Warren H Williams

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.

This article is about the musician. For the 19th-century architect, see Warren Heywood Williams.

Warren H Williams
Birth nameWarren Hedley Williams
Born (1963-12-27) 27 December 1963
OriginNtaria Hermannsburg, Northern Territory, Australia
GenresCountry music
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, radio broadcaster
InstrumentsGuitar
LabelsCAAMA, ABC Music
Associated actsDani Young, John Williamson, Pixie Jenkins, Amos Morris, 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]

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'.[7]

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 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.[8] 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,[9] and again in the 2013 federal election.[10][11] At the 2012 Northern Territory election, he stood for the Australia's First Nations Political Party in the seat of Namatjira.

Discography
Title Details
Western Wind
  • Released: 1995
  • Label: CAAMA Music
  • Format: CD
Country Friends & Me
  • Released: 1998
  • Label: CAAMA Music
  • Format: CD
Where My Heart Is
  • Released: 2001
  • Label: CAAMA Music
  • Format: CD
Places in Between
  • Released: 2002
  • Label: CAAMA Music
  • Format: CD
Be Like Home
  • Released: 2005
  • Label: CAAMA Music
  • Format: CD
Looking Out
  • Released: 2009
  • Label: Heartland
  • Format: CD
Urna Mara
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: ABC
  • Format: CD
Winanjjara
(with The Warumunga Songmen)
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: Heartland
  • Format: CD
Desert Water
(with Dani Young)
  • Released: June 2016
  • Label: UMA
  • Format: CD
These are the Changes
  • Released: January 2020
  • Label: ABC
  • Format: CD, DD

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.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
AIR Awards of 2012[12] Urna Marra Best Independent Country Album Nominated

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.[13]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
Deadly Awards 1998 "Raining on the Rock" Single of the Year Won
Deadly Awards 2001 Where My Heart Is Album of the Year Won

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.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2004 himself Male Artist of the Year Won
2005 "Dreamtime Baby" Most Popular Song Won
2006 "Learn My Song" Song of the Year Won
Be Like Home Best Cover Art Won
2010 himself Act of the Year Nominated
Looking Out Album of the Year Nominated
2012 "Winanjjara" Traditional Song of the Year Won
Winanjjara: The Song Peoples Sessions Album of the Year Nominated

Other Awards

Warren H Williams and John Williamson's duet "Raining on the Rock" was nominated for an ARIA Award in 1998 for Best Indigenous Release and Collaboration of the Year at the 1999 Australian Country Music Awards.[14]

Warren H Williams was in 2004 presented with a Country Music Centenary Medal from CMAA for service to Australian society through music and in 2008 was an inductee into the Country Music Hands of Fame in Tamworth.[15] With John Williamson and Amos Morris he won another Australian Country Music Award (also known as a Golden Guitar) for Bush Ballad of the Year in 2009.[16]

Williams was announced the 2012 Red Ochre Award winner at the National Indigenous Arts Awards.[17]

References
  1. "Biographical details". Warren H. Williams. Warren H Williams. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  2. Magic Coolamon - First Central Australian Indigenous Musical
  3. "LEGENDARY COUNTRY MUSIC ARTIST WARREN H. WILLIAMS AND RISING STAR DANI YOUNG LAUNCH SPECIAL DUETS ALBUM THIS JULY IN SYDNEY". www.hotoffthepress.com.au. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  4. Sheridan, Haley (22 August 2016). "Perfect harmony for duo". Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  5. Muster.com.au Warren H Williams
  6. Warren H Williams, the stories, the songs (2004)
  7. McCabe, Kathy (8 August 2015). "Shane Nicholson found outback inspiration to write songs about life and dating as a single dad". News.com.au. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  8. "Radio Program Guide". CAAMA. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  9. Nancarrow, Kirsty: Greens choose entertainer as Senate candidate, ABC News, 14 July 2010.
  10. "Australian Greens NT Candidates". Australian Greens. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  11. Aston, Heath (26 June 2013). "Country singer challenges Peris in Senate race". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  12. "NOMINATIONS: 2012 Jagermeister Independent Music Awards". Australian Independent Record Labels Association. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  13. "The 2001 Deadlys". Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
  14. Warren was introduced to John, by legendary Australian radio journalist Graham Archer, who facilitated the collaboration. The song's lyrics were slightly changed by Williams in consultation with Williamson, creating what Williamson described as a stronger song. Aria Awards
  15. Australian Country Music Hands of Fame
  16. Sydney Morning Herald 25 January 2009 Kasey rattles the gongs by Matt Buchanan
  17. "Warren H. Williams 2012 Red Ochre Award winner". indigenous.gov.au. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
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