Broderick Smith
Encyclopedia
Broderick Smith aka Brod Smith is an Australia
n singer-songwriter
, harmonica
, guitar
and banjo
player. He was a member of 1970s bands Carson and The Dingoes
, 1980s Broderick Smith's Big Combo and performed solo. He also acted on stage in the 1973 Australian version of the rock opera Tommy
and in minor roles in 1990s Television series Blue Heelers
, Snowy River: The McGregor Saga
and State Coroner
. Smith has been involved in writing about 200 songs and has run workshops on songwriting, harmonica and vocals.
. In 1962 or 1963 Smith was a member of The Maltese Band on percussion. Other Blues bands he joined included The Smokey Hollows in 1965, by this time Smith was a sales clerk for Allans records store. He joined Adderley Smith Blues Band (1966–1968) on vocals and harmonica alongside Kerryn Tolhurst
(guitar, mandolin). Smith was conscripted into the Army as part of National Service during the Vietnam War
at Holsworthy, New South Wales
for two years from 1968 to 1970. Upon discharge, he briefly joined Sundown with Tolhurst but left to join Carson.
, during 1971 Smith replaced founder John Capek, providing vocals and harmonica. Other members included Greg Lawrie (guitar, slide guitar), Ian Ferguson (bass, vocals), Tony Lunt (drums) and Ian Winter (guitar). After they released a single "Travelling South" / "Moonshine" in August 1971, Ferguson left to be replaced successively by Barry Sullivan and then Garry Clarke; Mal Logan (keyboards) joined later that year. Carson performed at the first Sunbury Rock Festival in January, 1972. The following Easter, they played a legendary set at Mulwala Pop Festival, alongside Canned Heat. Smith spent part of 1972 recording two solo singles: "Goin' on Down to the End of the World" released in May 1972 and "Yesterday it Rained" released in February 1973. He also kept up with Carson to record "Boogie, Part 1" / "Boogie, Part 2" which reached #30 on the National charts in September 1972. This was followed by their debut album, Blown on Harvest Records
produced by Rod Coe, which reached #14 in December.
Australian psychedelic
and progressive rock
band Tamam Shud
were recording tracks for Albie Falzon's 1972 surf film Morning of the Earth including their song "First Things First". Their main lead singer, Lindsay Bjerre was having voice problems so they recorded the song using lead guitarist Tim Gaze; producer G. Wayne Thomas was unhappy with Gaze's vocals and asked Smith to fill in; according to Bjerre, Tamam Shud were not informed and only found out about the switch at the film's premiere; according to Smith, he had Tamam Shud's knowledge and permission.
Carson performed at the 1973 Sunbury Rock Festival, on the Australia Day long weekend. Band members Winter and Ferguson left soon after and by February, Carson had disbanded. A live recording of their Sunbury set, On the Air was released in April 1973.
's rock opera Tommy
was performed as an orchestral version in 1973 in Australia with Smith in the role of The Father (Mr Walker).
Other Australian artists were Daryl Braithwaite
(as Tommy), Billy Thorpe
, Doug Parkinson
, Wendy Saddington
, Jim Keays
, Colleen Hewett
, Linda George
, Ross Wilson, Bobby Bright, and Ian Meldrum
(as "Uncle Ernie" in Sydney).
in April 1973 by Smith's old bandmate Kerryn Tolhurst
. The original line-up included Tolhurst (ex-Adderley Smith Blues Band, Sundown, Country Radio) (singer, songwriter, guitars), Chris Stockley (ex-CamPact, Axiom
) (guitars), John Strangio (bass), John Lee (ex-Blackfeather
(drums)) and Smith (vocals, harmonica). The band was formed to fuse rhythm and blues with Australian Bush music
but it was generally described as Country Rock
. Their best performed singles were "Way Out West" and "Boy on the Run", their 1974 debut self-titled album The Dingoes peaked at #18. They performed at Sunbury Rock Festivals in 1974 and 1975, making Smith one of the few artists who had performed at all four festivals. The Dingoes rellocated to USA from 1976 for their next two albums, Five Times the Sun in 1977 and Orphans of the Storm in 1979. While recording the latter album their management team, headed by Peter Rudge, had been devastated when some members of fellow signing Lynyrd Skynyrd
were killed in a plane crash in October 1977; The Dingoes finally split in February 1979. Smith had already returned to Australia in late 1978.
in 1994's "Adverse Possession" and 1997's "Bloodstained Angels"; 1998's historical drama Snowy River: The McGregor Saga
episode "Prince of Hearts" and crime drama State Coroner
episode "On Thin Ice".
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
player. He was a member of 1970s bands Carson and The Dingoes
The Dingoes
The Dingoes are an Australian country rock band initially active from 1973 to 1979, formed in Melbourne they relocated to the United States from 1976. Most stable line-up was John Bois on bass guitar, John Lee on drums, Broderick Smith on vocals and harmonica, Chris Stockley on guitar and Kerryn...
, 1980s Broderick Smith's Big Combo and performed solo. He also acted on stage in the 1973 Australian version of the rock opera Tommy
Tommy (rock opera)
Tommy is the fourth album by English rock band The Who, released by Track Records and Polydor Records in the United Kingdom and Decca Records/MCA in the United States. A double album telling a loose story about a "deaf, dumb and blind boy" who becomes the leader of a messianic movement, Tommy was...
and in minor roles in 1990s Television series Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers is an Australian police drama series which depicted the lives of police officers stationed at the fictional Mount Thomas police station in a small town in Victoria.- Overview :...
, Snowy River: The McGregor Saga
The Man From Snowy River (TV series)
The Man from Snowy River is an Australian television series based on Banjo Paterson's poem "The Man from Snowy River". Released in Australia as Banjo Paterson's The Man from Snowy River, the series was subsequently released in the United States as Snowy River: The McGregor Saga.The television...
and State Coroner
State Coroner (TV series)
State Coroner was an Australian television series screened on Network Ten in 1997 and 1998. There were two series produced with a total of 29 episodes. The series was set in the State Coroner's office complex and featured investigations into deaths, murders, suicides, accidents and natural causes...
. Smith has been involved in writing about 200 songs and has run workshops on songwriting, harmonica and vocals.
Early years
Smith and his family migrated to Australia in 1959 and settled, initially, in St Albans a Western suburb of MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. In 1962 or 1963 Smith was a member of The Maltese Band on percussion. Other Blues bands he joined included The Smokey Hollows in 1965, by this time Smith was a sales clerk for Allans records store. He joined Adderley Smith Blues Band (1966–1968) on vocals and harmonica alongside Kerryn Tolhurst
Kerryn Tolhurst
Kerryn Tolhurst is a noted Australian musician and songwriter who was based in the USA in the late 1970s and 1980s.His musical career began in Melbourne with the Adderly Smith Blues Band. He subsequently joined Sundown, led by Keith Glass, which was one of Australia's first country-rock groups...
(guitar, mandolin). Smith was conscripted into the Army as part of National Service during the Vietnam War
Military history of Australia during the Vietnam War
Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War began as a small commitment of 30 men in 1962, and increased over the following decade to a peak of 7,672 Australians deployed in South Vietnam or in support of Australian forces there. The Vietnam War was the longest and most controversial war Australia...
at Holsworthy, New South Wales
Holsworthy, New South Wales
Holsworthy is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Holsworthy is located 31 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Liverpool and partly in the Sutherland Shire.Holsworthy is most notable for...
for two years from 1968 to 1970. Upon discharge, he briefly joined Sundown with Tolhurst but left to join Carson.
1971-1973: Carson
Carson had formed in January 1970 and was a blues-boogie band influenced by US group Canned HeatCanned Heat
Canned Heat is a blues-rock/boogie rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965. The group has been noted for its own interpretations of blues material as well as for efforts to promote the interest in this type of music and its original artists...
, during 1971 Smith replaced founder John Capek, providing vocals and harmonica. Other members included Greg Lawrie (guitar, slide guitar), Ian Ferguson (bass, vocals), Tony Lunt (drums) and Ian Winter (guitar). After they released a single "Travelling South" / "Moonshine" in August 1971, Ferguson left to be replaced successively by Barry Sullivan and then Garry Clarke; Mal Logan (keyboards) joined later that year. Carson performed at the first Sunbury Rock Festival in January, 1972. The following Easter, they played a legendary set at Mulwala Pop Festival, alongside Canned Heat. Smith spent part of 1972 recording two solo singles: "Goin' on Down to the End of the World" released in May 1972 and "Yesterday it Rained" released in February 1973. He also kept up with Carson to record "Boogie, Part 1" / "Boogie, Part 2" which reached #30 on the National charts in September 1972. This was followed by their debut album, Blown on Harvest Records
Harvest Records
-References:* Harvest Records collectors guide ISBN 978-5-9622-0021-7...
produced by Rod Coe, which reached #14 in December.
Australian psychedelic
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
and progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Tamam Shud
Tamam Shud
Tamam Shud were an Australian psychedelic and progressive rock band, formed in Sydney in 1967, which released two albums, Evolution and Goolutionites and the Real People before disbanding in 1972...
were recording tracks for Albie Falzon's 1972 surf film Morning of the Earth including their song "First Things First". Their main lead singer, Lindsay Bjerre was having voice problems so they recorded the song using lead guitarist Tim Gaze; producer G. Wayne Thomas was unhappy with Gaze's vocals and asked Smith to fill in; according to Bjerre, Tamam Shud were not informed and only found out about the switch at the film's premiere; according to Smith, he had Tamam Shud's knowledge and permission.
Carson performed at the 1973 Sunbury Rock Festival, on the Australia Day long weekend. Band members Winter and Ferguson left soon after and by February, Carson had disbanded. A live recording of their Sunbury set, On the Air was released in April 1973.
1973: Tommy
The WhoThe Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
's rock opera Tommy
Tommy (rock opera)
Tommy is the fourth album by English rock band The Who, released by Track Records and Polydor Records in the United Kingdom and Decca Records/MCA in the United States. A double album telling a loose story about a "deaf, dumb and blind boy" who becomes the leader of a messianic movement, Tommy was...
was performed as an orchestral version in 1973 in Australia with Smith in the role of The Father (Mr Walker).
Other Australian artists were Daryl Braithwaite
Daryl Braithwaite
Daryl Braithwaite is an Australian pop singer. Best known as the lead vocalist of Sherbet, Braithwaite has also sustained a successful solo career, placing 15 singles in the Australian top 40, including the No...
(as Tommy), Billy Thorpe
Billy Thorpe
William Richard "Billy" Thorpe, AM was a renowned English-born Australian pop / rock singer-songwriter and musician...
, Doug Parkinson
Doug Parkinson
Douglas "Doug" Parkinson is an Australian singer who first came to fame with his band, Doug Parkinson In Focus, in 1969. He has had numerous hits on the Australian Top 40 charts.-Career:...
, Wendy Saddington
Wendy Saddington
Wendy June Saddington is an Australian blues / soul / jazz singer and was in the bands Chain, Copperwine and the Wendy Saddington Band. She wrote for teen pop newspaper Go-Set from September 1969 – September 1970 as an agony aunt in her weekly "Takes Care of Business" column and as a...
, Jim Keays
Jim Keays
James "Jim" Keays is an Australian musician who fronted rock band The Masters Apprentices as singer-songwriter, guitarist and harmonica-player during 1965–1972, and subsequently had a solo career including leading Jim Keays' Southern Cross...
, Colleen Hewett
Colleen Hewett
Colleen Hewett is an Australian actress and popular singer. She is perhaps best known to international audiences for her 1984 guest role in the television series Prisoner as Sheila Brady.-Pop singer:...
, Linda George
Linda George (Australian singer)
Linda George is an English-born Australian pop, jazz fusion and soul singer from the 1970s. In 1973, George performed the role of Acid Queen for the Australian stage performance of The Who's rock opera, Tommy. She won the TV Week King of Pop award for "Best New Female Artist"...
, Ross Wilson, Bobby Bright, and Ian Meldrum
Ian Meldrum
Ian Alexander "Molly" Meldrum AM is an Australian popular music critic, journalist, record producer , and musical entrepreneur...
(as "Uncle Ernie" in Sydney).
1973-1978: The Dingoes
The Dingoes were formed in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
in April 1973 by Smith's old bandmate Kerryn Tolhurst
Kerryn Tolhurst
Kerryn Tolhurst is a noted Australian musician and songwriter who was based in the USA in the late 1970s and 1980s.His musical career began in Melbourne with the Adderly Smith Blues Band. He subsequently joined Sundown, led by Keith Glass, which was one of Australia's first country-rock groups...
. The original line-up included Tolhurst (ex-Adderley Smith Blues Band, Sundown, Country Radio) (singer, songwriter, guitars), Chris Stockley (ex-CamPact, Axiom
Axiom (Australian band)
Axiom were a rock band formed in Melbourne, Australia in 1969 and included musicians Glenn Shorrock and Brian Cadd.-Biography:Axiom's formation was a by-product of the annual Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds in which the top Australian bands of the day performed in front of judges for the prize of a...
) (guitars), John Strangio (bass), John Lee (ex-Blackfeather
Blackfeather
Blackfeather was an Australian rock group in the 1970s. The group had many members and went through two major incarnations - the earlier heavy rock version of the group, which recorded the album At The Mountains of Madness and the hit single "Seasons of Change", and the later piano-based lineup...
(drums)) and Smith (vocals, harmonica). The band was formed to fuse rhythm and blues with Australian Bush music
Bush band
A bush band is a group of musicians that play traditional Australian folk music or contemporary folk music played in a traditional Australian style...
but it was generally described as Country Rock
Country rock
Country rock is sub-genre of popular music, formed from the fusion of rock with country. The term is generally used to refer to the wave of rock musicians who began to record country-flavored records in the late 1960s and early 1970s, beginning with Bob Dylan and The Byrds; reaching its greatest...
. Their best performed singles were "Way Out West" and "Boy on the Run", their 1974 debut self-titled album The Dingoes peaked at #18. They performed at Sunbury Rock Festivals in 1974 and 1975, making Smith one of the few artists who had performed at all four festivals. The Dingoes rellocated to USA from 1976 for their next two albums, Five Times the Sun in 1977 and Orphans of the Storm in 1979. While recording the latter album their management team, headed by Peter Rudge, had been devastated when some members of fellow signing Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
were killed in a plane crash in October 1977; The Dingoes finally split in February 1979. Smith had already returned to Australia in late 1978.
1979-1988: Big Combo and others
After his 1978 return to Australia, Smith fronted various bands with his name featured: Broderick Smith's Hired Hands (1978–1979), Broderick Smith's Big Combo (1979–1982), Broderick Smith Band (1983-?) and Broderick Smith and the Noveltones (1988). Of these Big Combo provided his best known latter releases with the singles "Faded Roses" and "My Father's Hands" and the album Broderick Smith's Big Combo in 1981.1990s: Television actor
Smith has appeared in brief TV roles including episodes of police drama Blue HeelersBlue Heelers
Blue Heelers is an Australian police drama series which depicted the lives of police officers stationed at the fictional Mount Thomas police station in a small town in Victoria.- Overview :...
in 1994's "Adverse Possession" and 1997's "Bloodstained Angels"; 1998's historical drama Snowy River: The McGregor Saga
The Man From Snowy River (TV series)
The Man from Snowy River is an Australian television series based on Banjo Paterson's poem "The Man from Snowy River". Released in Australia as Banjo Paterson's The Man from Snowy River, the series was subsequently released in the United States as Snowy River: The McGregor Saga.The television...
episode "Prince of Hearts" and crime drama State Coroner
State Coroner (TV series)
State Coroner was an Australian television series screened on Network Ten in 1997 and 1998. There were two series produced with a total of 29 episodes. The series was set in the State Coroner's office complex and featured investigations into deaths, murders, suicides, accidents and natural causes...
episode "On Thin Ice".
1990s-2000s: Workshops and duos
- Smith has delivered numerous workshops on songwriting, harmonica and vocals to schools within Victoria. He considers himself to be primarily a lyricist, his songwriting technique typically involves writing the lyrics in prose form, music is then written (usually by someone else), finally lyrics are changed to suit the music. Smith believes "lyrics should say something and not just be something to sing along to."
- Smith performed as a duo with Mick Ahearn (keyboards) in the late 1990s and produced other recording artists at Harcourt Valley Recorders. He also performed with Mick O'Connor on piano in the early 2000s, sometimes they added Pip Avent on tuba and Tim O'Connor on drums, with this line-up Smith recorded Too Easy in 2002.
- He is now playing harmonica with the Backsliders, alternating with Ian Collard (of Collard, Greens and Gravy) as a replacement for founding member Jim Conway.
- Broderick Smith performed live on RocKwizRocKwizRocKwiz is an Australian television quiz show series, focused on rock music, and broadcast on SBS One. It premiered in 2005.-Summary:The forty minute program airs on Saturday at 9:20 pm, and is hosted by Julia Zemiro. It is shot in The Gershwin Room at St Kilda's Esplanade Hotel, commonly...
Episode 74 in January 2009 singing God May Not Be With Us and a Duet of the MGMTMGMTMGMT is an American alternative rock band founded by Benjamin Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden. After the release of their first album, the members of their live band, Matthew Asti, James Richardson and Will Berman, joined the core band in the studio...
song Time to Pretend with Patience Hodgson from The GratesThe GratesThe Grates are a two-piece band from Brisbane, Australia, comprising Patience Hodgson and John Patterson . They have been lauded for their catchy songs and enthusiastic and energetic live shows, as Patience spends much of the time bouncing around, even while singing...
.
Discography
- Carson (1971–1973)
- Blown (1972, EMIEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
Harvest RecordsHarvest Records-References:* Harvest Records collectors guide ISBN 978-5-9622-0021-7...
LP)- "Rock and Roll Game" / "Better Times Will Come About" / "Sunday in the City" / "Banana Power" / "Boogie" / "Let Me Sleep" / "Up in Queensland"
- On the Air (1973, EMI Harvest LP) Live performances from Sunbury Rock Festival
- "Dingo" / "Laid-back Feel" / "Dust My Broom" / "Hey Joe" / "Boogie" / "Sunbury Jam"
- Blown / On the Air (2000, 2 LPs on a single CD)
- Travelling Highway Blues (Best of Carson) (2000, compilation by Raven Records)
- "Travelling South" / "Moonshine" / "Sweet Little Angel" / "Boogie (Part one)" / "Boogie (Part two)" / "Rock and Roll Game" / "Better Times Will Come About" / "Sunday in the City" / "Banana Power" / "Let Me Sleep" / "Dingo" / "Laid-back Feel" / "Dust My Broom (live)" / "Friday Night Groove (live)" / "Bad Luck Feeling"
- Blown (1972, EMI
- The DingoesThe DingoesThe Dingoes are an Australian country rock band initially active from 1973 to 1979, formed in Melbourne they relocated to the United States from 1976. Most stable line-up was John Bois on bass guitar, John Lee on drums, Broderick Smith on vocals and harmonica, Chris Stockley on guitar and Kerryn...
(1973–1978)- The Dingoes (1974)
- Live at the Station (1976)
- Five Times the Sun (1977)
- Orphans of the Storm (1979)
- Way Out West - The Best of The Dingoes (1992)
- Broderick Smith (groups and solo) (1978–2002)
- Broderick Smith's Big Combo (1981)
- "Last Train from Mobiltown" / "Faded Roses" / "Tightrope" / "High Rise" / "Back Off, Baby Brother" / "I Was Here" / "Fortune Favours the Bold" / "My Father's Hands" / "The Devil Drives (Ray's Song)" / "Ruby in the Snow"
- Broderick Smith (1984)
- Suitcase (1992)
- Broderick Smith's Big Combo (1981)
- My ShiraleeMy ShiraleeMy Shiralee is a 1994 album by artist Broderick Smith published by New Market Music.-Track listing:# My Shiralee” 4:01# “A Perfect World” 5:43# “Stella Joy” 4:12...
(1994)- Songster (1995)
- Crayon Angels (1996)
- Too EasyToo EasyToo Easy is a 2002 album by artist Broderick Smith published by New Market Music..-Track listing:#”Rainy Day” 4:10#”I Have No Song” 4:05#”Aria Branca” 3:18...
(2002)- Journal - The Best of Broderick Smith (2004, MGM) career-spanning compilation including Carson, The Dingoes, Broderick Smith's Big Combo and solo material.
- The Woodpickers (1998, 2004)
- Reason and Dream (1999)
- Me and Ned Kelly (2005)
- BackslidersBackslidersThe Backsliders are a three piece Australian band; self described as playing "Delta blues wall of sound". The current line up consists of Guitarist/Vocalist Dom Turner and drummer/percusionist Rob Hirst joined...
(2006- )- Left Field Holler (2007)