Paul Kelly to be honoured at 2011 APRA Music Awards
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
APRA is proud to announce that PAUL KELLY, one of Australia’s great, iconic songwriting treasures, will receive the TED ALBERT AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICES TO AUSTRALIAN MUSIC at the 2011 APRA Music Awards to be held in Sydney on June 21st.
Decided by APRA's Board of Writer and Publisher Directors, the TED ALBERT AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICES TO AUSTRALIAN MUSIC has been bestowed upon some of Australia’s most respected music industry heavyweights including Don Burrows, Michael Chugg, Slim Dusty, Triple J, Bill Armstrong, Angus & Malcolm Young, Roger Davies, Denis Handlin AM and last year’s recipient Jimmy Little for their contribution in shaping and developing the Australian music landscape.
"Ted Albert was a giant of the Australian music industry and a great champion of Australian music. Each year the APRA Board honours Ted’s memory by conferring an award on someone who has contributed immensely to Australian music. It is difficult to think of an Australian musician or songwriter of the past 30 years who has crafted more distinctly Australian music, with as much universal appeal, as Paul Kelly. Paul embodies every attribute and achievement that the Ted Albert Award seeks to recognise,” said APRA|AMCOS CEO, Brett Cottle.
This prestigious award will be presented to PAUL KELLY at the 2011 APRA Music Awards to be held on Tuesday June 21st at Carriageworks in Sydney.
PAUL KELLY’s songbook is one of the richest in contemporary Australian music. From very early on in his career, he has been recognised as one of the most significant singer/songwriters in this country. During a career spanning more than 30 years he has been described as the ‘poet laureate’ of Australian music with his narrative song writing infused with wry observations and bittersweet emotions.
His lyrics reflect the everyday aspects of life, and often include references to the vastness of the Australian landscape and culture.
As well as releasing an enduring body of work with his own bands Paul Kelly and the Dots, Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls and Paul Kelly and the Messengers, Kelly has written film scores (Lantana and the Cannes 2006 highlight, Jindabyne), and produced albums for and written songs with some of Australia and New Zealand's finest artists.
Much of Paul Kelly’s work also reflects his social conscience, as it comments on important social and historical events and their significance to Australian identity and life. His songs highlight the plight of Australia’s Indigenous people including 'Maralinga (Rainy Land)’. On the album Comedy, written in 1991, Kelly co-wrote one track with songwriter, Kev Carmody. The song, 'From Little Things Big Things Grow', focused on the start of the Indigenous land rights movement in the Northern Territory by describing the Gurindji people’s struggle for their land.
He’s joined many artists here and around the world and has toured Australia, Europe, the USA and Canada to the delight of audiences. His most recent collaboration is with internationally renowned jazz musician Paul Grabowsky in Meet Me In The Middle of the Air which will span Kelly’s catalogue from the late 80s to now, including Be Careful What You Pray For, God’s Hotel (lyrics by Nick Cave), and the specially written, Meet Me In The Middle of the Air. Paul Kelly shares the lead vocals with the soulful voices of the much-loved Vika and Linda Bull whilst Paul Grabowsky leads Australia’s pre-eminent contemporary music ensemble, the Australian Art Orchestra.
Troubadour, author, poet, mentor – PAUL KELLY is sometimes described as a chronicler of the times, seen as not only a musician but as a songwriter whose work falls into the tradition of Australian poetry. APRA is proud to announce PAUL KELLY as the recipient of the 2011 TED ALBERT AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICES TO AUSTRALIAN MUSIC.
On his impending honour Paul Kelly said, “Ted Albert made things happen. Kept his ears open. That’s all I’ve ever tried to do. It’s an honour to receive an award in his name.”
This news precedes the announcement of the nominees for the 2011 APRA Music Awards, which will be revealed
later in May. Nominees across 10 categories, including Australia’s biggest peer voted music award the APRA Song of the Year, will be announced on Thursday May 26th.
A major event on the music industry calendar, the APRA MUSIC AWARDS will feature the announcement of the winners in the categories of Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year, Most Played Australian Work, Most Played Australian Work Overseas, International Work of the Year, Country Work of the Year, Blues & Roots Work of the Year, Urban Work of the Year, Dance Work of the Year and Rock Work of the Year.
The award for SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR, also determined by the APRA Board of Writer and Publisher Directors will be presented at the gala event on Tuesday June 21st.
Stay tuned for the announcement of nominees for the 2011 APRA Music Awards on Thursday May 26th!
CATEGORIES FOR 2011 APRA MUSIC AWARDS
- Song of the Year
- Most Played Australian Work
- Most Played Australian Work Overseas
- International Work of the Year
- Country Work of the Year
- Blues & Roots Work of the Year
- Urban Work of the Year
- Dance Work of the Year
- Rock Work of the Year.
- The APRA Board of Writer and Publisher Directors determine the following:
- Songwriter of the Year
- Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year
- Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music – 2011 Recipient PAUL KELLY
2011 APRA MUSIC AWARDS
- Tuesday June 21st
- Carriageworks, Sydney
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