John Williamson

Biography

John Robert Williamson (born 1 November 1945) is an Australian country music and folk music singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, television host and conservationist. Williamson usually writes and performs songs that relate to the history and culture of Australia, particularly the outback, in a similar vein to Slim Dusty and Buddy Williams before him. Williamson has released over fifty albums, ten videos, five DVDs, and two lyric books and has sold more than 4,000,000 albums in Australia. His best known hit is "True Blue×True Blue1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksATrue Blue3:29BA Granda Plan for Landa3:13". On Australia Day (26 January) in 1992 Williamson was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) with the citation: "for service to Australian country music and in stimulating awareness of conservation issues". Williamson has received 28 Golden Guitar trophies at the Country Music Awards of Australia, he has won three ARIA Music Awards for Best Country Album and, in 2010, was inducted into the related Hall of Fame. Williamson has sold over 5 million records in Australia.

Early life

John Robert Williamson was born on 1 November 1945 at Kerang Bush Nursing Hospital to Keith Williamson and Shirley Ellen (née Manuel). He grew up in Quambatook, in the Mallee district of north-western Victoria. His parents farmed wheat crops on various small land lots in the region and both were amateur performing artists singing in local Gilbert & Sullivan productions. Williamson is the oldest of five sons whose names in order are William, Robin, Peter and Jeff.

Origins and beginnings

Williamson's performance style originates from his 'farmland, not city bitumen' lifestyle, and his upbringing is referred to by the nickname, 'The Mallee Boy'. His early musical influences were Roger Miller and Rolf Harris, both of whom provided inspirational elements for his first hit, namely using a vocal imitation from Miller's "Dang Me" and replacing Rolf's wobble board with a Jaw's Harp. From the age of seven he learned to play the ukulele from his father, before proceeding when he was twelve to guitar and taught himself to play harmonica. For the last four years of secondary schooling Williamson attended Scotch College in Melbourne. In the early 1960s, while still at college, he formed a folk music group. After schooling Williamson returned home to become a farmer and, in 1965, the family moved to Croppa Creek, near Moree, where Williamson began performing at a local restaurant.

1970s

In 1969, Williamson wrote a novelty song, "Old Man Emu×Old Man Emu28 July 1995 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Old Man Emu2:522Big Country Round2:443Boyhood Story2:524Under the Bridge3:075Heaven's Right Here2:466The Breaker4:067Murrumbidgee Madness3:568True Blue4:059A Granda Plan for Landa3:1610Only a Dog3:1811Springbrook3:4712Send Down the Rain3:1713Hawkesbury River Lovin'3:3814Diggers of the ANZAC3:43", and early the following year he performed the track on TV talent quest, New Faces, winning first place. He later reflected on his songwriting process, and the importance of his guitar, "no matter where I go I'll have one with me, in case I come up with a song, I've got to have the guitar straight away. I always write the words and the music together". In early 1970 he signed a recording contract with Fable Records owner and New Faces's judge, Ron Tudor. In May "Old Man Emu" was released as a single on Tudor's label, which peaked at No. 3 on the Go-Set National Top 60. It was awarded a gold certification and was listed at No. 14 on Go-Set's Top Records for the Year of 1970. His self-titled debut album followed in mid-year and, although it featured "Old Man Emu", it had little commercial success: only selling two-thousand copies. Since "Old Man Emu" was his only hit he had to perform it two or three times per gig. Williamson's follow-up single, "Under the Bridge" backed with "The Unexplored Shadows of Mine×The Unexplored Shadows of MineNovember 1970 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAThe Unexplored Shadows of Mine2:20BUnder the Bridge3:05" was issued in November with certain pressings having its A and B-sides swapped around. By February 1971 the album's third single, "Beautiful Sydney", appeared. A string of non-album singles followed including, in March 1972, "Misery Farm×Misery FarmMarch 1972 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAMisery Farm2:08BSeaside Girls1:41" with Lumpy Pumpkin.
In 1973, Williamson hosted a country music TV series, Travlin' Out West, which ran for two years, broadcast by NBN-3, Newcastle. He performed with two regular acts, Ricky & Tammy, and Emma Hannah. The program provided two albums for the regulars, Travlin' Out West in Concert (1973) and From Travlin' Out West (1974) issued by Reg Grundy Productions. In 1976 he issued his second album, The Comic Strip Cowboy×Comic Strip Cowboy1976 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Comic Strip CowboyA2Engine DriverA3Six Boys in BlueA4Boyhood StoryA5Big Country RoundA6Freedom FrogB1Vegetable SoupB2Highway to the GraveB3J.C. BulginpocketsB4Goin’ Round the BendB5Four Points and Forty BucksB6Dingo Dog, but it failed to chart. In early 1978, Williamson released his first compilation album under the Country Greats×Country Greats1978 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Old Man EmuA2Pitt Street FarmerA3Vegetable SoupA4It’s a Grab It While It’s Going Kind of LifeA5Lonesome PlaygroundA6W‐W‐WallabyB1Come Ride on a Country RoadB2Comic Strip CowboyB3Engine DriverB4TearjerkersB5Madame TooshayB6Melbourne Blue, Melbourne Green series. This was followed later in the year by his third album, Road to Town×Road to Town1978 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Water Water Everywhere2:46A2Heaven’s Right Here2:40A3Lonesome Playground4:10A4Leave the Lights On3:30A5Gotta Get Back2:18A6I Still Cry3:37B1Springbrook3:42B2Only a Dog3:15B3Send Down the Rain3:12B4Road to Town3:56B5Murrumbidgee Madness3:50B6Waratah Rock ’n’ Roll Ball2:00, with contributions by other musicians including Tommy Emmanuel on guitar. Also that year Williamson formed a country music band, Crow, which performed on the pub and club circuit across Australia. In 1980 Crow were renamed as Sydney Radio, to play rock music with a reggae influence. The members used face paint, with Williamson disguised as the clown, Ludwig Leichhardt. Williamson penned rock and reggae numbers for the band some of which were recorded but never released. Since 1970 Williamson has had a friendship with radio presenter, John Laws, who calls Williamson his 'little brother'. In 1977, Williamson recorded and released a single, "It's a Grab It While It's Goin' Kind of Life", which is a musical tribute to Laws. Up until Laws' first retirement on 25 June 2007, Williamson wrote and performed a series of jingles for Laws' morning show on 2UE, and his final jingle was "Hey good on ya Lawsie, you pulled the plug at last". Laws made a successful comeback to radio broadcasting in February 2011, this time at 2SM, part of the Super Radio Network, and Williamson's jingles for his programme resumed.

1980s

In early 1981 Williamson's rock group, Sydney Radio, disbanded and he began playing solo in pubs, which attracted more new fans. He recorded a tribute song for ANZACs, "Diggers of the ANZAC (This Is Gallipoli)", which was well received and issued as a single. Williamson met Pixie Jenkins, a fiddle player, and the two toured together for several years. In April 1981 Williamson issued a single, "The Breaker×The Breaker1981 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAThe Breaker3:57BThe Breaker (instrumental)4:08", featuring narrated vocals by Charles 'Bud' Tingwell, which was inspired by the movie, Breaker Morant (1980) (which had Tingwell as a supporting actor). "The Breaker" enabled Williamson to cast off the "Old Man Emu×Old Man Emu28 July 1995 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Old Man Emu2:522Big Country Round2:443Boyhood Story2:524Under the Bridge3:075Heaven's Right Here2:466The Breaker4:067Murrumbidgee Madness3:568True Blue4:059A Granda Plan for Landa3:1610Only a Dog3:1811Springbrook3:4712Send Down the Rain3:1713Hawkesbury River Lovin'3:3814Diggers of the ANZAC3:43" novelty tag and "[h]is long apprenticeship flowed into an apparently endless set of songs charming Australians with stories and images about themselves and their country". In 1982, he recorded a new track, "True Blue×True Blue1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksATrue Blue3:29BA Granda Plan for Landa3:13", which was included on a compilation album, True Blue: The Best of John Williamson×True Blue: The Best of John Williamson1982 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracksA1Old Man Emu2:49A2Big Country Round2:40A3Boyhood Story2:49A4Under the Bridge2:42A5Heavens Right Here2:42A6The Breaker4:04A7Murrumbidgee Madness3:50B1True Blue3:29B2A Granda Plan for Landa3:13B3Only a Dog3:16B4Springbrook3:42B5Send Down the Rain3:13B6Hawkesbury River Lovin’3:34B7Diggers of the ANZAC (This Is Gallipoli)3:38. Later that year, he issued Fair Dinkum J.W., featuring traditional Australian ballads, "With My Swag upon My Shoulder", "Botany Bay" and "Brisbane Ladies"; as well as originals, "Country Football×Country Football1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 trackACountry Football", "Kill the Night", "Wrinkles" and "(You've Gotta Be) Fair Dinkum", a duet with Karen Johns.
In 1983 Williamson released his first solo live album, Singing in the Suburbs×Singing in the Suburbs6 October 1995 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1It’s Good to Be Me3:442Lillee & McEnroe2:503The Vasectomy Song4:304The Sheik of Scrubby Creek2:535Waratah Rock ’n’ Roll Ball4:076Bound for South Australia2:327And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda6:168Singing at a Party4:559Chain Around My Ankle2:4510I Can’t Feel Those Chains Any Longer3:5011Botany Bay3:0112Stuffed If I Know3:4813Home Among the Gum Trees3:0314Waltzing Matilda3:13 and another live album, The Smell of Gum Leaves×The Smell of Gum Leaves1984 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracksA1Dad’s Flowers3:40A2The Bush Barber2:55A3Good Tobacci When I Smoke2:55A4The Trees Have Now Gone4:05A5The Last of the Pioneers4:00A6Queen in the Sport of Kings3:55A7I’ve Always Been a Drover3:40B1I’m Fair Dinkum3:15B2(As Merv Currawong:) Drunken Duncan2:00B3(As Chad Morgan:) Stoned This Afternoon2:12B4Billabong3:00B5Only 194:50B6We Will Stop the War4:07B7I’Il Be Gone3:45, in September 1984. It featured another comic track, "I'm Fair Dinkum". Williamson then launched his merchandise business, The Fair Dinkum Road Company, in Sydney. The album included his cover version of Spectrum's 1971 single, "I'll Be Gone", which he played using only guitar and harmonica. At the start of 1985 he founded an independent record label, Gumleaf Recordings. At the Country Music Awards of Australia in January that year, he won 'Song of the Year' for "Queen in the Sport of Kings×Queen in the Sport of Kings1984 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAQueen in the Sport of Kings3:55BWe Will Stop the War4:07". He then issued a new compilation, Humble Beginnings, featuring tracks from his first three studio albums. He released another studio album that year, Road Thru the Heart×Road Thru the HeartStudio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1The Dusty Road We Know3:572Old Lou3:033Go to Nashville3:114The Shed2:405You and My Guitar2:476The Least I Can Do (Song for Ethiopia)2:567I Had a Dream2:018Someday an Eagle2:459See You Next Year, Mate3:2410Alice Springs2:5011Cooper Pedy4:5012Stan Coster1:3013Short of a Quid2:0714Goodbye Again2:33. At the Country Music Awards of Australia in January 1986, he won 'Album of the Year' for Road Thru the Heart and 'Male Vocalist of the Year' for "You and My Guitar". In July 1986, Williamson released another compilation, All the Best!×All the Best!1986 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1You and My Guitar2:482Goodbye Blinky Bill3:313Just a Dog3:214Wrinkles4:395Diggers of the Anzac3:386Old Man Emu2:527The Shed2:398Hawkesbury River Lovin’3:319The Breaker4:0510I’m Fair Dinkum3:3011The Bush Barber2:5512Dad’s Flowers3:4113Billabong3:1514Chain Around My Ankle2:3515I Can’t Feel Those Chains Any Longer3:3216The Vasectomy Song3:5217Stuffed If I Know3:3518Home Among the Gum Trees3:05 which contained eighteen of his most-requested tracks both from studio and live works. As a bonus, Williamson collaborated with both of his daughters, Ami and Georgie, and with Australian folk group Bullamakanka on "Goodbye Blinky Bill" – highlighting the comic koala character of the same name. When issued as a single, the purchase price included an A$1.00 donation to the Koala Preservation Society in Port Macquarie. At the Country Music Awards of Australia in January 1986, he won 'Album of the Year' for Road Thru the Heart and 'Male Vocalist of the Year' for "You and My Guitar".
In November 1986 Williamson's Gumleaf Recordings distributed his breakthrough album, Mallee Boy×Mallee Boy1986 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Mallee Boy3:182Galleries of Pink Galahs4:113Back at the Isa2:534Raining on the Rock4:315Three Rivers Hotel3:106Cracker Night2:577True Blue (With Friends)4:028Humpin’ My Bluey3:049The Budgie Song2:4210I’m in the Mood2:5411Cootamundra Wattle3:5212Paint Me a Wheelbarrow2:4513Diamantina Drover3:0314Show Me a Better Way3:27, which peaked in the Top 10 on the Kent Music Report Albums Chart. It remained in the top 50 for a year-and-a-half, and was awarded a triple platinum certificate. It was "filled with storytelling that spanned from his own beginnings on that farm in the Victorian Mallee to every corner of the nation". At the ARIA Music Awards of 1987, Mallee Boy was named the inaugural winner of Best Country Album. At the Country Music Awards of Australia in January 1987, he won 'Album of the Year' for Mallee Boy and 'Male Vocalist of the Year' for "True Blue". Popular tracks include the title song, "Galleries of Pink Galahs" (see Galah), "Raining on the Rock×Raining on the Rock1986 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksARaining on the RockBBack at the Isa" (see Uluru) and "Cootamundra Wattle×Cootamundra Wattle1986 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksACootamundra WattleBSee You Next Year, Mate" (see Acacia baileyana). The album had a re-recorded version of "True Blue" which was released as a single in September. Williamson was asked by the Australian Made Campaign whether they could use "True Blue" for their TV and radio ads. It became a career highlight and was adopted as a theme by the Australia national cricket team. To support Mallee Boy Williamson performed his concerts in a campfire setting and since that time he commences many of his shows with its title track. At the Country Music Awards of Australia in January 1988, he won 'Top Selling Album' for Mallee Boy.
In April 1988 Williamson issued his seventh studio album, Boomerang Café, which peaked at No. 10 on the Kent Music Report. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1989, Boomerang Café won his second award for Best Country Album. At the Country Music Awards of Australia in January 1989, he won 'Top Selling Album' and 'Album of the Year' for Boomerang Café. Despite the title song's lyrics, Williamson has told concert audiences that he did not actually meet his future wife, Mary-Kay, in The Boomerang Café but actually by a water tank. Williamson performed at the opening of the New Parliament House. In September 1989, he issued Warragul (meaning dingo in the Wiradjuri language), which became his first number-one album the following month. That same year Variety Club named him 'Entertainer of the Year'.

1990s

At the Country Music Awards of Australia for 1990, John Williamson won 'Top Selling Album' and 'Album of the Year' for Warragul×Warragul1989 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Dingo3:232Why They Call Him Sundown4:043Station Cook2:444Drover’s Boy3:385Ancient Mountains4:326Charters Towers2:517Boogie With M’ Baby5:248Special Girl2:41940 Years Ago3:3310Amazing Day3:1211Longreach Is Praying3:1112Bill the Cat3:3713Big Bad Bushranger2:4014Rip Rip Woodchip5:0315Shelter2:51, and 'Heritage Award' for "Drover's Boy". At the ARIA Music Awards of 1990, Warragul earned his third Best Country Album award. In October 1990 Williamson released JW's Family Album which reached No. 21. In 1990 a new version of "Old Man Emu×Old Man Emu28 July 1995 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Old Man Emu2:522Big Country Round2:443Boyhood Story2:524Under the Bridge3:075Heaven's Right Here2:466The Breaker4:067Murrumbidgee Madness3:568True Blue4:059A Granda Plan for Landa3:1610Only a Dog3:1811Springbrook3:4712Send Down the Rain3:1713Hawkesbury River Lovin'3:3814Diggers of the ANZAC3:43" appeared as a single, with a new lyric added: "He can run the pants off a dingo too". In September 1992 his next album, Waratah St, was released it reached No. 14 on the ARIA Albums Chart, and had received a gold certificate on pre-sale orders. At the Country Music Awards of Australia in January 1992, he won 'Top Selling Album' for JW's Family Album.
Late in 1991 he combined with other country musicians, Slim Dusty, Joy McKean, Phil Matthews and Max Ellis to organise the founding of the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA), which "would fight for the interests of the Australian country music industry particularly in regard to the Awards". It was launched in January 1992 with Dusty as inaugural chairman and Williamson as vice-chairman and later that year CMAA took over the organisation of the Country Music Awards of Australia – established in 1973 – from radio station, 2TM based in Tamworth. Williamson's compilation, Australia Calling – All the Best Vol 2, was released in October, which peaked at number 32 and was certified platinum. Its lead single, "Australia Calling", was also released while another new track was the studio recording of "I'll Be Gone", and was used to raise awareness for homeless youth. At the beginning of 1993, Williamson issued Love is a Good Woman, a compilation of his love songs, with new tracks "Good Woman" and "Misty Blue". In September that year, after watching the TV announcement that Sydney had won the bid to host the 2000 Summer Olympics, Williamson wrote "Sydney 2000" and was invited to perform it on the steps of the Sydney Opera House. A year later, it was recorded for his next album, Mulga to Mangoes×Mulga to Mangoes1994 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Aussie Balladeer2:532The Farming Game3:203Seven Year Itch3:184River Crying Out4:145The Buckled Bicycle3:186All Steamy2:427Sydney 20003:278Last Night a Love Song2:529Tropical Fever4:0010Fool to Love You2:0711Little Piss Piddle1:5912Tony M’ Mate2:1613Christmas Waltz3:1514At Lightning Ridge3:1715Pickin’ on Murray2:1316My Oath to Australia2:58, which peaked at No. 14. Associated singles were "Seven Year Itch", "River Crying Out" and "Tropical Fever".
At the Country Music Awards of Australia in January 1995, he won 'Video Track of the Year' for "Tropical Fever" – directed by Mark Jago. During the year he celebrated twenty-five years in the Australian music industry with a new compilation, True Blue×True Blue1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksATrue Blue3:29BA Granda Plan for Landa3:13 – The Very Best of John Williamson, which reached the top 30. It included two new tracks, "Bush Town (The Lawnmower Song)" and "No-one Loves Brisbane Like Jesus". At that time, he published his book, True Blue: Stories and Songs of Australia, which contains the lyrics of his songs and explanations of their composition. Williamson was surprised at the book's launch by Mike Munro as part of the TV documentary series, This is Your Life. He appeared on the series again in 2000 when Slim Dusty was the subject of an episode. At the Country Music Awards of Australia in January 1996, Williamson won 'Top Selling Album' for Mulga to Mangoes. He released Family Album No.2 in September 1996.
In January the following year he was inducted to the Country Music Association of Australia's Roll of Renown. Williamson's thirteenth studio album Pipe Dream×Pipe Dream1997 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 19 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11On the Improve3:212Wedding Ring3:233The Blues Sometimes3:104Coolabah Blue3:225Pipe Dream2:516Vegie Bill3:457Prettiest Girl in the Kimberley3:478The Girl I Met3:159Missin’ the Kisses3:1210Power Over Me3:2311Woman on the Land3:0412Bush Telegraph2:5813Rosewood Hill4:0514Old Pancho4:0015Sir Don3:12Disc 21Behind the Dream30:402Old Farts in Caravan Parks4:043All Good News3:154Raining on the Rock4:18 was released in August 1997 and peaked at No. 6. At the Country Music Awards of Australia for 1998 he won 'Top Selling Album' for Pipe Dream. "Sir Don×Sir Don1996 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Sir Don2My Oath to Australia3Paint Me a Wheelbarrow4Sydney 2000", his tribute to cricketer Donald Bradman, is on the album. Williamson performed "Raining on the Rock×Raining on the Rock1986 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksARaining on the RockBBack at the Isa" as a duet with Warren H Williams. The following year, at the Australian Country Music Awards, the pair won 'Collaboration of the Year'. Williamson soon took part in his short-lived television series on the Seven Network called The Bush Telegraph. Following this for a moderate period, Williamson continued touring Australia and was also releasing a series of compilations. In July 1999 his fourteenth studio album, The Way It Is×The Way It Is1 July 1999 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Campfire on the Road3:352A Thousand Feet2:503Three Sons3:334Queensland Bungalow3:395Wonthaggi4:076Mountain Hideaway3:347Singing in the Rain2:588Would I Be the One3:139We’re Still Here3:2510Happy Birthday My Old Friend3:0011Railwayman5:1812Great Ocean Road3:2413Purple Roses3:1414Do I Love You3:2615Thargomindah (The Way It Is)3:3316The Land of the Truly Free3:10 was released and peaked at No. 10, it went gold after eight weeks. At the end of 1999, he published his first calendar, by using photography from Steve Parish.

2000s

At the Country Music Awards of Australia for 2000 John Williamson won 'Top Selling Album' for The Way It Is×The Way It Is1 July 1999 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Campfire on the Road3:352A Thousand Feet2:503Three Sons3:334Queensland Bungalow3:395Wonthaggi4:076Mountain Hideaway3:347Singing in the Rain2:588Would I Be the One3:139We’re Still Here3:2510Happy Birthday My Old Friend3:0011Railwayman5:1812Great Ocean Road3:2413Purple Roses3:1414Do I Love You3:2615Thargomindah (The Way It Is)3:3316The Land of the Truly Free3:10, 'Heritage Song of the Year' for "Campfire on the Road" and 'Bush Ballad of the Year' for "Three Sons×Three Sons6 December 2019 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Three Sons3:30". He released his next compilation album, Anthems – A Celebration of Australia in August 2000, which peaked at No. 16. A new single, "This Ancient Land", was recorded with country music veteran, Jimmy Little, for Corroboree that year. Other anthem tracks include "A Number on My Back" for the national rugby union team, Wallabies, and "The Baggy Green" with vocals by national cricket captain Steve Waugh. Also on the album are "Waltzing Matilda 2000×Waltzing Matilda 20002000 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAWaltzing Matilda 2000BA Number on My Back (The Wallaby Anthem)" and a studio recording of "Advance Australia Fair" for the first time. He was invited to perform at the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics.
Williamson performed "Sir Don×Sir Don1996 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Sir Don2My Oath to Australia3Paint Me a Wheelbarrow4Sydney 2000" at Bradman's Memorial Service in Adelaide in 2001. The original scraps of paper he used to compose the track are displayed in the Bradman Museum, Bowral. He also represented Australia when performing at the Opening Ceremony of Winterlude in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. In April 2002, Williamson released his fifteenth studio album, Gunyah×Gunyah2002 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Sing You the Outback3:482Frangipani Bay3:023Cape York Peninsula3:054Granny’s Little Gunyah2:585Butter Outa Grass3:466A Mighty Big River3:007Around Jindabyne3:338The Devil’s Boots3:139Salisbury Street3:3610You Are My Foundation3:0511Buried in Her Bedclothes2:4412The Kiwi and the Emu2:3813Telephone in My Pocket3:3914Big Brother, Little Brother2:44, which in the traditional Aboriginal language means 'home'. The opening track "Sing You the Outback×Sing You the Outback2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksASing You the Outback3:45BButter Outa Grass3:46" revealed how important the Australian outback has been in the past and how invaluable it will be into the future. The next two tracks, "Frangipani Bay" and "Cape York Peninsula×Cape York Peninsula2002 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Cape York Peninsula", were written during a road trip to Australia's most northern point. The lyrics in "The Devil's Boots" relate to the bushranger, Ned Kelly. "Buried in Her Bedclothes" was written after Williamson and Mary-Kay, his spouse of the time, met an elderly woman on an Indian Pacific rail trip. Her husband had died six months earlier and she had refused to get out of bed for three months. Her family suggested the train trip as a remedy – she shared her memories with the Williamsons and said that the train 'had done the job'.
Williamson referred to 2003 as his 'most True Blue year ever'. He was elected President of the CMAA after Dusty retired. He then released the sequel to the 1995 compilation True Blue Two×True Blue Two2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 44 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11True Blue – 21st Anniversary4:082You Are Very Welcome (World Cup Song)3:083Keep Australia Beautiful2:504Sing You the Outback3:475A Thousand Feet2:596Campfire on the Road3:367Three Sons3:378Raining on the Plains3:089On the Improve3:1910Amazing Day3:1311Back at the Isa2:5112Vegie Bill3:4413Prettiest Girl in the Kimberley3:4514At Lightning Ridge3:1815Coolabah Blue3:2116Camel Train to Yamba2:2517Old Farts in Caravan Parks (live)3:4418Buried in Her Bedclothes2:4219Wonthaggi4:0820Tropical Fever3:3221Mountain Hideaway3:3722[data track]Disc 21Raining on the Rock4:292Forty Years Ago3:353Dusty Road We Know3:594Truckie’s Wife4:225Purple Roses3:176Woman on the Land3:027Salisbury Street3:368It’s a Way of Life3:399My Dad Snores2:3210Kitchy Kitchy Koo2:3111Big Brother, Little Brother2:4512Big Bad Bushranger2:4213A Mighty Big River3:0014This Ancient Land3:1115You Come Back to Tassie3:2316Sail the Nullabor3:1917The Baggy Green2:5418Sir Don3:1519The Kiwi and the Emu2:3720A Number on My Back3:4321Walzing Matilda3:4722[data track], which reached No. 8. It featured his hit songs up to the Gunyah album and exclusively including five new tracks. On 12 October, Williamson was asked by the Prime Minister, John Howard, to perform "Waltzing Matilda×Waltzing Matilda2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Waltzing Matilda2:502Waltzing Matilda (Instrumental Version)2:453Waltzing Matilda (Singalong Version)2:48" at the Memorial Service for the first Anniversary of the 2002 Bali bombings.
At the Country Music Awards of Australia for 2004 Williamson and Sara Storer won 'Vocal Collaboration of the Year' and 'Single of the Year' for "Raining on the Plains", and the track won 'Song of the Year' which was shared with Storer and her co-writers, Garth Porter and Doug Storer. The track is on Storer's 2002 album, Beautiful Circle. With regard to new arrangements of John's songs, having recorded a cover version of Stan Coster's "Wobbly Boot Hotel" on Waratah St in 1991, he re-recorded it in 2004 as a duet with Coster's daughter Tracy on "Coster Country", her tribute album to him. 2005 was a productive year for John in terms of recording and touring; he re-recorded "Wrinkles" as a duet with John Stephan, issued a twenty-track compilation of Queensland-themed songs, called "From Bulldust to Bitumen×From Bulldust to Bitumen2005 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1Humpin’ My Bluey2Springbrook3Mountain Hideaway4No One Loves Brisbane Like Jesus (live)5Queensland Bungalow6Charters Towers7Papa Whisky November8Granny’s Little Gunyah9Frangipani Bay10Cape York Peninsula11Crocodile Roll12Old Farts in Caravan Parks (live)13Three Rivers Hotel14Sing You the Outback15Back at the Isa16Diamantina Drover17Waltzing Matilda (live)18Longreach Is Praying19Thargomindah (The Way It Is)20Show Me a Better Way", available only to RACQ members, and in August, Chandelier of Stars was released, which reached No. 11 on the ARIA Albums Chart. At the Country Music Awards of Australia for 2006 he won 'Album of the Year' and 'Top Selling Album' for Chandelier of Stars×Chandelier of Stars1 August 2005 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Little Girl From the Dryland3:542Chandelier of Stars3:153Bells in a Bushman’s Ear2:424Cowboys and Indians3:185Skinny Dingoes3:216The Camel Boy2:507Keeper of the Stones3:448Desert Child3:119Renner Springs3:4410A Country Balladeer2:3511Firestorm2:4612Flower on the Water3:13, and the track "Bells in a Bushman's Ear" won 'Bush Ballad of the Year'.
In discussing John's wife of the time, the opening track, "Little Girl from the Dryland", describes Mary-Kay and her childhood in Tulloona Bore, south of Boggabilla, from her point of view. "Chandelier of Stars" is a description of the night sky before sunrise. "Bells in a Bushman's Ear" is a tribute to Australia's country music forefathers, and "The Camel Boy" is about the life of indigenous artist, Albert Namatjira, who is Warren H Williams' great uncle. "Keeper of the Stones", which first appeared on Williamson's live album and DVD of 2004, Mates on the Road×Mates on the RoadAlbum · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 35 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Mallee Boy3:292Dear Little Quambatook3:343Chook Routine1:164It Goes Without Saying3:175Cracker Night2:576Forty Years Ago3:397Salisbury Street3:578Hawkesbury River Lovin’4:089The Flight of the Blowfly1:5510Boomerang Cafe3:4511Buried in Her Bedclothes3:3712You and My Guitar2:5013Galleries of Pink Galahs4:0214Cootamundra Wattle4:1015Old Man Emu6:22Disc 21Teach Me to Drive, Dad5:142Cape York Peninsula3:483Crocodile Roll3:134Wrinkles4:595Diamantina Drover3:106Amazing Day2:547Three Sons3:358Keeper of the Stones4:209A Thousand Feet2:5510What a Place2:4911Raining on the Rock4:3712Chain Around My Ankle1:1213I Can’t Feel Those Chains Any Longer2:1314Diggers of the Anzac3:0615Waltzing Matilda4:0316A Number on My Back3:3917True Blue4:1518A Bushman Can’t Survive3:5119Glory to Australia3:0420Mates on the Road5:17, was dedicated to indigenous Australians of The Stolen Generation. "Desert Child", another duet with Williams is a bush lullaby for Aboriginal children. Also on Chandelier of Stars is "A Country Balladeer" which is a duet with Chad Morgan, and "Flower on the Water" is a tribute to the victims of the Bali bombings. The first four lines are inspired by words on a photo of a deceased victim: "To hear your voice, to see you smile / To sit and talk to you awhile / To be together the same old way / That would be our greatest wish today". Williamson found the author and started a friendship.
The following November, Williamson released the new song "We Love This Country×We Love This Country31 October 2005 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1We Love This Country2:492Campfire on the Road3:373On the Improve3:194Wobbly Boot Hotel2:385Cape York Peninsula3:076Vegie Bill3:417Welcome All to Broome3:378Singing in the Rain2:599Alice Springs2:5210You Come Back to Tassie3:2111Bush Telegraph2:5612Pickin’ on Murray2:1313Around Jindabyne3:3314Beachcomber From Wollongong2:2515Old Farts in Caravan Parks3:46" on a compilation of the same name with his favourite holiday songs to promote Australian tourism with caravans – it became a jingle for Jayco commercials. He promoted the aforementioned projects of 2005 together with Pixie Jenkins and Warren H Williams as part of their True Blue Reunion Tour. In August 2006, The Platinum Collection, a three-disc set of Williamson's hits from 1970–2005 was released. In September, Williamson was devastated after hearing of the death of fellow wildlife conservationist and friend, Steve Irwin. In reaction to the news, he wrote a tribute tune, "Wildlife Warriors: It's Time". He was evidently emotional while performing both "Home Among the Gum Trees×Home Among the Gum Trees1997 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Dad’s Flowers3:492The Bush Barber3:043Good Tobacci When I Smoke3:054The Trees Have Now Gone4:135The Last of the Pioneers4:196Queen in the Sport of Kings4:047I’ve Always Been a Drover3:578I’m Fair Dinkum3:309Drunken Duncan2:1810Stoned This Afternoon2:3911Billabong3:1012Home Among the Gum Trees2:5513Only 195:0514We Will Stop the War4:1715I’ll Be Gone3:54" and "True Blue×True Blue1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksATrue Blue3:29BA Granda Plan for Landa3:13" at Irwin's memorial service inside the arena of his Australia Zoo Crocoseum. The service was filmed live-to-air and later released on DVD. Wildlife Warriors was additionally released in November 2006 on a compilation album of the same name, along with twelve of Williamson's favourite conservation awareness tracks and his two live performances from Irwin's memorial.
At the beginning of 2008 Williamson decided to put together a musical. Based on his music and lyrics, the book by Simon Heath and directed by Bernie Zelvis, Williamson named it Quambatook – The Musical. On 7 February 2008, the musical was premiered at the EVAN Theater in Penrith to positive reviews, making it a major highlight in the history of Australian musical theatre.
The album Hillbilly Road×Hillbilly Road13 August 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Flowers on the Concrete2:322Drink a Little Love3:113Dark Irish Eyes3:324Hillbilly Road3:035Catch a Virgin2:216Cydi3:007Pmarra Knatcha (My Home in the Bush)3:008Australia Is Another Word for Free3:159Better Than a Picture2:4910Rivers, Wood ’n’ Wire2:0611Beach of Love3:0912Tomorrow’s Worries2:1813The Joy Is in the Journey3:33 was released in August 2008. The lyrics for the album were inspired by his home in Springbrook. Subsequent singles that followed were "Cydi", "Drink a Little Love", "Australia Is Another Word for Free" as a trio with Williams and Amos Morris, and "Better Than a Picture". "The Joy Is in the Journey" was a special bonus addition to finish the album, previously appearing on the Quambatook Musical soundtrack. The Hillbilly Road album was promoted everywhere around Australia until early the next year when Williams decided to move on and pursue other musical projects, leaving Williamson to perform the rest of the tour solo. At the Country Music Awards of Australia for 2009 he won 'Bush Ballad of the Year' for "Australia Is Another Word for Free", performed by Williamson, Williams and Morris.
By late 2009 Williamson got together with fellow country star Adam Harvey and recorded their cover to Roger Miller's "King of the Road", issued both as a single and on Harvey's duets album Both Sides Now. Williamson then made his Carols By Candlelight debut at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.

2010s

On 26 January (Australia Day) 2010 Williamson released a new Australian anthem called "Island of Oceans" as a duet with Shannon Noll. Williamson released a new double-CD compilation album Absolute Greatest: 40 Years True Blue×Absolute Greatest: 40 Years True BlueMarch 2010 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 35 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Mallee Boy3:142Raining on the Rock (live)4:153Galleries of Pink Galahs4:084Hillbilly Road3:045Flower on the Water3:096Rip Rip Woodchip2:577A Bushman Can’t Survive4:108Wrinkles4:389Wintergreen3:3610Australia Is Another Word for Free3:1511Salisbury Street3:3312Cootamundra Wattle3:5113Hawkesbury River Lovin’3:3014You and My Guitar2:4715Three Sons3:3416Cydi2:5717Chandelier of Stars3:1318Boogie With M’Baby (live)5:2219Diggers of the Anzac (This Is Gallipoli)3:3720Old Man Emu2:5221True Blue4:0222Island of Oceans2:56Disc 21Flower on the Water3:202Salisbury Street4:483Galleries of Pink Galahs4:134Cootamundra Wattle5:025Chandelier of Stars3:326Paint Me a Wheelbarrow3:397Tubbo Station4:238You and My Guitar5:259Truckie’s Wife4:1810Raining on the Rock3:4911Wintergreen4:0312Hillbilly Road3:1213Old Man Emu3:18 commemorating this milestone. At a press conference for the album in Tamworth on 21 January hosted by the then Governor-General Quentin Bryce, in his acceptance speech, John expressed his gratitude for the longevity of his career up to that point, in the process thanking his fans, friends and family, including his first wife, Mary-Kay.
On 28 January 2011 Williamson released a recording of a concert with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House. At the Australian Country Music Awards in Tamworth that same month John presented Jimmy Little with the Lifetime Achievement
Award.
In January 2012, Williamson released The Big Red. The first two singles lifted from the work are "Hang My Hat in Queensland" and the title track. Early in 2013 "Prairie Hotel Parachilna" was released. In 2013, a new two-disc set of John's hits, Hell of a Career was released. In 2014, Williamson released his fiftieth album (counting compilations, live recordings and reissues) called Honest People×Honest People25 July 2014 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Heatwave3:552Keep Walking3:553Song for Luke and Mel3:454What You Wish For2:585Will She Marry Me2:596Call Me Blue2:227Interval1:388It’s All About Love3:219Grandpa’s Cricket2:5510Kings and Queens2:0511Girt by Sea2:5512Honest People3:1513Clouds Over Tamworth2:53, as well as writing his autobiography, issued by Penguin. Both were released on 25 July 2014. As well as this, he made his debut as an exhibitionist painter. In 2014, it was announced by John via A Current Affair that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
In April 2016, he released an EP called Looking for a Story×Looking for a Story22 April 2016 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Looking for a Story2:312Diggers of the ANZAC (This Is Gallipoli)3:433Waltzing Matilda 20003:504Girt by Sea2:555I Was Only 19 (live)5:046And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda (live)6:187True Blue (21st Anniversary version)4:07, a new ANZAC tribute and six other sets of previously issued lyrics. John released his twentieth studio album Butcherbird×Butcherbird24 August 2018 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1The Valley of His Dreams / It Doesn’t Get Better Than This6:212Pigs on the River3:413Looking For a Story2:284Buddy and Slim2:595Simpson Desert2:386Please Don’t Forget Me2:227Lucky to Be Alive2:198You Don’t Love Your Love Anymore2:449Time Is Slippin’ Away3:0810When My Horse Came In2:07 in August 2018.

2020s

In 2020, Williamson celebrated 50 years since the release of "Old Man Emu×Old Man Emu28 July 1995 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Old Man Emu2:522Big Country Round2:443Boyhood Story2:524Under the Bridge3:075Heaven's Right Here2:466The Breaker4:067Murrumbidgee Madness3:568True Blue4:059A Granda Plan for Landa3:1610Only a Dog3:1811Springbrook3:4712Send Down the Rain3:1713Hawkesbury River Lovin'3:3814Diggers of the ANZAC3:43", by releasing a 25xCD single box set, featuring 50 tracks spanning his career. Williamson said "Putting together this collection gave me a chance to take stock of what I've achieved during my career... While I'm not looking to retire just yet, once I've completed my 2020 Winding Back Tour I'll be scaling down my live appearances. I've always loved the connection I receive when performing, so you'll still see me popping up at festivals and special events. Winding Back mainly means I'm looking forward to spending more time in the garden and less time away from home fiddling about with those hard to open motel soaps." JW 50 – Winding Back 1970–2020 was released on 19 June 2020 and peaked at number 50 on the ARIA Charts.
In September 2023, Williamson released two singles in support of the "Yes" campaign for the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum: "Voice From The Heart" and "Uluru Forever".
In January 2025, Williamson announced a continuation of his 55 Years – My Travellin' Days Are Done tour and his 21st studio album How Many Songs×How Many Songs4 April 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1If You Wanna Be An Aussie2:402Beautiful Words (Come From You)2:453Letter To Meg2:204Sorry, Babe, I'm No Marlon Brando2:395Come Back To Me Country2:346Losin' My Mojo2:467Uluru Forever2:128It's A Shame2:349Don't Let The Old Man In, Mate3:2510Waiting For The Sun2:3111Boxful Of Wood2:4412How Many Songs2:30 was released on 4 April 2025.
Williamson performed True Blue before play of the third test in the 2025-26 Ashes series at Adelaide Oval in a tribute to the victims of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack.
The final four concerts of the “My Travellin’ Days Are Done” schedule were performed on May 22nd 2026 at Hamer Hall in Flinders Street, Melbourne, followed by three nights on June 6 - 8 at John’s Springbrook property, thus announcing his retirement from touring. He continues to record new music. His first new song since retiring from performing is a single named “September Wind”.

Personal life

In the early 1970s John was living in Leichhardt and met Mary-Kay Price. Her parents had farmed on Tulloona Plain between Moree and Goondiwindi, and her father was a World War II soldier-settler. In 1973, Williamson married Mary-Kay on her parents' farm. The couple have two daughters, Ami and Georgie. Ami recalled "[w]hen Dad was away, he was really away". Over his career Williamson has written some love songs for Mary-Kay including "Little Girl from the Dryland". On 23 April 2007, after more than 30 years of marriage, Williamson and Mary-Kay divorced. Williamson admitted that he preferred Springbrook in south-east Queensland to unwind and get inspiration for new material.
Following his marriage break-up, Williamson formed a relationship with a new partner, Meg Doyle, who organises some of his activities. The couple divide their time living together between Springbrook and their Sydney apartment and were married in March 2013. His daughter, Ami, is also a musician, who has toured with Williamson. In early 2008, she toured Australian Defence Force bases in Iraq and Afghanistan to play to troops: she appeared on two episodes, "Show of Force", on Australian Story (May 2008) describing the tour. Williamson also appeared on the same episodes he had advised his daughter "to sing stuff that's going to be good for the boys". Ami explained her motivation for going "I've got, you know, a history of entertainers in my family ... [who] have performed for the military, my dad has, so I feel like I've taken the baton, which is cool".
Williamson is a supporter and activist for Australia becoming a Republic, stating "I believe that those who cling to the Monarchy [...] are no different [...] from those who objected to the then proposed Federation [...]. In other words, there is no doubt in my mind that a Republic is inevitable [...]."
His middle brother Robin died of cancer in 1999. The song "Salisbury Street" on Williamson's 2002 album "Gunyah×Gunyah2002 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Sing You the Outback3:482Frangipani Bay3:023Cape York Peninsula3:054Granny’s Little Gunyah2:585Butter Outa Grass3:466A Mighty Big River3:007Around Jindabyne3:338The Devil’s Boots3:139Salisbury Street3:3610You Are My Foundation3:0511Buried in Her Bedclothes2:4412The Kiwi and the Emu2:3813Telephone in My Pocket3:3914Big Brother, Little Brother2:44" was dedicated to Robin. Salisbury Street was the location of their second home in Quambatook.
These days Williamson lives on the Gold Coast in the hinterland suburb of Springbrook where he will occasionally host live concerts at a venue he built known as Willoshed.

Criticism and controversy

"Call Me Blue" from the nineteenth album, Honest People×Honest People25 July 2014 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Heatwave3:552Keep Walking3:553Song for Luke and Mel3:454What You Wish For2:585Will She Marry Me2:596Call Me Blue2:227Interval1:388It’s All About Love3:219Grandpa’s Cricket2:5510Kings and Queens2:0511Girt by Sea2:5512Honest People3:1513Clouds Over Tamworth2:53, was written in reaction to the verbal abuse that Williamson received after resigning as president of the CMAA. He gave up the position of his own volition, unhappy with the "growing influence of American music".
He released a single titled "A Flag of Our Own×A Flag of Our Own1991 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAA Flag of Our Own3:28BPapa Whisky November3:18", which saw him being banned from performing in several RSL Clubs.

Studio albums

John Williamson (1970)
Comic Strip Cowboy (1976)
Road to Town (1978)
Fair Dinkum J.W. (1982)
Road Thru the Heart (1985)
Mallee Boy (1986)
Boomerang Café (1988)
Warragul (1989)
JW's Family Album (1990)
Waratah St (1991)
Mulga to Mangoes (1994)
Family Album No.2 (1996)
Pipe Dream (1997)
The Way It Is (1999)
Gunyah (2002)
Chandelier of Stars (2005)
Hillbilly Road (2008)
The Big Red (2012)
Honest People (2014)
Butcherbird (2018)
How Many Songs (2025)

Honours, awards and nominations

On Australia Day 1992 John Williamson was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) with the citation: "for service to Australian country music and in stimulating awareness of conservation issues". In the 2006 book, 1001 Australians You Should Know, music journalists, Toby Creswell and Samantha Chenoweth describe him as "[o]ne of the most popular songwriters in Australia ... [h]e has been a voice for the people of the bush and he has been a voice of dissent, openly criticising the woodchip industry". He is also a Protect Our Coral Sea Ambassador.
In mid-2015, Williamson was nominated for the 2015 Sounds of Australia competition by veteran Australian TV presenter and journalist Steve Liebmann.

APRA Awards

These annual awards were established by Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) in 1982 to honour the achievements of songwriters and music composers, and to recognise their songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance, by its members annually. John Williamson has won three APRA Music Awards, in the allied categories 'Most Performed Australasian Country Work' and 'Most Performed Country Work'.

ARIA Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are presented annually from 1987 by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). John Williamson has won four awards from twelve nominations, including his induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame on 27 October 2010. He has won the 'Best Country Album' category three times, including the inaugural award in 1987, from six nominations.

CMAA Awards

These annual awards have been presented since 1973 and have been organised by Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) from 1993, to "encourage, promote and recognise excellence in Australian country music recording". From that time the recipient's trophy has been a Golden Guitar. John Williamson has won twenty-eight Country Music Awards of Australia, including induction into their Roll of Renown in 1997.

Mo Awards

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Williamson won eight awards in that time.

Tamworth Songwriters Awards

The Tamworth Songwriters Association (TSA) is an annual songwriting contest for original country songs, awarded in January at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. They commenced in 1986. John Williamson has won eight awards.