Joe Geia facts for kids

Joseph Benjamin Geia (born 1959) is an amazing Aboriginal Australian musician from the Murri people. He is known for his unique blend of Indigenous music and reggae. Joe Geia plays many instruments, including vocals, guitar, and the didgeridoo. He has released three solo albums: Yil Lull (1988), Tribal Journey (1996), and Nunga, Koori and a Murri Love (2005). Joe is also famous for writing the song "Yil Lull", which many other well-known artists have performed. These artists include Paul Kelly, Archie Roach, and Jimmy Barnes.

Joe Geia's Early Life

Joe Geia was born in 1959 in Ingham, Queensland. He grew up as a member of the Murri peoples, an Indigenous group. His father, Albert Geia, was a cane cutter and an important Indigenous elder. Albert was one of the leaders of the Palm Island strike in 1957. Because of this, Albert and other leaders were not allowed to return to the island.

Joe Geia is a talented composer, guitarist, singer, and didgeridoo player. Many people see him as one of the most important figures in modern Indigenous music. In the late 1970s, he was part of a Kuku Yalanji dance group. Later, he moved to Adelaide to study at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music (CASM) at the University of Adelaide.

Musical Journey

Joining Bands

While at CASM, Joe joined the Aboriginal band No Fixed Address in 1982. He sang, played percussion, and played the didgeridoo. He was part of their album From My Eyes, released in August 1982. Joe left the band in mid-1983 and moved to Sydney. There, he started his own reggae band called Nya Nunga.

In 1985, he ended Nya Nunga and moved to Melbourne. He then formed a new band called Prince Nayh and the Slaves of Sin. The next year, they toured South Australia and the Northern Territory. That same year, Joe joined Shane Howard and Friends, singing and playing guitar. Shane Howard was the lead singer from the band Goanna. Joe, Shane, and Shane's sister Marcia Howard continued to play together in the Shane Howard Band from 1987 to 1988.

Cultural Work

Also in 1987, Joe Geia became a cultural officer for the Aboriginal Advancement League of Victoria. In this role, he would visit local schools. He would play the didgeridoo, teach traditional dances, and show how traditional cooking was done.

Solo Success

Yil Lull Album

The Australia Council for the Arts gave Joe Geia money to help him make his first solo album, Yil Lull. This album was released in 1988, which was Australia's bicentennial year. It was a huge success, both with critics and in sales, which was rare for an Aboriginal artist at the time. The Council also supported his six-month national "Uncle Willie Tour" in 1988. The album was very important to Aboriginal people. It helped express a growing sense of pride in their culture and identity. It also showed hope for the fight for land rights.

Collaborations and Tours

Many Aboriginal musicians who became famous later have said that Joe Geia was a big influence on them. He has worked with many other Australian musicians. He has a close relationship with the Tasmanian band Wild Pumpkins at Midnight. They often played as his backing band. In 1995, Joe toured Europe with members of Wild Pumpkins. They performed in Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland, and Belgium under the name Joe Geia and the Black Snake Orchestra. In 1996, he sang on the song "Pretty Valley." This song was based on the oral history of a massacre of tribal people in New South Wales.

Later Albums

Joe released his second album, Tribal Journey, in 1996. He has also written songs for other projects and played as a musician for other bands. His third album, Nunga, Koori and a Murri Love, came out in December 2005. His former bandmate, Shane Howard, produced this album. Many famous Australian musicians helped make the album. These include Kerryn Tolhurst, Ross Hannaford, Bob Sedergreen, Nick Larkins, Rebecca Barnard, and Shelley Scown.

Music Style

Joe Geia's songs are often described as roots music. His music style ranges from simple Pacific songs to reggae, rock, and funk. He writes songs in both Aboriginal languages and English. His songs talk about common human experiences. They also discuss issues important to Aboriginal Australia, but in a subtle way. Some of his newer songs, like "Gimme a Mercedes" and "Good To See Ya," even have a lot of humor.

Discography

Albums