Australia. 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
^ "Freedom - single". iTunes Australia. 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
^ "It's Not Too Late (Official Video)". YouTube. August 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
^ "Get Back to the Land (Official Video)". YouTube. November 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
^ "You're the Voice - single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
^ "Song for Elijah (Wrap Our Arms Around You) - single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
External links
- Official website
- "Archie's road" 2002 article
- Roach's entry at allmusic.com
- Festival Mushroom artist information
- "Archie Roach suffers a stroke", SMH, 15 October 2010
Authority control  |
|
|---|
