Australian musicians born in 1943
Here are 8 famous musicians from Australia were born in 1943:
Sonja Tallis
Sonja Tallis (September 24, 1943 Sydney-) is an Australian singer, actor and teacher.
She is best known for her work in musical theater, having performed in many classic productions such as "The Sound of Music," "Cats," and "Les Miserables." Tallis began her career in the 1960s as a pop singer in Australia and later shifted her focus to theater. In addition to her stage work, she has also appeared in several television series and films over the years. Alongside her performing career, Tallis is a respected teacher and vocal coach, having mentored many aspiring singers and actors. She has also served as a judge on various talent competitions and been involved in charity work, including fundraising for organizations that support the arts.
Tallis grew up in a musical family, with both of her parents being musicians. She started singing at a young age and began performing professionally at the age of 16. In the early 1970s, she moved to London to pursue her theater career and quickly found success in the West End. She went on to perform in various productions on Broadway as well.
In the 1990s, Tallis returned to Australia and continued to perform in musical theater productions, as well as taking on roles in popular television dramas such as "All Saints" and "Water Rats." She has also been involved in several Australian films, including "Cosi" and "The Dish."
In addition to her performing and teaching career, Tallis has been involved in promoting the arts in Australia. She is a founding member of the National Music Theatre Council, which aims to develop and promote Australian musical theater. She has also been an ambassador for the Australian Children's Music Foundation, which provides free music lessons to disadvantaged children.
Tallis has received numerous accolades for her contributions to the arts, including the Order of Australia Medal in 2004 for her services to the performing arts as a singer, actor, and teacher. She continues to be actively involved in the Australian arts community, performing and mentoring aspiring performers.
Tallis is also a celebrated recording artist, having released several albums throughout her career. Her debut album, "Let's Go," was released in 1965 and included covers of popular songs at the time. She later released several albums featuring her own original music, including "Paint Another Picture" in 1996 and "The Singer and the Song" in 2000. Her music has been praised for its emotional depth and storytelling.Tallis' dedication to the arts and her willingness to share her expertise with others have made her a beloved figure in the Australian entertainment industry. Her impact can be seen not only in the numerous performers she has mentored, but also in the continued growth and development of musical theater in Australia.
Throughout her career, Tallis has worked alongside many notable performers and directors, including Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cameron Mackintosh, and Hugh Jackman. She has also been recognized for her talent and skills as a vocal coach, having been invited to conduct masterclasses and workshops for aspiring performers around the world.
Tallis' passion for the arts extends beyond her professional work, as she is also an avid supporter of various charities and causes. She has volunteered with organizations such as AIDS Trust of Australia and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, using her talents and platform to raise awareness and funds for important causes.
Now in her seventies, Tallis shows no signs of slowing down. She continues to perform and teach, and her dedication to the arts remains unwavering. Her contributions to the Australian performing arts community have left a lasting impact, and she is widely regarded as one of the country's most beloved and respected performers.
Despite her success in the performing arts, Tallis has faced personal challenges throughout her life. In 1988, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy. She has since become an advocate for breast cancer awareness and early detection, using her own experience to encourage others to get regular check-ups and screenings. Her bravery and resilience in the face of adversity have inspired many and earned her widespread admiration and respect.
Throughout her career, Tallis has remained humble and grateful for the opportunities she has had. She has spoken openly about the importance of hard work, dedication, and perseverance in achieving success in the arts. Her commitment to her craft and her community has left a lasting legacy, and she continues to inspire new generations of performers and audiences alike.
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Rodney Rude
Rodney Rude (January 29, 1943 Bathurst-) a.k.a. Rodney Malcolm Keft or Rodney Keft is an Australian writer, stand-up comedian, poet, comedian, singer and guitarist.
His most important albums: More Grunt, Not Guilty, Rude Rides Again, A Legend, Rodney Rude Live, Classic Rude, Rat's Arse, Twice as Rude, I Got More and Frog Sack.
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Judith Durham
Judith Durham (July 3, 1943 Essendon-) also known as Judith Mavis Cock, Judith Durham OAM or Judy Cock is an Australian singer, musician, singer-songwriter and composer.
Her most important albums: Hold on to Your Dream, Gift of Song, For Christmas With Love and The Platinum Album. Her related genres: Jazz.
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Roger Smalley
Roger Smalley (June 26, 1943 Manchester-) is an Australian professor, composer, conductor and pianist.
He is considered one of the most important composers of the post-war generation of Australian music. As a pianist, he made many appearances throughout Europe, North America and Australia, both as a soloist and a chamber musician. Smalley was also a professor of music and held teaching appointments at various institutions, including the University of Western Australia, where he founded the music technology program. In addition to his compositions for ensembles and solo instruments, Smalley was also known for his innovative use of electronic and computer music. Over the course of his career, he received numerous awards and honors, including the Don Banks Music Award and a Member of the Order of Australia.
Throughout his life, Smalley showed a strong interest in contemporary music forms and was notable for his experimentation with a range of styles, techniques, and genres. He combined various traditional scales and rhythms with the contemporary musical language of the twentieth century. Smalley was particularly interested in creating music specifically for the piano and other keyboard instruments, as evident in his important works like Piano Trio (1971), Ricercare (1984) and Variations for Piano (1970).
Smalley's compositions are widely recognized and credited for their unique sound, which borrows from the music traditions of various geographic regions, such as Bali, North India, and Japan, among others. Some of his most well-known works include "Mirrors: three pieces for orchestra," "Strung Out," "Pulse Music III," and "The Nyctalops Trilogy," which is a series of works composed for piano.
Smalley passed away on August 18, 2015, due to cancer, in Australia. Despite his death, he left behind a lasting legacy within the world of Australian contemporary music. Many of his compositions are still being performed and recorded by musicians all around the world.
Smalley began his musical career at the age of 11 when he started taking piano lessons at the Royal Manchester College of Music. Later, he studied composition and piano at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. After completing his studies, he moved to London, where he became an active participant in the music scene of the 1960s. Smalley was associated with a group of avant-garde musicians and composers, including Cornelius Cardew, Michael Parsons, and Howard Skempton. His early works were heavily influenced by the European avant-garde movement, but he gradually developed his own style, which blended elements of serialism, minimalism, and experimentalism.
Smalley's interest in electronic music led him to experiment with a variety of electronic instruments, and he became renowned for his use of the computer-controlled synthesizer. He was one of the first composers to use this instrument in a live performance setting, and his work in this field earned him many accolades. In the 1980s, he was invited to work at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Experimental Music Studio, where he produced some of his most innovative and groundbreaking electronic compositions.
In addition to his work as a composer and pianist, Smalley was a respected music educator. He began teaching at the University of Western Australia in 1986 and helped to establish the university's music technology program. In 1990, he became a professor of composition at the University of Huddersfield in England, where he remained until his retirement in 2004.
Smalley's contributions to the world of contemporary music have been widely recognized, and he was honored with numerous awards and distinctions throughout his career. In addition to the Don Banks Music Award and the Member of the Order of Australia, he was awarded the APRA Classical Music Award, the Australia Council's prestigious Music Fellowship, and the Excellence in Research Award from the University of Western Australia.
Furthermore, Smalley was also an active conductor, having conducted many orchestras and ensembles throughout his career. He was particularly known for his interpretations of 20th-century music, and his performances of works by composers such as Stockhausen, Boulez, and Ligeti were considered definitive. Smalley was also an accomplished chamber musician, having played with many prominent musicians and ensembles, including the Arditti Quartet, the London Sinfonietta, and the Ensemble InterContemporain. He recorded extensively throughout his career and his recordings can be found on numerous labels, including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, EMI, and NMC Recordings.
Smalley was a mentor to many young composers and musicians, and his contributions to the education and promotion of contemporary music were significant. His legacy continues to inspire and influence musicians and composers around the world, and he remains a prominent figure in the history of Australian music.
Smalley’s interest in music was not limited to Western classical music. As a young man, he was drawn to jazz music and played piano in jazz clubs throughout England. Jazz had a significant impact on his compositions, and his exploration of jazz harmonies and rhythms is evident in works such as "Conversations" for jazz quintet and classical ensemble.
In addition to his work in composition and performance, Smalley was also a prominent music critic. He wrote for several prominent music publications, including The Guardian and The Listener. His writing covered a wide range of topics, from the state of the contemporary music scene to detailed analyses of individual pieces of music.
Smalley's legacy is particularly significant in Australia, where he is considered one of the country's most important composers. He was a central figure in the development of contemporary music in Australia, and his influence can be seen in the work of many composers who followed in his footsteps.
Smalley was a lifelong advocate for the promotion of contemporary music, and he believed that music had the power to effect social change. His work as a composer, pianist, conductor, educator, and critic helped to shape the landscape of contemporary music in Australia and beyond.
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Ross Edwards
Ross Edwards (December 23, 1943 Sydney-) otherwise known as Edwards, Ross is an Australian composer.
His albums: . Genres he performed: Film score.
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Peter Best
Peter Best (October 18, 1943 Adelaide-) is an Australian film score composer and screenwriter.
Discography: Crocodile Dundee and On Our Selection - Dad & Dave. Genres he performed: Film score.
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Trevor Lucas
Trevor Lucas (December 25, 1943 Bungaree, Victoria-February 4, 1989 Sydney) a.k.a. Trevor George Lucas, Ferrari McLintock, Bluey or Fotheringay was an Australian musician, singer, film score composer, songwriter and singer-songwriter. He had two children, Georgia Lucas and Clancy Lucas.
His albums: The Attic Tracks 1972-1984. Genres: Electric folk and Folk music.
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Aunty Jack
Aunty Jack (November 21, 1943 Sydney-) a.k.a. Grahame Bond, Grahame John Bond or Grahame John Bond AM is an Australian screenwriter, actor, film score composer, writer, film director, musician, composer and film producer.
Discography: Aunty Jack Sings Wollongong and The Auntyology (1972-1985).
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