Bruce Smeaton facts for kids

Bruce Smeaton (born March 5, 1938) is an Australian composer. He is famous for creating music for many Australian movies and TV shows. His music has been used in different types of films, including long movies, short films, TV series, documentaries, and even commercials.

Some of his well-known musical works include the scores for Picnic at Hanging Rock, Seven Little Australians, and Roxanne. He has won several Australian Film Institute (AFI) awards for Best Original Music Score. These awards were for his work on The Cars That Ate Paris (1974), The Great Macarthy (1975), The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978), and Street Hero (1984). For Street Hero, he shared the award with Garth Porter and others.

Bruce Smeaton's Life Story

Bruce Smeaton was born in Brighton, Victoria, Australia. He has always had a passion for music.

Early Career and Teaching

In 1964, Bruce Smeaton worked as a music teacher. He taught at Fawkner Technical School in North Fawkner, a suburb of Melbourne. This was an all-boys school at the time. During this period, he also had a strong interest in vintage cars. He would often bring his cars to school.

Music Achievements

Bruce Smeaton's music has been released by record labels like Southern Cross Records and 1M1 Records. His unique electronic music for the film Wendy Cracked a Walnut was very special. It was nominated for an ARIA Award in 1991. This nomination was for the Best Soundtrack / Cast / Show Album.

Where He Lives Now

Bruce Smeaton currently lives in Binalong, New South Wales. He has been married twice and has three adult children.

Bruce Smeaton's Work in Film and TV

Bruce Smeaton has composed music for many different types of films and television shows. His work includes documentaries, feature films, short films, and TV series.

Documentaries

• Bush, Books and Breedens (1973)
• My Brother Wartovo (1973)
• Kangaroo Island (1974)
• Pozieres (2000)

Feature Films

• Libido (1973)
• The Cars That Ate Paris (1974)
• Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)
• The Great Macarthy (1975)
• The Devil's Playground (1976)
• The Trespassers (1976)
• Eliza Fraser (1976)
• Summerfield (1977)
• The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978)
• Circle of Iron (1978)
• The Last of the Knucklemen (1979)
• Grendel Grendel Grendel (1980)
• ...Maybe This Time (1980)
• Double Deal (1981)
• Monkey Grip (1982)
• Squizzy Taylor (1982)
• Barbarosa (1982)
• Undercover (1983)
• Iceman (1984)
• The Naked Country (1984)
• Departure (1985)
• Plenty (1985)
• Eleni (1985)
• Contagion (1987)
• Roxanne (1987)
• Evil Angels (1988)
• Wendy Cracked a Walnut (1989)
• The Missing (1999)

Short Films

• The Clown and the Mindreader (date unknown)

Television Shows

• Seven Little Australians (1973, TV miniseries)
• Ben Hall (1975, TV series)
• Tandarra (1976, miniseries)
• Patrol Boat (1979, TV series)
• The Timeless Land (1980, TV miniseries)
• A Town Like Alice (1981, TV miniseries)
• 1915 (1982, miniseries)
• Five Mile Creek (1983, TV series)
• The Coral Island (1983, TV miniseries)
• Eureka Stockade (1984, TV miniseries)
• Boy in the Bush (1984, TV miniseries)
• A Thousand Skies (1986, TV miniseries)
• Jackson's Crew (1986, pilot)
• Tusitala (1986, TV miniseries)
• The Alien Years (1988, TV miniseries)
• Act of Betrayal (1988, movie)
• Naked Under Capricorn (1989, movie)
• The Private War of Lucinda Smith (1990, dramatised documentary)
• The Last of the Ryans (1997, movie)

Awards and Nominations

Bruce Smeaton has received recognition for his musical compositions.

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are annual awards in Australia. They are given by the Australian Recording Industry Association and started in 1987.