John Williamson - the Aussie Ballader's Music

Even if you have no connection with Australia, if you enjoy national ballads, comedy, romance or country life -

1945	John Williamson was born into a farming family in Quambatook in the mallee country of the state of Victoria in Australia.
1965	John and his family to over a farm at Croppa Creek, south of Goondiwindi, New South Wales. 1970 After winning the "New Faces" talent show with his "Old Man Emu" the song gave him his first No. 1 and gold disc.
1970	John's first album released called "John Williamson".
1973	Hosted the TV country show "Travllin' Out West". John and the cast released a number of "Travllin' Out West" albums and also gave live performances.
1976	The album "The Comic Strip Cowboy" was released.
1976-79	"Crow" was a country rock formed by John. Later this evolved into "Sydney Radio".
1978	The album "Road to Town" was released.
1978	The album "Country Greats" was released.
1980	John wrote "The Breaker" after seeing the film "Breaker Morant" about an Australian country adventurer who was executed in the Boer War. John developed his keenness to sing in a real Aussie accent about real Aussie characters from real Aussie places.
1982	The album "True Blue" was released. This was the first of several different albums that took the same title - that name is now usually used to refer to the later double album compilation. This particular album was later re-released as "Old Man Emu".
1982	The album "Fair Dinkum JW" was released. Later re-released as "Bound for Botany Bay".
1983	The live album "Singin' in the Suburbs" was released. Later re-released as "Waltzing Matilda, John Williamson - Live".
1984	The live album "The Smell of Gum Leaves" was released. Later re-released as "Home Among the Gum Trees".
1985	The album "Road Thru the Heart" was released.
1985	The album Humble Beginnings (Compilation of songs from the 70s) was released.
1986	The compilation album "All the Best" was released.
1986	John wrote and sang the single "Goodbye Blinky Bill". The royalties of the song have raised over a third of a million dollars for the endangered koala.
1986	The Government's "Australian Made" campaign used the song "True Blue" as its theme.
1986	John's first video "Live at the Longyard" was released.
1986	The album "Mallee Boy" was released and quickly earned a platinum disc.
1988	The album "Boomerang Café" was released.
1989	The album "Warragul" was released and reached No. 1.
1989	John received the Variety Club's Entertainer of the Year award.
1989	The compilation album "Australia Calling - All the Best, Vol. 2" was released.
1990	The album "JW's Family Album" featuring comedy and children's songs was released.
1990	The double CD compilation album "True Blue" was released.
1991	John's book, "True Blue" was released, including lyrics and stories of his life and carrier.
1991	The album "Waratah St" was released and immediately eared a gold disc.
1992	John sang in England and Ierland for the first time.
1993	The album "Love is a Good Woman" was released. A compilation of various previous love songs and some new ones.
1994	The album "Mulga to Mangoes" was released.
1995	The film "On Our Selection" included the title track (and one other) sung by John.
1995	John appeared on the Australian "This is Your Life" TV program.
1996	The album "Family album 2" was released.
1997	John's entered on the Roll of Renown at the Australian Country Music Awards, Tamworth.
1997	John appeared as a presenter on the TV program "Bush Telegraph".
1997	The album "Pipe Dream" was released.
1998	John toured England as a solo artist.
1998	The album and video "For Aussie Kids" were released.
1998	John's duet with Warren H Williams of "Raining on the Rock" won the best single at the Deadly Sounds Indigenous Awards.
1999	The album and video "The Way It Is" was released.
1999	The Australian World Cup Cricket Team were entertained by John singing "True Blue" at their victory dinner.
1999	John toured the British Isles again.
1999	John sang for the Australian Rugby Football Team (the Wallabies) throughout their battle to the World Cup Final at Cardiff, Wales. John also performed his song dedicated to the Wallabies - "A Number On My Back" while the Wallabies celebrated victory.
2000	John had his first tour of New Zealand.
2000	John's duet with Jimmy Little "This Ancient Land" was the official song for "Corroboree 2000" - a celebration of Aboriginal reconciliation.