By Leonie Fuge
Southern Downs aboriginal country performer Roger Knox has just returned from Tamworth after receiving the Lifetime of Achievement Award from the University of New England for contributing to Country Music and Tamworth.
This award comes on the back of other recent achievements including becoming an inductee into the Galaxy of Stars in Tamworth 2022 and joining the Indigenous Music Hall of Fame in Darwin last year.
“It was an honour to receive the award,” said Roger. “I have come full circle, I was at Tamworth at the beginning of the awards and working with the people who started it off, and now I am on the receiving end.”
Roger started his music career on stage in Tamworth in the early 80s before embarking on tours that took him around the country and around the world.
“I have played in some of the biggest music halls in the US, Canada and England,” said Roger who toured with Yothu Yindu, Warumpi Band and the all-female folk trio from Victoria, Tiddas.
“My second tour through the Gulf Country was life-changing and I recommend police, doctors and teachers live out there and gain that experience.”
Roger continues to perform around Australia, and visit aboriginal communities and prisons to inspire the younger generation to focus on the future.
“If they have true knowledge of who they are, nothing can trick, bamboozle or lead them on the wrong path,” he said.
Gaining recognition in his early years as ’Black Elvis’ for his good looks and flashy stage attire, Roger also shared the stage with the likes of Slim Dusty, Paul Kelly, Shane Howard and Midnight Oil.
“Some people said I had a resemblance to Elvis, but I didn’t know him, not until 1977 when he died. We grew up on the mission without TV and radio, so I hadn’t heard his songs,” said Roger. “But I really like his early gospel songs.”
Roger said he chose flamboyancy to help break through the prejudice against aboriginal performers that was prevalent in the 80s and shut many performance venue doors.
“My clothing was a bit flashy, it was part of who I was. Sequined shirts, tasselled jumpsuits, we had to do that, it opened doors,” he said.
“Mainstream radio wouldn’t play my music. They said singing about the land was controversial. Then black radio came out and we could play it.”
Though Roger is a renowned Country and Western artist, the lyrics of his songs tell the story of aboriginal relationship to country and culture.
“I worked on sheep and cattle stations, but I started out singing songs about our culture, the struggles and status across the whole continent,” said Roger.
His commitment to aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and advocating for respect and justice through his music earned Roger the title, ’King of Koori’ amongst aboriginal communities and had him performing at some of the country’s key protests including the Australian Bicentenary anniversary in 1988.
“A lot of questioning and music came out of that period of time,” he said. “It influenced my songwriting.“
Over his career, Roger has released five albums and his next is on its way. He has also worked on collaborative albums with other aboriginal musicians.
But after being in a plane crash near Lake Ayer in 1985, Roger’s music career hung in the balance.
“I was on my way to a full-time career and was on tour when we were involved in an aeroplane crash after engine trouble. We crash landed in the desert.”
Though Roger was one of the lucky ones sustaining only minimal bruising, it was the rescue plane sent to transport the band to hospital that crashed moments after take-off that put him in intensive care.
“We got out of the first one alright, but the second crash was a fatal one. The pilot and drummer were killed. I woke up in a fire,” he said.
Roger spent two months in hospital recovering from severe burns to his hands and legs. The burns had damaged his hand to the extent that his guitar playing career was put to an end.
“I still had my voice,” said Robert.
Not allowing the tragedy to dictate his future, Roger continued to perform but modified his show to include a new guitarist, his son Buddy.
“Buddy was 15 years of age when I pulled him out of school to join me on the road as my guitarist. He is now one of the best blues guitarists in Australia,” said Roger.
By pushing past racial barriers, Roger has been instrumental in opening many doors for the aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to enter the music industry and continues to support up and coming artists.
“I believe I will keep on singing and keep on dreaming as long as I can breathe,” said the seasoned artist.
