Jimmy Little facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jimmy Little AO
Little performing at Corroboree 2000
Background information
Birth name	James Oswald Little
Also known as	The Balladeer The Honey Voice Uncle Jimmy Gentleman Jim
Born	(1937-03-01)1 March 1937 Cummeragunja Aboriginal Reserve, New South Wales, Australia
Died	2 April 2012(2012-04-02) (aged 75) Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia
Genres	Acoustic, folk rock, country
Occupation(s)	Musician, actor, teacher
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, harmonica
Years active	1951–2012
Labels	Regal Zonophone, Festival, Warner

James Oswald Little (born 1 March 1937 – died 2 April 2012) was an amazing Aboriginal Australian musician, actor, and teacher. He was a member of the Yorta Yorta people and grew up on the Cummeragunja Reserve in New South Wales.

Jimmy Little started his career in 1951 as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His career lasted for six decades! For many years, he was the most famous Aboriginal star in Australian music. His songs were inspired by artists like Nat King Cole and Jim Reeves.

His gospel song "Royal Telephone" (released in 1963) sold over 75,000 copies. His most popular album, Messenger, reached number 26 on the music charts in 1999.

In 1999, Jimmy Little was added to the ARIA Hall of Fame. This is a special award for musicians who have made a huge impact. He also won an ARIA Award for Best Adult Contemporary Album for Messenger. In 2004, he received the Officer of the Order of Australia award. This was for his work in music and for helping bring people together through Indigenous culture.

Besides music, Jimmy Little was also an actor. He appeared in films like Shadow of the Boomerang (1960) and Until the End of the World (1991). He also taught music and mentored young Indigenous students.

Jimmy Little had some health challenges, including diabetes and a heart condition. In 2004, he had a kidney transplant. After this, he started the Jimmy Little Foundation. This foundation helps improve health and diet for Indigenous people. Jimmy Little passed away on 2 April 2012, at the age of 75.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

James Oswald Little was born on 1 March 1937. His mother, Frances, was a Yorta Yorta woman, and his father, James Little Sr., was from the Yuin people. Jimmy's father was a talented tap dancer, comedian, musician, and singer. He even led his own performance group in the 1930s and 1940s. Jimmy's mother was also a singer.

Jimmy grew up as the oldest of seven children on the Cummeragunja Aboriginal Reserve. This reserve is located on the Murray River in New South Wales. He remembered his parents teaching him about "the value of life, freedom, love, [and] respect." He was proud to follow in their footsteps as a performer.

When Jimmy was 13, he received a guitar. Within a year, he was already playing at local concerts. At 16, he traveled to Sydney to perform on a radio show called Australia's Amateur Hour. In 1955, Jimmy moved to Sydney to become a country music star. His smooth singing style earned him nicknames like "the Balladeer" and "the Honey Voice."

Music Career Highlights

Jimmy Little signed with Regal Zonophone Records in 1956. His first single was "Mysteries of Life." In 1958, he married Marjorie Rose Peters, who was also a singer. They had a daughter named Frances Claire. Jimmy even released a song named "Frances Claire" when she was a baby.

He also released "Give the Coloured Boy a Chance." This song was written by his father. It was one of the first songs in Australia to talk about Indigenous issues. In 1959, his song "Danny Boy" became his first hit, reaching number 9 in Sydney.

In 1960, Jimmy appeared in the film Shadow of the Boomerang. He also released the song "El Paso," which reached number 12 in Sydney. By 1962, Jimmy was touring with a show called All Coloured Show. This helped him become even more well-known.

"Royal Telephone" and Big Success

In October 1963, Jimmy released his biggest hit, "Royal Telephone." This gospel song became number 1 in Sydney and number 3 in Melbourne. It was a huge success and sold very quickly. It was even named "Best Male Vocal Disk" in 1963.

In 1964, a song called "One Road" reached the charts. It was written by Barry Gibb, who was only 17 years old at the time. Jimmy Little was one of the first artists to record a song by Gibb. Jimmy was named Australian Pop Star of the Year by Everybody's magazine. He performed with his band, the Jimmy Little Trio, which included all Indigenous musicians.

His last big hit of this time was "Baby Blue" in 1974. After the 1970s, Jimmy focused more on his family and became a qualified teacher.

Return to Music and Messenger

In the 1980s, Jimmy Little started acting more. He appeared in plays and films. In 1989, he was named NAIDOC Aboriginal of the Year. After winning this award, he returned to making music.

In 1994, he released his album Yorta Yorta Man. That same year, he was added to the Australian Roll of Renown. This is the highest honor for an Australian country music artist.

In 1999, Jimmy released Messenger. This album featured his smooth voice singing modern songs by other Australian artists. It was a huge hit, reaching number 26 on the charts and selling over 20,000 copies.

Messenger won the ARIA Award for Best Adult Contemporary Album in 1999. Jimmy was also inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. At The Deadly Awards of 1999, he won Best Male Artist and Best Single Release.

Later Years and Legacy

In 2001, Jimmy released another album called Resonate. In 2002, he won the Golden Gospel Award for his support of gospel music. He even sang with Olivia Newton-John that year. He also appeared on The Wiggles' children's DVD Wiggly Wiggly World.

His 34th album, Life's What You Make It, came out in 2004. It included his unique versions of songs by famous bands like U2 and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Jimmy Little stopped performing in 2010. He passed away on 2 April 2012, in Dubbo, New South Wales. He is buried in Walgett, NSW. There is a tall water tank in Walgett with a picture of him painted on it.

Jimmy Little's grave

Jimmy Little image on Water Tank in Walgett, New South Wales

Jimmy Little's legacy lives on. From 2005, the Lifetime Achievement Award at The Deadly Awards was named after him. A play based on his life, called Country Song, was also created. In 2022, Google honored him with a special Google Doodle.

Personal Life and Community Work

Jimmy Little married Marjorie Rose Peters in 1958. They had one daughter, Frances Claire Peters-Little, who became a documentary filmmaker.

In 1990, Jimmy was diagnosed with kidney disease. He later had a kidney transplant in 2004. After his transplant, he started the Jimmy Little Foundation in 2006. This foundation helps Indigenous Australians who are dealing with kidney disease. It works to improve health and nutrition, especially for children.

From 1985, Jimmy taught and guided Indigenous music students at the Eora Centre in Redfern. He also became an ambassador for literacy and numeracy for the Department of Education. From 2000, he was a guest lecturer at the University of Sydney's Koori Centre.

His wife, Marjorie Rose Little, passed away in 2011. Jimmy Little passed away the following year. He is remembered as a kind and fair person who used his talents to help others.

Awards and Recognition

Jimmy Little received many awards for his music and community work.

• In 2004, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia. This was for his service to entertainment and for being an ambassador for Indigenous culture.
• Also in 2004, he was named a Living National Treasure.
• In 2005, he received an honorary doctorate in music from the University of Sydney. This was for his work in helping Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians come together.

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards celebrate songwriting and music performance in Australia.

• APRA Music Awards of 2010: Jimmy Little won the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music.

Australia Council for the Arts

The Australia Council for the Arts gives out the Red Ochre Award to outstanding Indigenous Australian artists for their lifetime achievements.

• 2003: Jimmy Little won the Red Ochre Award.

Australian Roll of Renown

The Australian Roll of Renown honors musicians who have greatly contributed to Country Music in Australia and New Zealand.

• 1994: Jimmy Little was inducted into the Australian Roll of Renown.

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards recognize excellence in Australian music.

• 1999: Jimmy Little was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
• 1999: His album Messenger won Best Adult Contemporary Album.

Deadly Awards

The Deadly Awards celebrated achievements by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in music, sport, and entertainment.

• Deadly Awards 1997: Jimmy Little won for Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal Music.
• Deadly Awards 1999: He won Male Artist of the Year and Single Release of the Year for "The Way You Make Me Feel."
• Deadly Awards 2002: He won Country Artist of the Year.
• Deadly Awards 2007: He received the Jimmy Little Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music.

Helpmann Awards

The Helpmann Awards celebrate live entertainment and performing arts in Australia.

• 2012: Jimmy Little received the JC Williamson Award, the highest honor for live performance.

Mo Awards

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards recognized achievements in live entertainment.

• 1996: Jimmy Little won the John Campbell Fellowship Award.
• 2003: Jimmy Little won Classic Rock Performer of the Year.

Discography

Albums

• You'll Never Walk Alone (1960)
• A Tree in The Meadow (1962)
• By Request (1963)
• Sing to Glory (1963)
• Royal Telephone (1964)
• Encores (1964)
• Onward Christian Soldiers (1964)
• Jimmy Little Sings Country & Western Greats (1965)
• 10th Anniversary (1966)
• Ballads and Strings (1967)
• New Songs from Jimmy Little (1967)
• The Best of Jimmy Little (1968)
• I Can't Stop Loving You (1969)
• Song to Glory (1969)
• The Country Sound of Jimmy Little (1969)
• Goodbye Old Rolf (1970)
• Winterwood (1972)
• Waltzing Matilda (1972)
• Jimmy by Request (1973)
• Country Boy, Country Hits (1974)
• All For Love (1975)
• Country Sounds (1975)
• I Can't Stop Loving You (1975)
• Jimmy Little Sings Country (1975)
• Travellin' Minstrel Man (1976)
• The Best of Jimmy Little (1977)
• An Evening with Jimmy Little (1978) (live album)
• 20 Golden Country Greats (1979)
• The Best of Jimmy Little (1994)
• Yorta Yorta Man (1995)
• Messenger (1999) - certified gold.
• Resonate (2001)
• Passage 1959–2001: Jimmy Little Anthology (2002) / Jimmy Little: The Definitive Collection (2004)
• Down the Road (2003)
• Life's What You Make It (2004)
• Songman (2012)

EPs

• The Grandest Show of All (1957)
• Jimmy Little Sings Ballads with a Beat (1959)
• A Fool Such As I (1960)
• Whispering Hope (1960)
• Too Many Parties & Too Many Pals (1961)
• A Man Called Peter (1962)
• The Way of the Cross (1962)
• Jimmy Little's Big Four (1962)
• The Grandest Show of All (1963)
• Royal Telephone (1963)
• Old Time Religion (1964)
• One Road (1964)
• A Christmas Selection (1965)
• Eternally (1965)
• Lifeline (1965)
• Ring, Bells Ring (1965)
• A Christmas Selection (1966)
• Goodbye Old Rolf (1970)

Singles

Other Resources

• Jimmy Little: Performing Artist (1997): A video about Jimmy Little produced by SBS-TV.
• Jimmy Little's Gentle Journey (2003): A video about his life.
• Jimmy Little (2005): A DVD of an interview with Jimmy Little on the Talking Heads TV show.