For so long the Indigenous performing artists have struggled in the entertainment scene. In the 60s- early 70s some were asked to enter into places calling themselves a Black American from the United States. The tours that took place in those days, were in venues that didnt allow aborigines on the premises. So a few suits from St Vincent De Paul and some nugget polish to shine their shoes. They passed with flying colors. When world champion boxer Lionel Rose toured with his hits Pick Me Up On Your Way Down and I Thank You Ashton Circus took him on tour. Jimmy Little, Harold Blair, Auriel Andrews, Tambo-Tambo, Harry Williamson & The Outcasts just to name a few who would have come across difficulties just being their own managers and tour managers. Until break through happened, when a film was made about a story of young Aboriginal brothers coming out of a juvenile detention centre. And forming a music band, to get back into society and start their lives over again, came out. The famous film called Wrong Side of the Road. Also existing in Crows Nest Sydney was a sub branch of the Australia Council (Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Arts Board). Grants and funding became available to put on a Aboriginal music performance, Aboriginal & Islander Festiv harmony gatherings, Aboriginal recordings. Late 70s early 80s places of Indigenous art & performances started to show themselves. Dance companies began to show, aboriginal stages began to scaffold their existence at country festivals, and annual inner city festivals. How far have they come since then? Its been a long and bumpy road for everyones tour around Australia. Even in the white bands, and tours. Like someones double bass would kark it in a place like Ulladulla. Saxophones would go wrong, because of the pot hole they hit last night driving. Something fell and broke in the combie when they braked for the cow crossing the highway at night. And there wasnt a repair shop for the next 8-900klm. Rick & Thel, Slim Dusty, these family musicians band lived off their tours and performing around Australia. And so did many aboriginal artists. Today is no different, today is which indigenous is obedient to being controlled. The song might have lyrics of oppression, and a poor living in poverty story. But obedience by contract has to be signed. I saw music as a way to express, get rid of the depression of society, say something that the rest of Australia doesnt know happened to Aboriginal people. To be a well known Indigenous artist we have to thank our indigenous communities for liking and feeling proud that we sing about them. And we carry something that inherits from the songlines of corroberees (song and dance). A style of communication coming from cultural heritage. Theres artists today who realize this, and theres other who have a mind of top of the Aboriginal chart. But getting to that point there is a change and a rearrangement that happens. Even if it comes down to sacking the old members and adding a whole new outfit of musicians to obey the contract. When this has happened then control can say, I discovered, I own, its been my idea all along, and so on. Hey,,,some may really and truly think that this is the way to go. This is how you can jump in a limo and get to the gig. Maybe fly back and forth across the country every weekend. But they never ever get a chance to go back to the same hall in their community and play. And have they same audience and supporters and listeners that became your following again. You can never catch them, or even sometimes contact them again. Is there something like this that is happening to the aboriginal artist? SongLines Music co-operations in Melbourne was established for a certain reason. A very important reason, because Melbourne at the beginning of SongLines. Had well known artists living in Victoria. This organization was to help those artists, to find the stages, and venues to entertain on a communal basis. But seeing them go towards shaking hands with the areas that one does not want to be controlled by. Then Ill ask again, where is it going? It is said that there should be one gate, and one gate only to go through. Then this control office is going to need competition, another gate has to be built. Aboriginal artists will have to walk through another gate, or be like the old aboriginal saying, gathered like cattle. And branded by the one rancher. Heeee-haaaaa. and theyll go a droven, and watch those chains come back on those artists. One neck joined by chain to the other brothers neck. Its only my imagination brothers & sisters, its only my opinion, can someone come to my cemetery plot and give me three knocks on the tombstone if it does come true but.???????
Posted on: Sat, 16 Nov 2013 13:08:34 +0000
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