Slim Dusty facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Slim Dusty AO MBE
At the Golden Guitar awards in Tamworth
Background information
Birth name	David Gordon Kirkpatrick
Born	(1927-06-13)13 June 1927 Nulla Nulla Creek, New South Wales, Australia
Died	19 September 2003(2003-09-19) (aged 76) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Genres	Country folk truck-driving country bush ballad Australiana
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter guitarist music producer
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1945–2003
Labels	Regal Zonophone EMI
Associated acts	Joy McKean Anne Kirkpatrick Smoky Dawson Buddy Williams The Wiggles South Kempsey Boys Shorty Ranger

Slim Dusty, born David Gordon Kirkpatrick (June 13, 1927 – September 19, 2003), was a famous Australian country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was a true Australian icon and one of the country's most honored music stars. His career lasted almost 70 years!

Slim Dusty was known for singing about Australian life, especially the "bush" (countryside). He often sang songs inspired by famous Australian poets like Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson. His music style was called "bush ballad." He also sang many popular songs about truck drivers.

He released over 100 albums and sold more than seven million records. He earned over 70 gold and platinum awards for his albums. Slim Dusty was the first Australian artist to have a number one international hit song with "A Pub with No Beer." He won 38 Golden Guitar awards and was honored in the ARIA Hall of Fame. When he passed away at age 76, he was working on his 106th album. Many people considered him an Australian National Living Treasure. He even sang "Waltzing Matilda" at the closing ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney!

Growing Up and Starting His Career

David Gordon Kirkpatrick was born on June 13, 1927, in Nulla Nulla Creek, west of Kempsey, New South Wales. His father was a cattle farmer. His childhood home, "Homewood," is still standing and is now a protected historical site. People knew him by his middle name, Gordon.

He wrote his first song, "The Way the Cowboy Dies," in 1937. He started using the stage name "Slim Dusty" in 1938 when he was just 11 years old. He was inspired by singers like Jimmie Rodgers from America, Tex Morton from New Zealand, and Australia's own Buddy Williams. In 1945, Slim Dusty wrote "When the Rain Tumbles Down in July." He released his first record that same year when he was 19. In 1946, he signed his first recording deal with Regal Zonophone.

Becoming Famous and Staying Popular

Statue of "The Cunnamulla Fella" in tribute to songwriter Stan Coster and Slim Dusty

In 1951, Slim Dusty married singer-songwriter Joy McKean. With her help, he became very successful across Australia. In 1954, they started their music career full-time, which included the "Slim Dusty Travelling Show." Joy McKean was his wife and manager for over 50 years. They had two children, Anne Kirkpatrick and David Kirkpatrick, who are also talented singer-songwriters.

Joy McKean wrote many of Slim Dusty's most famous songs. These include "Lights On The Hill", "Walk a Country Mile", and "The Biggest Disappointment".

Even though Slim Dusty wrote many songs himself, other songwriters also helped him. These writers, like Stan Coster, often had a lot of experience living in the Australian bush. Through his travels and these writers, Slim Dusty told the story of Australia changing after World War II.

In 1957, Slim Dusty's song "A Pub with No Beer" became a huge hit. It was the best-selling record by an Australian artist at that time. It was also the first Australian song to sell enough copies to go "gold." The "Pub with No Beer" is a real place in Taylors Arm, New South Wales, near where Slim was born.

In 1964, Slim Dusty started his annual tour around Australia. This journey covered about 48,280 kilometers (30,000 miles) and lasted ten months. This amazing tour was even made into a movie called The Slim Dusty Movie in 1984.

Slim Dusty didn't just record his own songs or those by other Australian performers. He also recorded classic Australian poems by Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson. He put new music to these old "bush ballads" to make them popular again. One example is "The Man from Snowy River" by Paterson. In 1970, he was made a member of the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to music.

In 1973, he won "Best Single" at the first ever Country Music Awards of Australia. By 1976, Slim Dusty had earned 37 gold and two platinum records. This was more than any other Australian artist at the time.

In 1997, the manager of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, invited Slim Dusty and his wife to perform. This was to celebrate his 50 years in country music. The next year, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for his work in entertainment.

In 2000, Slim Dusty recorded and released his 100th album, Looking Forward, Looking Back. This made him the first artist in the world to release 100 albums. All 100 albums were recorded with the same record label, EMI. He then had the honor of singing "Waltzing Matilda" at the closing ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. The entire stadium, with over 114,000 people, sang along with him.

Slim's music also included country gospel songs. He often ended his shows with them. In 1971, he released the gospel album Glory Bound Train. After he passed away, a tribute concert was held in Tamworth. It ended with many Australian musicians singing Slim's "Glory Bound Train."

His Passing

Slim Dusty passed away at his home in St Ives, New South Wales, on September 19, 2003. He was 76 years old and had been ill.

Thousands of people gathered at St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney, for his state funeral on September 26, 2003. The Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, was there. During the funeral, everyone sang "A Pub With No Beer." Many musicians and his children shared tributes. Slim Dusty was later cremated.

At the time of his passing, Slim Dusty was working on his 106th album for EMI. On March 8, 2004, this album, Columbia Lane – the Last Sessions, was released. It quickly became a top-selling album.

In 2004, a "Concert for Slim" was held in Tamworth. More than 30 Australian musicians performed, including Joy McKean, Paul Kelly, and Keith Urban.

In 2005, a statue of the "Cunnamulla Fella" was unveiled in Cunnamulla, Queensland. This statue honored Slim Dusty and songwriter Stan Coster. The song "The Cunnamulla Fella" was a famous hit for Slim Dusty.

By 2007, EMI Records had sold over seven million of Slim Dusty's records in Australia.

Awards and Achievements

Slim Dusty was Australia's most successful and productive musical artist. He earned more Gold and Platinum albums than any other Australian artist.

Here are some of his amazing achievements:

• He was the first Australian to receive a Gold Record.
• He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire and an Officer of the Order of Australia for his services to entertainment.
• On April 14, 1981, during the first mission of the Space Shuttle Columbia, Slim Dusty's song "Waltzing Matilda" was played to Earth from space!
• The Royal Australian Mint released a special coin celebrating his life.
• Slim Dusty's picture was featured on an Australia Post postage stamp.
• In 2020, Rolling Stone Australia magazine listed Slim Dusty as number 40 in their "50 Greatest Australian Artists of All Time."

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards celebrate the Australian music industry each year. Slim Dusty won one ARIA award from 10 nominations. He also received two special achievement awards and was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

Country Music Awards (CMAA)

The Country Music Awards (CMAA) celebrate great country music in Australia. They started in 1973 at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Slim Dusty won 44 Golden Guitar awards and was inducted into the Australian Roll of Renown. This is more than any other artist.

King of Pop Awards

The King of Pop Awards were chosen by readers of TV Week magazine. Slim Dusty won this award twice.

Mo Awards

The Mo Awards celebrate live entertainment in Australia. Slim Dusty won two of these awards. From 2006, the "best country entertainer" award was named in his honor.

Tamworth Songwriters Awards

The Tamworth Songwriters Association (TSA) holds a yearly contest for original country songs. Slim Dusty won two awards here.

His Lasting Impact

• Slim Dusty's life was featured in a 1984 movie called The Slim Dusty Movie.
• His song "Pub With No Beer" was added to the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia list in 2008.
• A book called 100 Best Australian Albums (2010) ranked The Very Best of Slim Dusty as the 24th best Australian album of the past 50 years.
• The Slim Dusty Centre, a special museum, was built in Kempsey, NSW, his hometown. It opened in October 2015.

Discography

By 2007, EMI Records had sold over 7 million of Slim Dusty's records in Australia.

See also

In Spanish: Slim Dusty para niños