Vic Simms facts for kids

Simms performing in 2007

William Victor Simms (born January 29, 1946 – died February 2025) was a famous Australian singer and songwriter. Many people knew him as Vic Simms, Vicki Simms, or Uncle Vic. He came from La Perouse, New South Wales, and was a proud Bidjigal man. Vic Simms performed with many well-known singers like Johnny O'Keefe and Shirley Bassey.

Vic Simms: His Life Story

Growing Up

Vic Simms was born on January 29, 1946. His birthplace was the La Perouse Mission in south-east Sydney. He was one of ten children in his family.

Music Career and Life Journey

Vic started singing when he was only 12 years old. This was at the Manly Jazzorama Music Festival in 1957. In 1961, when he was 15, he released his first song. It was called "Yo-Yo Heart" and came out through Festival Records. He used the name "Vicki Simms" for this song.

Later, during a challenging time in his life, Vic spent some time in prison. While he was there, he learned to play the guitar. He also started writing his own songs.

In 1973, a group called the Robin Hood Foundation heard his music. They sent a recording to RCA, a record company. RCA then arranged for Vic to record an album. This album was recorded very quickly, in just one hour. They used a special mobile studio in the prison dining room. The album was called The Loner. People have called it "Australia's great lost classic album of black protest music." This means it was a very important album about Aboriginal experiences.

After the album came out, Vic was asked to perform. He played in other prisons, shopping malls, and even the Sydney Opera House. He was shown as an example of a good prisoner. But Vic soon felt like he was being used. So, he decided to stop doing these shows.

After leaving prison, he went back to the music world. He toured Australian prisons to share his music. In 1990, he toured Canada with fellow musicians Roger Knox and Bobby McLeod. They performed in prisons and on Indigenous reservations there.

In 1996, Vic released an album of cover songs. It was titled From the Heart.

At the Deadly Awards 2001, Vic Simms received a special honor. He won the award for Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal Music.

In 2009, Vic Simms began teaching at the University of New South Wales. In the same year, his album The Loner was added to the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia list. This list keeps important Australian sounds safe. In 2013, the album was released again by Sandman records.

On June 6, 2014, a new album called "Selections From the Loner" came out. This album featured songs from his original The Loner album. These songs were re-recorded by different artists. These included Luke Peacock, Paul Kelly, and Vic Simms himself.

In 2024, the University of New South Wales gave him an honorary degree. This is a special award from a university.

Vic Simms passed away in February 2025. He was 79 years old.

Vic Simms: His Music Albums

Albums

Extended Plays (EPs)

Awards and Recognitions

Deadly Awards

The Deadly Awards were a special event. They celebrated the achievements of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These awards were given for music, sport, entertainment, and community work. They took place every year from 1996 to 2013.