Shellie Morris facts for kids

Shellie Morris AO is a talented Indigenous Australian singer and songwriter. She creates music that blends modern folk music sounds with acoustic ballads. She is also known for her important work helping Indigenous communities.

Shellie Morris's Story

Shellie Morris grew up in Sydney, Australia. She started singing when she was very young. In her twenties, she often sang in church choirs. In the 1990s, Shellie moved to Darwin. She wanted to find her Indigenous family there.

She studied contemporary music at N.T.U in Darwin. After that, she worked with producer Glen Heald for ten years. Together, they created her albums Shellie Morris and Waiting Road.

Music and Performances

Shellie toured with the famous band Yothu Yindi in 2001. She also performed with Neil Murray from the Warumpi Band. In 2002, Shellie and Glen Heald wrote music for a play. It was called "To the inland sea." This play was about Charles Sturt's journey to find a mythical inland sea.

Shellie won Best Female Musician at the 2004 and 2005 Northern Territory Indigenous Music Awards. Her album Waiting Road was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2007 Deadly Awards. She has been on ABC TV's Message Stick program twice. She performed her song "Swept Away" on the SBS show Rockwiz. She also sang a special version of "Louis Louie" with Ross Wilson.

Shellie Morris is a featured singer with the Black Arm Band. This group brings together top Indigenous artists and jazz musicians. Her song "Swept Away" was performed with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in 2008. In 2009, Shellie performed at the Sydney Opera House. She sang with the well-known Indigenous musician Gurrumul Yunupingu.

Shellie also co-wrote "Liberty Songs" with Australian guitarist Glen Heald. This project brought together refugees from Liberia and Indigenous Australian female singers. In 2010, Shellie performed "Swept Away" at the Winter Olympics opening in Vancouver. She sang with the Black Arm Band. In 2011, she performed with international stars like Sinéad O'Connor and John Cale. She was also in the film 'Murundak – Songs of freedom'. This film was about Aboriginal protest music.

In 2011, Brazilian singer Gilberto Gil chose Shellie for his film "Viramundo." This film explored connections between countries in the southern hemisphere.

In 2013, Shellie released the album Ngambala Wiji Li-Wunungu – Together We are Strong. This album featured songs in several Indigenous languages. These included Yanyuwa, Marra, Garrwa, and Gurdanji. This project won the 2012 National Indigenous Music Award for Traditional Music. It also won the 2012 Music Council of Australia's Music in Communities Award. In 2013, it won the National Indigenous Music Award for Song of the Year.

Community Work

Shellie Morris works with Indigenous communities and young people across Australia. She helps them write music about their own stories and experiences. She has worked in over fifty Indigenous communities.

She is also an ambassador for the Fred Hollows Foundation. This group helps prevent blindness in Indigenous Australian communities. They also work in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. Shellie is also an ambassador for The Jimmy Little Foundation. This foundation works to improve kidney health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Music Albums

Studio Albums

Awards and Recognitions

Order of Australia

In 2023, Shellie Morris was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia. This is a very high honor in Australia. She received it for her great work in music. She was also recognized for her service to the Indigenous community and non-profit groups.

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are annual awards in Australia. They celebrate excellent music across all genres.

Australian Women in Music Awards

The Australian Women in Music Awards celebrate amazing women in the Australian Music Industry. They recognize those who have made important contributions.

National Indigenous Music Awards

The National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA) celebrate great music from the Northern Territory. They recognize excellence and dedication in the music industry.

Helping Others

Shellie Morris uses her music career to help others. She is a special ambassador for the Fred Hollows Foundation. This group is a non-profit organization. They teach surgeons how to cure blindness in communities that need help. They work in Indigenous Australian communities. They also help people in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific.