Keith Jamieson
Keith Jamieson | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 21, 1948 Goondiwindi, Queensland, Australia |
| Died | August 12, 2022 (aged 74) |
| Occupation(s) | Country music artist, songwriter |
| Known for | Bush ballads |
Keith Ross Jamieson (21 March 1948 – 12 August 2022) was a prominent Australian country music artist celebrated for his contributions to bush ballads. Over more than four decades, he produced a substantial discography, including albums such as Troy's Memory, The Year 2000 Australian Bushman, Bush Ballads Forever, A Picture of Australia, Looking Back Along The Track, Jammo: The Early Years 'til Now, and the EP The Ballad of Mulga Dan.
Career
Keith Jamieson was born in Goondiwindi, Queensland as the firstborn among eight siblings to parents Ross and Esme Jamieson.[1] His musical style was shaped by influences from artists like Slim Dusty, Buddy Williams, and Tex Morton, while he also held great respect for bush balladeers including Stan Coster and Tony Brooks.[1]
Starting in 1963, Jamieson worked at Listowell Valley Station near Blackall in roles such as cowboy gardener and stockman. Throughout his life, he undertook various occupations including driving road trains, coal mining, taxi driving, and security work.[1] His initial recordings appeared in 1979 with songs like "Capella Rodeo" and "Country Music Man", and by 1982 he had commenced touring professionally.[1]
During the 1980s and 1990s, Jamieson released several significant songs including "Winton's Outback Festival", "The Oil Rig Man", Coal Minin' Man, Aussie Christmas, "The Legend of Dundee", "Dreamtime Country", and "The Drought of the 90's".[1] A notable milestone in his career was when Slim Dusty recorded Jamieson's composition "The Blue Gumtree Ball" on the 1994 album Natural High.[1]
In 1999, he issued the compilation album titled The Year 2000 Australian Bushman, followed by the release of Bush Ballads Forever in 2000.[1] After experiencing the loss of his son Troy in 1997, Jamieson dedicated an album, Troy's Memory (2002), featuring the lead single "One Tree Plain," which achieved a peak position of #6 on Australian country music charts.[1] His track "The Ghost of Three Rivers" earned him the Traditional Bush Ballad of the Year award at the Tamworth Songwriters Awards in 2003.[1] The album A Picture of Australia arrived in 2004.[1]
Upon retiring from mining activities, Jamieson embarked on full-time touring across Australia alongside his partner Alisha Smith and daughter Caitlyn Jamieson. Together, they collaborated on albums such as Our Bush Ballad Family, Rhythm 'N' Rhyme, and Plain and Simple Drifter.[1] The family regularly appeared at country music festivals throughout the nation.[2]
From 2006 onward, residing in Bouldercombe, he established the annual 'Bouldy Bush Ballad Bash' in 2008 to encourage community involvement with bush ballad traditions.[1][3]
As a songwriter, Jamieson shared the Golden Guitar Award for 'Bush Ballad of the Year' in 2014 with Jeff Brown for their song "I Love Australia".[4] He played a key role in organizing country music events aimed at promoting both the genre and emerging artists, including founding the Yellowbelly Country Music Festival in St George, Queensland (2011) and initiating the Cunnamulla Poets and Country Music Muster (2018).[1]
In 2018, he participated in a benefit concert featuring bush ballads held in Tamworth to support Dolly's Dream Foundation following the tragic death of cyberbullying victim Dolly Everett.[5]
Jamieson's last family album, titled Memories Within, was released in 2019.[1]
Community radio
During the 1980s, Jamieson worked as an on-air host at 4DDB in Toowoomba. He later founded the community broadcaster 92.7 FM (callsign: 4BCB) in Blackwater in 1998, overseeing its operations until he moved to Bouldercombe in 2006. In 2012, he became a presenter at Rockhampton’s community station 4YOU, where he hosted the program Bush Ballads Australia.
Honours
Jamieson was honoured in 2003 with a Queensland Award of Recognition for his contributions to Country Music, and his name was subsequently added to the Country Music 'Rock of Recognition' located at the Rockhampton Heritage Village in Parkhurst.
In 2005, he was inducted into the Hands of Fame at Tamworth.
In the Queen's Birthday Honours of 2020, Jamieson received the Medal of the Order of Australia in acknowledgment of his services to country music and community engagement.
Death
Following a 15-month illness, Jamieson passed away on 12 August 2022 at Rockhampton Mater Hospital.
His death was commemorated with tributes on Early Morning Country broadcast by ABC Local Radio and ABC Country.
CMAA Awards
Since its inception in 1973, the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) has annually presented awards to "encourage, promote and recognise excellence in Australian country music recording," managing them officially from 1993 onwards. Recipients are honoured with the prestigious Golden Guitar trophy.
(wins only)
|- | 2005 || Keith Jamieson || Hands of Fame || |- | 2014 || "I Love Australia" (with Jeff Brown) || Bush Ballad of the Year || |-
Tamworth Songwriters Awards
The Tamworth Songwriters Association (TSA) organizes an annual competition for original country music compositions during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, established in 1986. Keith Jamieson secured three awards here, underscoring his influence as a songwriter.
(wins only)
|- | 2003 | "The Ghost of Three Rivers" by Keith Jamieson and Stan Coster | Traditional Bush Ballad of the Year | |- | 2013 | "My First Rodeo" by Keith Jamieson and Bill Cosbie | Country Ballad of the Year | |- | 2016 | "Plain and Simple" by Keith Jamieson | Commemorative Award for Bush Ballad | |-