Broderick Smith
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Broderick Smith (17 February 1948 – 30 April 2023) was an English-born Australian multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and sometime actor. He was a member of 1970s bands Sundown, Carson, and The Dingoes. In the 1980s, he was part of Broderick Smith's Big Combo where he recorded and performed both solos and duos. He acted on stage in the 1973 Australian version of the rock opera, '' Tommy'', and in minor roles in the 1990s TV series ''
Blue Heelers ''Blue Heelers'' is an Australian police drama series that was produced by Southern Star Group and ran for twelve years on the Seven Network, from 1994 to 2006. Although based around the policing of the town, the series generally depicted th ...
'', '' Snowy River: The McGregor Saga'', and '' State Coroner''. Smith was involved with the writing of some 200 songs and ran workshops on song writing, harmonica, and vocals. He is the father of Ambrose Kenny-Smith, who has provided vocals, harmonica and keyboards for the rock band
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard (KGLW) are an Australian rock band formed in 2010 in Melbourne, Victoria. The band's current lineup consists of Stu Mackenzie (vocals, guitar), Ambrose Kenny-Smith (vocals, harmonica, keyboards), Cook Craig ( ...
since 2011 and harmonica for The Backsliders.


Early life and education

Broderick Smith was born in
Hertfordshire Hertfordshire ( or ; often abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial county in the East of England and one of the home counties. It borders Bedfordshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Essex to the east, Greater London to the ...
, England and, with his father Richard, mother Millicent (née Stone) and a younger sibling, migrated to Australia in April 1959 via RMS ''Orion'' out of the
Port of Tilbury The Port of Tilbury is a port located on the River Thames at Tilbury in Essex, England. It serves as the principal port for London, as well as being the main United Kingdom port for handling the importation of paper. There are extensive facili ...
. Note: User may have to click on a tab, e.g. "Credits", to access further information. They settled under the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme, initially, in
St Albans St Albans () is a cathedral city in Hertfordshire, England, east of Hemel Hempstead and west of Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Hatfield, north-west of London, south-west of Welwyn Garden City and south-east of Luton. St Albans was the first major ...
a western suburb of Melbourne. He later recalled, "I remember going to sideshow in St Albans as a kid and seeing a dancing chicken. But I didn't know they were on hot plates at the time. I thought wow – dancing chickens, why are their feet smoking?" He left secondary school in 1963 and worked as a messenger boy. From 1965, he was a sales clerk for Allans retail music store for three years. In the mid-1960s, he moved to Craigieburn and later the Central Victorian town of Castlemaine.


Starting music career

According to Australian musicologist,
Ian McFarlane Ian McFarlane (born 1959) is an Australian music journalist, music historian and author, whose best known publication is the ''Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop'' (1999), which was updated for a second edition in 2017. As a journalist ...
, "blessed with a masterful blues voice, Smith has retained an interest in roots music right throughout his career." Smith's early influences were, "Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Charlie Musselwhite." In 1962 or 1963 Smith was a member of the Maltese Band on percussion.Broderick Smith and related entries at
Australian Rock Database The Australian Rock Database was a website with a searchable online database that listed details of Australian rock music artists, albums, bands, producers and record labels. It was established in 2000 by Swedish national Magnus Holmgren, who had ...
: * Broderick Smith:  * Carson (1971–73, 1993):  * The Dingoes (1973–79, 2009–13): 
Other blues groups he joined included the Smokey Hollows in 1965. He joined Adderley Smith Blues Band (1966–68) on vocals and harmonica, alongside Kerryn Tolhurst on guitar and mandolin. Smith had to leave the group when he was conscripted into the army as part of his
National Service National service is a system of compulsory or voluntary government service, usually military service. Conscription is mandatory national service. The term ''national service'' comes from the United Kingdom's National Service (Armed Forces) Act ...
during the
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...
. From 1968 to 1970, he was stationed at Holsworthy Barracks in
New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
. Note: The book's authors, Jenkins and Meldrum, acknowledge the chapter is written by Camilleri. The on-line version is from Camilleri's Official website, a mirror copy was available a
"The Black Sorrows Official Website"
on20 March 2018.
Upon his discharge, Smith briefly joined a country music group, Sundown, with Tolhurst, but left in 1971.


1971–1973: Carson

Carson formed in January 1970 and was a blues-boogie band influenced by US group
Canned Heat Canned Heat is an American blues rock band that was formed in Los Angeles in 1965. The group has been noted for its efforts to promote interest in blues music and its original artists. It was launched by two blues enthusiasts, Alan Wilson and ...
. 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 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 the 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 on the Image label. He also kept up with Carson to record "Boogie, Part 1" / "Boogie, Part 2", which reached No. 30 on the National charts in September 1972. That was followed by their debut album, ''Blown'', on
Harvest Records Harvest Records is a British-American record label belonging to Capitol Music Group, originally created by EMI in 1969. History Harvest Records was created by EMI in 1969 to market progressive rock music, and to compete with Philips' Vertigo ...
, produced by Rod Coe, which reached No. 14 in December. Australian psychedelic and
progressive rock Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog) is a broad genre of rock music that primarily developed in the United Kingdom through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early-to-mid-1970s. Initially termed " progressive pop", the ...
band
Tamam Shud Tamam Shud are an Australian psychedelic, progressive and surf rock band formed in Newcastle, New South Wales, in 1964. The initial line-up were known as The Four Strangers with Eric Connell on bass guitar, Dannie Davidson on drums, Gary Joh ...
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 only found out about the switch at the film's premiere, but according to Smith, his contribution was made with Tamam Shud's knowledge and permission. Carson performed at the 1973 Sunbury Rock Festival, on the
Australia Day Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Observed annually on 26 January, it marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet and raising of the Flag of Great Britain, Union Flag of Great Britain by Arthur Phillip at Sydney Cove, a ...
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.


1973–1978: ''Tommy'' to the Dingoes

The Who The Who are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup (1964–1978) consisted of lead vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. Considered one of th ...
's rock opera '' Tommy'' was performed in Australia in 1973, in an orchestral version, with Smith in the role of The Father (Mr Walker). Other Australian artists involved were
Daryl Braithwaite Daryl Braithwaite (born 11 January 1949) is an Australian singer. He was the lead vocalist of Sherbet (1970–1984 and many subsequent reunions). Braithwaite also has a solo career, placing 15 singles in the Australian top 40, including ...
(as Tommy),
Billy Thorpe William Richard Thorpe AM (29 March 1946 – 28 February 2007) was an English-born Australian singer-songwriter, and record producer. As lead singer of his band Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs, he had success in the 1960s with "Blue Day", "Poison Iv ...
, Doug Parkinson, Wendy Saddington, Jim Keays, Colleen Hewett, Linda George, Ross Wilson, Bobby Bright, and Ian Meldrum (as "Uncle Ernie" in Sydney). The Dingoes were formed in Melbourne in April 1973 by Smith's old band mate, Kerryn Tolhurst. The original line-up included Tolhurst (ex-Adderley Smith Blues Band, Sundown, Country Radio) (singer, songwriter, guitars), Chris Stockley (ex-CamPact,
Axiom An axiom, postulate, or assumption is a statement that is taken to be true, to serve as a premise or starting point for further reasoning and arguments. The word comes from the Ancient Greek word (), meaning 'that which is thought worthy or ...
) (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 Country rock is a music genre that fuses rock and country. It was developed by rock musicians who began to record country-flavored records in the late 1960s and early 1970s. These musicians recorded rock records using country themes, vocal sty ...
. Their best performed singles were " Way Out West" and "Boy on the Run". Their 1974 debut self-titled album, ''The Dingoes'', peaked at No. 18. They performed at Sunbury Rock Festivals in 1974 and 1975, making Smith one of the few artists who performed at all four Sunbury festivals. From 1976, the Dingoes relocated to US 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 (, ) is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1964. The group originally formed as My Backyard and comprised Ronnie Van Zant (vocals), Gary Rossington (guitar), Allen Collins (guitar), Larry Junstrom ...
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 (1982–1985), and Broderick Smith and the Noveltones (1988). Of those, Big Combo provided his best known latter releases, with the singles "Faded Roses" and "My Father's Hands", and the 1981 album ''Broderick Smith's Big Combo''. The line-up of his backing group included, John Ballard on guitar, saxophone and backing vocals, Peter Lee on drums, Mick "the Reverend" O'Connor on keyboards, and Ron Robertson on bass guitar. By October 1982, those four were all members of Tinsley Waterhouse Band.


1990–2023: Acting, workshops and duos

Smith appeared in brief television roles including episodes of police drama ''
Blue Heelers ''Blue Heelers'' is an Australian police drama series that was produced by Southern Star Group and ran for twelve years on the Seven Network, from 1994 to 2006. Although based around the policing of the town, the series generally depicted th ...
'' 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". Smith delivered numerous workshops on song writing, harmonica and vocals to schools within Victoria, writing about 200 songs, and has run workshops on song writing, harmonica and vocals. He considered himself to be primarily a lyricist. His song writing technique typically involves writing the lyrics in prose form, with the music then being written (usually by someone else), with the lyrics then changed to suit the music. Smith believed "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 played harmonica with the Backsliders, alternating with Ian Collard (of Collard Greens & Gravy) as a replacement for founding member Jim Conway, performed live on ''
RocKwiz ''RocKwiz'' is an Australian television live music trivia quiz show, focused on rock music and featuring different guest artist musicians who perform live in each episode. The show was co-created by Brian Nankervis, Peter Bain-Hogg, and Ken C ...
'' Episode 74 in January 2009 singing "God May Not Be With Us" and a Duet of the
MGMT MGMT () is an American rock band formed in 2002 in Middletown, Connecticut. It was founded by singers and multi-instrumentalists Andrew VanWyngarden and Benjamin Goldwasser, Ben Goldwasser. Originally signed to Cantora Records by the nascent ...
song "Time to Pretend" with Patience Hodgson from the Grates, performed with Tabasco Tom and Doc White, an American blues vocalist, singer songwriter and a Victorian blues and country musician. Participating in several tours around Australia and one in New Zealand in the late 2000s. He also performed on their album, ''Tabasco Tom & Doc White'', and Smith wrote and narrated the text for the album '' Eyes Like the Sky'' by
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard (KGLW) are an Australian rock band formed in 2010 in Melbourne, Victoria. The band's current lineup consists of Stu Mackenzie (vocals, guitar), Ambrose Kenny-Smith (vocals, harmonica, keyboards), Cook Craig ( ...
, released in 2013 and featuring his son Ambrose on harmonica.


Death

Smith died on 30 April 2023, at the age of 75 in his hometown of Castlemaine.


Discography


Studio albums


Compilation albums


Other albums


Singles


See also

* Carson (band) * The Dingoes * Backsliders (band)


References


External links

*
Milesago entry on Carson

Entertain Oz biography


* {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Broderick 1948 births 2023 deaths English country musicians English emigrants to Australia English rock singers English male singer-songwriters Musicians from Hertfordshire