Warren Hedley Williams (born 27 December 1963) is an Aboriginal singer, musician and songwriter from Hermannsburg in Central Australia. Williams is an Arrernte man who plays country music and works as a broadcaster on CAAMA Radio in Alice Springs[1] He started playing guitar at six with his father Gus Williams.

In 2007, he wrote the musical Magic Coolamon, which debuted as the first ever Central Australian Indigenous musical[2] and in 2015, Williams made his directorial debut, writing and directing two episodes of the Aboriginal television series Our Place for ICTV.

In 2016, Williams teamed up with emerging artist Dani Young, writing and recording an album of traditional country duets in Nashville. The album, Desert Water was produced by Grammy and ACM award-nominated songwriter Billy Yates, and features Grammy winner Jim Lauderdale.

Music career

Williams has released 10 albums to date, including Desert Water with duet partner Dani Young released on 22 July 2016.[3] The album debuted at #2 on the ARIA Country albums charts, and the first single "Two Ships" spent 6 weeks at #1 on Tamworth Country Radio.[4]

Williams toured with John Williamson and Pixie Jenkins between 1998 and 2010, including 'Mates on the Road', 'Stone and Wire', 'Chandelier of Stars' and 'Wildlife Warrior on Tour'.[5] In 2004 he was the subject of an episode of the television series Nganampa Anwernekenhe.[6]

Williams, along with his father in 2008, became the first Aboriginal father and son to be inducted into the Australian Country Music's Hands of Fame.[7] As a symbol of Aboriginal transfer of knowledge he marked the site with his son's footprint.

In 2015, Williams invited long-time friend and award-winning Australian singer Shane Nicholson to visit his hometown of Hermannsburg (Ntaria) to help break his writer's block. Williams took him to sacred sites and shared Aboriginal Dreaming stories which inspired Nicholson's ARIA-nominated album Hell Breaks Loose, which features the track 'Hermannsburg'.[8]

Radio career

In 1996, Williams was the first remote Indigenous broadcaster (RIBS) on the 8KIN FM network, presenting music shows live from Hermannsburg. He is the longest serving broadcaster on CAAMA Radio, currently [2015] presenting the mid-morning show from 9am - 11am on weekdays, as well as the 80s Mix on Monday evenings, Rockn on Wednesday evenings, and CAAMA's highest rating program Strictly Country on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.[9] His programs are also played through the National Indigenous Radio Service.[1]

Politics

Williams stood as lead Australian Greens candidate for the two Northern Territory seats in the Australian Senate in the 2010 federal election,[10] and again in the 2013 federal election.[11][12] At the 2012 Northern Territory election, he stood for the Australia's First Nations Political Party in the seat of Namatjira.

Discography

Awards and nominations

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.

Australia Council for the Arts

The Australia Council for the Arts is the arts funding and advisory body for the Government of Australia. Since 1993, it has awarded a Red Ochre Award. It is presented to an outstanding Indigenous Australian (Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander) artist for lifetime achievement.

Country Music Awards (CMAA)

The Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA) (also known as the Golden Guitar Awards) is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. They have been held annually since 1973.[17][18]

Deadly Awards

The Deadly Awards, (commonly known simply as The Deadlys), was an annual celebration of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in music, sport, entertainment and community. They ran from 1996 to 2013.[19]

National Indigenous Music Awards

The National Indigenous Music Awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians from throughout Australia. They commenced in 2004.

References

External links

• Warren H Williams homepage
• Warren H Williams : Places In Between review
• Warren H Williams radio interview Part 2 on Ben Sorensen's REAL Country
• Warren H Williams interview on NITV news about Nashville album
• Warren H Williams and Dani Young facebook page