Archibald William Roach (8 January 1956 – 30 July 2022) was an Australian singer, songwriter and

Aboriginal Aborigine, aborigine or aboriginal may refer to: *Aborigines (mythology), in Roman mythology * Indigenous peoples, general term for ethnic groups who are the earliest known inhabitants of an area *One of several groups of indigenous peoples, see ...

activist. Often referred to as "Uncle Archie", Roach was a Gunditjmara and Bundjalung elder who campaigned for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. His wife and musical partner was the singer Ruby Hunter (1955–2010). Roach first became known for the song "

Took the Children Away "Took the Children Away" is a song written and recorded by Australian singer Archie Roach. The song was released in September 1990 as his debut single. The song was included on Roach's debut studio album '' Charcoal Lane''. At the ARIA Music ...

", which featured on his debut solo album, '' Charcoal Lane'', in 1990. He toured around the globe, headlining and opening shows for

Joan Armatrading Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading, (, born 9 December 1950) is a Kittitian-English singer-songwriter and guitarist. A three-time Grammy Award nominee, Armatrading has also been nominated twice for BRIT Awards as Best Female Artist. She receive ...

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...

, Billy Bragg, Tracy Chapman, Suzanne Vega and Patti Smith. His work has been recognised by numerous nominations and awards, including a Deadly Award for a "Lifetime Contribution to Healing the Stolen Generations" in 2013. At the

2020 ARIA Music Awards The 2020 ARIA Music Awards are the 34th Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (generally known as ARIA Music Awards or simply The ARIAs) and consist of a series of awards, including the 2020 ARIA Artisan Awards, ARIA Ha ...

on 25 November 2020, Roach was inducted into their hall of fame. His 2019 memoir and accompanying album were called ''Tell Me Why''.

Early life

Archibald William Roach was born on 8 January 1956 in Mooroopna, Victoria. Mooroopna is named after an

word referring to a bend in the Goulburn River near Shepparton in central Victoria. Roach was of Gunditjmara ( Kirrae Whurrong / Djab Wurrung) and Bundjalung heritage.Archie Roach, His life story told through his music
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia In 1956, Roach's family, along with the remaining

population at Cummeragunja, were rehoused at Rumbalara. The family subsequently moved to Framlingham, where his mother had been born.Roach, A. (2002) lyrics to "Move It On" on ''Sensual Being''. At the age of two or three, Roach and his sisters and brothers, along with the other Indigenous Australian children of the Stolen Generations, were forcibly removed from their family by government agencies and placed in an

orphanage An orphanage is a residential institution, total institution or group home, devoted to the care of orphans and children who, for various reasons, cannot be cared for by their biological families. The parents may be deceased, absent, or abu ...

. After two unpleasant placements in

foster care Foster care is a system in which a minor has been placed into a ward, group home ( residential child care community, treatment center, etc.), or private home of a state-certified caregiver, referred to as a "foster parent" or with a family ...

, Roach was eventually fostered by Alex and Dulcie Cox, a family of Scottish immigrants in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/ Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a me ...

. Their eldest daughter Mary Cox would sing church hymns and taught Roach the basics of guitar and keyboards. Roach's love of music was further fuelled by Alex's collection of Scottish music. "He was a big influence on me — a good influence. I'll love him to the day I die." At fifteen, Roach was contacted by his natural sister Myrtle, who told him their mother had just died. He spent the next fourteen years on the streets, battling alcoholism. Roach met his future wife, Ruby Hunter, at a Salvation Army drop-in centre known as the

People's Palace People's Palace may refer to: *People's Palace, Adelaide, a former Salvation Army hostel in Australia *People's Palace, Brisbane, a former temperance hotel in Australia *People's Palace, Djibouti City, a monument in Djibouti City, Djibouti * Peopl ...

Adelaide Adelaide ( ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater A ...

when she was sixteen.

Career

Roach's career spanned three decades, during which he toured extensively, headlining and opening shows for singers such as

, Billy Bragg, Tracy Chapman, Suzanne Vega and Patti Smith.

1989–2000: ''Charcoal Lane'', ''Jamu Dreaming'' and ''Looking for Butter Boy''

In the late 1980s, Roach and Hunter formed a band, the Altogethers, with several other Indigenous Australians and moved to Melbourne. At the urging of Henry "Uncle Banjo" Clark, Roach wrote his first song, "

", which he performed on a community radio station in Melbourne and on an Indigenous current affairs program in 1988. Australian musician Paul Kelly invited Roach to open his concert early in 1989, where he performed "Took the Children Away", a song telling the story of the Stolen Generations and his own experience of being forcibly removed from his family. His performance was met with stunned silence, followed by shattering applause. In 1990, with the encouragement of Kelly, Roach recorded his debut solo album, '' Charcoal Lane'', which was released in May 1990. The album was certified gold and awarded two ARIA Awards at the 1991 ceremony. The album included "Took the Children Away" which became one of the most important songs in Australia's contemporary history. In 1990, Australia's Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's awarded the song its first Human Rights Award for songwriting. ''Charcoal Lane'' featured in the top 50 albums for 1992 by ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its co ...

'' magazine. In May 1993, Roach released his second studio album, '' Jamu Dreaming''. The album was recorded with musical assistance from David Bridie, Tiddas, Paul Kelly,

Vika and Linda Bull Vika and Linda, also known as Vika and Linda Bull, are an Australian vocal duo consisting of Vika Susan Bull (born 1966) and her younger sister, Linda Rose Bull . They came to prominence after singing backing vocals in Joe Camilleri's band The ...

, Ruby Hunter, Dave Arden and Joe Geia. The album peaked at number 55 on the ARIA Charts. In 1995, Roach toured extensively throughout the US, Canada, the UK and Europe. He returned to Australia to record the title track for ATSIC's Native Title CD, ''Our Home, Our Land'', with Tiddas, Kev Carmody, Bart Willoughby, Shane Howard and Bunna Laurie. In 1996, Roach performed as part of a presentation to the Human Rights Commission's Inquiry into the Stolen Generations, before embarking on a national tour as a guest of Tracy Chapman. In October 1997, Roach released his third studio album, '' Looking for Butter Boy'', which was recorded on his traditional land at Port Fairy in south-western Victoria. The album's lead single, " Hold On Tight", won the ARIA Award for Best Indigenous Release in 1997 and the album won the same award and the Best Adult Contemporary Album at the 1998 award ceremony.

2001–2009: ''Sensual Being'' and ''Journey''

In July 2002, Roach released his fourth studio album, ''

Sensual Being ''Sensual Being'' is the fourth studio album by Australian singer songwriter Archie Roach. The album was released in July 2002 and peaked at number 59 on the ARIA Charts. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2002, the album was nominated for Best Adult ...

'', which peaked at number 59 on the ARIA charts. In 2002, he worked on the

Rolf de Heer Rolf de Heer (born 4 May 1951) is a Dutch Australian film director. De Heer was born in Heemskerk in the Netherlands but migrated to Sydney when he was eight years old.

film '' The Tracker''. In 2004, Roach and Hunter collaborated with the Australian Art Orchestra (AAO) and Paul Grabowsky to create a concert titled ''

Ruby's Story ''Ruby'' is a soundtrack album recorded live by Australian singers Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter with Paul Grabowsky and Australian Art Orchestra. The album, based on a musical production called ''Ruby's Story'' staged in 2004, was released in ...

''. ''Ruby'' tells the story of Ruby Hunter through music and the spoken word, from her birth near a billabong on the banks of the Murray River, through the stolen generation, search for identity and the discovery of hope through love. The production debuted at the

Message Sticks Festival Message Sticks Festival, also known for some time as Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival, was an arts festival celebrating the culture of Aboriginal Australians, based at the Sydney Opera House, between 1999 and 2013. It focused on film for ...

at the

Sydney Opera House The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in Sydney. Located on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour, it is widely regarded as one of the world's most famous and distinctive buildings and a masterpiece of 20th-century archit ...

in June 2004, to good reviews. In 2004, the soundtrack, ''Ruby'', won the Deadly Award for Excellence in Film & Theatrical Score, and the show went on to tour nationally and internationally until 2009. The soundtrack was released as an album on CD and as a digital download in 2005. In October 2004 a new concert, once again a collaboration with Hunter, Grabowsky and the AAO, entitled ''Kura Tungar – Songs from the River'', premiered at the Melbourne International Arts Festival, which was directed by Robyn Archer that year. The concert, which was directed by Patrick Nolan, told stories from the two performers' lives, and featured songs about the Murray River and Ngarrindjeri Country, Ruby's home. The music used Roach and Hunter's lyrics and chords combined with Grabowsky and the AAO's contemporary jazz orchestration. It played to full houses which gave standing ovations and was later performed at the

and Adelaide Festival Centre. In 2005 ''Kura Tungar'' won the Helpmann Award for the Best Contemporary Australian Concert at the

5th Helpmann Awards The 5th Annual Helpmann Awards for live performance in Australia were held on 8 August 2005 at the Lyric Theatre in Sydney. '' The Sapphires'' by Tony Briggs, produced by Melbourne Theatre Company, was named Best Play and Best New Australian W ...

. In October 2007, Roach released '' Journey'', an album of songs as a companion piece to a documentary film called ''Liyarn Ngarn'', made with Roach,

Patrick Dodson Patrick Lionel Djargun Dodson (born 29 January 1948) is an Australian politician representing Western Australia in the Australian Senate. He is a Yawuru elder from Broome, Western Australia. He has been chairman of the Council for Aboriginal ...

and Pete Postlethwaite. In October 2009 at the Melbourne International Arts Festival, Roach performed in the world premiere of the musical theatre production of '' Dirtsong'', created by Black Arm Band theatre company. The songs were written by Alexis Wright, with some sung in Indigenous languages. The show was reprised as the closing show at the 2014 Adelaide Festival. Other performers included Trevor Jamieson (2014 only),

Lou Bennett Lou Bennett (May 18, 1926, Philadelphia – February 10, 1997, Paris) was an American jazz organist. Bennett first played bebop on piano, but started playing organ in 1956 after hearing Jimmy Smith. Bennett toured the U.S. with an organ trio bet ...

, Emma Donovan, and Paul Dempsey. In November 2009, ABC Music released previously unreleased Roach recordings from 1988 under the album title '' 1988''.

2010–2016: ''Into the Bloodstream'' and ''Let Love Rule''

In October 2012, Roach released ''

Into the Bloodstream ''Into the Bloodstream'' is the sixth studio album by Australian singer songwriter Archie Roach. The album was released on 19 October 2012 and peaked at number 49 on the ARIA Charts in December 2012. The album deals with Roach losing his life pa ...

'', an album he described as being built on pain following the death of his wife in February 2010. In 2013 he won a Deadly Award for Album of the Year for this album, as well as a "Lifetime Contribution to Healing the Stolen Generations". In October 2013, Roach released ''

Creation Creation may refer to: Religion *'' Creatio ex nihilo'', the concept that matter was created by God out of nothing *Creation myth, a religious story of the origin of the world and how people first came to inhabit it *Creationism, the belief that ...

'', a 4-CD box set of his first four studio albums. The album was released to coincide with the premiere of Roach's new live show, also entitled Creation, which debuted at the inaugural Boomerang Festival in Byron Bay from 4 to 6 October 2013. At the

APRA Music Awards of 2015 The Australasian Performing Right Association Awards of 2015 (generally known as APRA Awards) are a series of related awards which include the APRA Music Awards, Art Music Awards, and Screen Music Awards. The APRA Music Awards of 2015 was the 33 ...

2015, Roach (and Shane Howard) won Best Original Song Composed for the Screen "The Secret River" from '' The Secret River''. In November 2015, Roach celebrated the 25th anniversary of '' Charcoal Lane'' with a deluxe remastered edition. The new edition included a second disc featuring previously unreleased ''Triple J –

Live At The Wireless ''Live at the Wireless'' is a radio show, and now a long-standing tradition, of Triple J, an Australian radio station. Live music is one of the central philosophies of the station. The live broadcasts take a number of forms. Some broadcasts are ...

'' recordings and new interpretations of classic ''Charcoal Lane'' material by various artists. In November and December 2015, Roach undertook a national tour to celebrate the album's 25th anniversary. In November 2016, Roach released his seventh studio album, '' Let Love Rule'', which peaked at number 24 on the ARIA Charts, becoming his highest charting album to date.

2017–2022: ''The Concert Collection 2012–2018'' and ''Tell Me Why''

At the APRA Music Awards of 2017 in March 2017, Roach won the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music. In April 2018, Roach performed at the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony on the Gold Coast with Amy Shark. In May 2019, Roach released ''

The Concert Collection 2012–2018 ''The Concert Collection 2012–2018'' is a three-disc live album by Australian singer-songwriter Archie Roach. The album features live recordings from Roach's three most recent studio albums. The album was released in May 2019. In July 2019, Roa ...

'' and in July 2019, was nominated for two awards at the 2019 National Indigenous Music Awards. On 1 November 2019, Roach published a memoir entitled ''Tell Me Why: The Story of My Life and My Music'', and released a companion album, '' Tell Me Why'', on the same day. His book was shortlisted for the 2020

Victorian Premier's Prize for Nonfiction The Victorian Premier's Prize for Nonfiction, formerly known as the Nettie Palmer Prize for Non-Fiction, is a prize category in the annual Victorian Premier's Literary Award. As of 2011 it has a remuneration of 25,000. The winner of this category ...

and won the 2020 Indie Book Non-Fiction Award. It also won the Audiobook of the Year at the 2021 Australian Book Industry Awards. The album's lead single "Open Up Your Eyes" is the first song Roach ever wrote, dating back to the late 1970s, but had not before been recorded. ''Tell Me Why'' became Roach's first top-ten album on the ARIA Charts. ''

Wash My Soul in the River's Flow WASH (or Watsan, WaSH) is an acronym that stands for "water, sanitation and hygiene". It is used widely by non-governmental organizations and aid agencies in developing countries. The purposes of providing access to WASH services include achievin ...

'' (2021), written and directed by

Philippa Bateman Philippa is a feminine given name meaning "lover of horses" or " horses' friend". Common alternative spellings include ''Filippa'' and ''Phillipa''. Less common is ''Filipa'' and even ''Philippe'' (cf. the French spelling of '' Philippa of Guelder ...

and produced by Bateman,

Kate Hodges Kate name may refer to: People and fictional characters * Kate (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name or nickname * Gyula Káté (born 1982), Hungarian amateur boxer * Lauren Kate (born 1981), American autho ...

and Roach, is a feature-length

documentary film A documentary film or documentary is a non-fictional motion-picture intended to "document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a historical record". Bill Nichols has characterized the documentary in te ...

based on the 2004 concert ''Kura Tungar-Songs from the River'', featuring Roach, Hunter, Paul Grabowsky and the Australian Art Orchestra, in which Hunter and Roach sing about the Murray River and Ngarrindjeri lands. The film also tells of the love story between Hunter and Roach, and is interspersed with vision of The Coorong. The film had its world premiere at the Brisbane International Film Festival in October 2021 and was an official selection for the Sydney Film Festival and the

Melbourne International Film Festival The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) is an annual film festival held over three weeks in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 1952 and is one of the oldest film festivals in the world following the founding of the Venice Film Fes ...

in December 2021. In March 2022, Roach released his career-spanning anthology, titled '' My Songs: 1989–2021'', which was subsequently nominated as the Album of the Year for the 2022 National Indigenous Music Awards two weeks before his death. At the 2022 ARIA Music Awards a special tribute in his honour will have Budjerah, Jessica Mauboy and

Thelma Plum Thelma Amelina Plumbe (born 21 December 1994), known professionally as Thelma Plum, is an Aboriginal Australian singer, songwriter, guitarist and musician from Delungra, New South Wales. Her father is renowned lore-man Paul Winanga-li Gii Spea ...

performing " One Song" from that album.

Activism

In 2013, shortly after receiving his Lifetime Deadly Award, Roach called on the recently elected prime minister, Tony Abbott, for an end to the

Northern Territory Intervention The Northern Territory National Emergency Response, also known as "The Intervention" or the Northern Territory Intervention, and sometimes the abbreviation "NTER" (for Northern Territory Emergency Response) was a package of measures enforced by ...

Discography

* '' Charcoal Lane'' (1990) * '' Jamu Dreaming'' (1993) * '' Looking for Butter Boy'' (1997) * ''

'' (2002) * '' Journey'' (2007) * ''

'' (2012) * '' Let Love Rule'' (2016) * '' Dancing with My Spirit'' (2018) * '' Tell Me Why'' (2019) * ''

The Songs of Charcoal Lane ''The Songs of Charcoal Lane'' is the tenth studio album by Australian singer songwriter Archie Roach. The album is a re-recording and 30th anniversary celebration of Roach's debut studio album, ''Charcoal Lane''. ''The Songs of Charcoal Lane'' a ...

'' (2020)

Personal life

Roach was married to the singer Ruby Hunter (died 2010) who was also his musical partner. They had two sons, Amos and Eban. They also had three foster children, Kriss, Terrence and Arthur. On 14 October 2010, Roach suffered a stroke while working in the

Kimberley Kimberly or Kimberley may refer to: Places and historical events Australia * Kimberley (Western Australia) ** Roman Catholic Diocese of Kimberley * Kimberley Warm Springs, Tasmania * Kimberley, Tasmania a small town * County of Kimberley, a ...

region. After recuperating, he returned to live performance in April 2011. He also survived

lung cancer Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma (since about 98–99% of all lung cancers are carcinomas), is a malignant lung tumor characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. Lung carcinomas derive from transformed, malign ...

, due to early diagnosis in 2011 and major surgery.

Death and legacy

Roach died on 30 July 2022 at Warrnambool Base Hospital. His sons, Amos and Eban, have given permission for his name and image to continue to be used "so that his legacy will continue to inspire". This permission is limited to news. Tributes were paid to his memory by prominent names in arts, politics and sport including Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese, Victorian premier Daniel Andrews and musicians including Emma Donovan, Briggs, John Schumann, Alice Skye, Emily Wurramara, Paul Kelly, Billy Bragg,

Mark Seymour Mark Jeremy Seymour (born 26 July 1956) is an Australian musician and vocalist. He was the frontman and songwriter of rock band Hunters & Collectors from 1981 until 1998. Seymour has carved a solo career, releasing his debut solo album in 199 ...

, Midnight Oil and Shane Howard. "Uncle Archie", as he was affectionately known to many, was regarded as giving a voice to the stories of many Aboriginal people and offering comfort and healing in his words and music. Euahlayi scholar Bhiamie Williamson, who wrote his PhD thesis on "Indigenous Men and Masculinities", describes the concept of the "Emu Man", based on the male

emu The emu () (''Dromaius novaehollandiae'') is the second-tallest living bird after its ratite relative the ostrich. It is endemic to Australia where it is the largest native bird and the only extant member of the genus '' Dromaius''. The ...

, which is devoted to his family and chicks and sits on the eggs. Roach was considered a role model who represented an image shown too rarely in public discourse. Williamson writes:

Archie Roach Foundation

The Archie Roach Foundation was established in 2014 to nurture talent in young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and to offer them opportunities in the arts, to provide connection to culture and healing. , the board of directors included Roach,

Uncle Jack Charles Jack Charles (5 September 1943 – 13 September 2022), also known as Uncle Jack Charles, was an Australian stage and screen actor and activist, known for his advocacy for Aboriginal people. He was involved in establishing the first Indigenous t ...

and four other people, with Charles and

Rhoda Roberts Rhoda Ann Roberts (born 1959) is an Australian actress, director and arts executive. Born in Canterbury Hospital in Sydney in 1959, Bundjalung woman Roberts grew up and completed Year 10 in Lismore, then moved back to Sydney where she quali ...

as ambassadors of the foundation. The foundation has supported hundreds and inspired thousands more young people. His work in youth detention centres continues to affect those who listened to him.

Honours

* In 2011, Roach was one of the first people inducted to the Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll. * In 2015, Roach was honoured in the Queen's Birthday Honours list as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to music as a singer-songwriter, guitarist and a prominent supporter of social justice. * In 2020, Roach was named the 2020 Victoria Australian of the Year. *In 2022, two side-by-side pillar-shaped monuments were erected on the shores of Lake Bonney at Barmera, in homage to Hunter and Roach. A glass

mosaic A mosaic is a pattern or image made of small regular or irregular pieces of colored stone, glass or ceramic, held in place by plaster/mortar, and covering a surface. Mosaics are often used as floor and wall decoration, and were particularly pop ...

artwork on the front side of each monument depict Hunter's Ngarrindjeri totem, the pelican () and Roach's totem, the

eagle Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 68 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, j ...

, respectively.

Recognition and awards

" was added to the

National Film and Sound Archive The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA), known as ScreenSound Australia from 1999 to 2004, is Australia's audiovisual archive, responsible for developing, preserving, maintaining, promoting and providing access to a national c ...

's Sounds of Australia registry in 2013.

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. , - , rowspan="2" , AIR Awards of 2017 , ''Let Love Rule'' , Best Independent Blues and Roots Album , , -

APRA Awards

The

APRA Awards APRA Awards may refer to one of two awards ceremonies: *APRA Awards (Australia) *APRA Awards (New Zealand) The APRA Music Awards are several annual and two-yearly award ceremonies run in New Zealand by Australasian Performing Right Association ...

are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually. They commenced in 1982. ! , - , rowspan="2",

2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a ser ...

, Archie Roach , Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music , , , - , "It's Not Too late" , Song of the Year , , , - ,

2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global social and economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, worldwide lockdowns and the largest economic recession since the Great Depression in ...

, "Open Up Your Eyes" , Song of the Year , , , - , 2021 , "Tell Me Why" (with Sally Dastey) , Song of the Year , , , -

ARIA Awards

Roach has received ten ARIA Music Awards from twenty-three nominations. , - , rowspan="4",

1991 File:1991 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Boris Yeltsin, elected as Russia's first president, waves the new flag of Russia after the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt, orchestrated by Soviet hardliners; Mount Pinatubo erupts in the ...

, , rowspan="3", '' Charcoal Lane'' , ,

Best New Talent Best or The Best may refer to: People * Best (surname), people with the surname Best * Best (footballer, born 1968), retired Portuguese footballer Companies and organizations * Best & Co., an 1879–1971 clothing chain * Best Lock Corporation ...

, , , - , Best Indigenous Release , , , - , Breakthrough Artist – Album , , , - , "

" , , Breakthrough Artist – Single , , , - , 1992 , , "

Down City Streets "Down City Streets" is a song written by Australian singer songwriter Ruby Hunter and recorded by her husband Archie Roach. The song was released in 1991 as the second single from Roach's debut studio album '' Charcoal Lane'' (1990). "Down Ci ...

" , , Best Indigenous Release , , , - ,

1994 File:1994 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 1994 Winter Olympics are held in Lillehammer, Norway; The Kaiser Permanente building after the 1994 Northridge earthquake; A model of the MS Estonia, which sank in the Baltic Sea; Nelson Ma ...

, , '' Jamu Dreaming'' , , Best Indigenous Release , , , - , 1997 , , " Hold On Tight" , , Best Indigenous Release , , , - , rowspan="2",

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently s ...

, , rowspan="2", '' Looking for Butter Boy'' , , Best Indigenous Release , , , - , Best Adult Contemporary Album , , , - , rowspan="3", 2002 , , ''

'' , , Best Adult Contemporary Album , , , - , Richard Pleasance & Paul Kelly for ''Sensual Being'' , , Producer of the Year , , , - , '' The Tracker'' , , Best Original Soundtrack Album , , , - ,

2008 File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing ...

, , '' Journey'' , , Best World Music Album , , , - , 2010 , , '' 1988'' , , Best World Music Album , , , - ,

2013 File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment ...

, , ''

'' , , Best Blues & Roots Album , , , - ,

, , '' Let Love Rule'' , , Best Blues & Roots Album , , , - , rowspan="4",

, , rowspan="3", '' Tell Me Why'' , , Best Male Artist , , , - , Best Adult Contemporary Album , , , - , Best Independent Release , , , - , Archie Roach , , Hall of Fame , , , - , rowspan="2", 2021 , , rowspan="2", ''The Songs of Charcoal Lane'' , , Best Blues & Roots Album , , , - , Best Independent Release , , , - , 2022 , , "One Song" , , Best Independent Release , , , -

Australia Council for the Arts

The Australia Council for the Arts is an 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. , - , 2011 , himself , Red Ochre Award , , -

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. , - ,

Deadly Awards 1997 Winners of the Deadly Awards 1997.The awards were an annual celebration of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in music, sport, entertainment and community. Music *Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal Music: Jimmy Lit ...

, "himself" , Male Artist of the Year , , - , Deadly Awards 1998 , "himself" , Male Artist of the Year , , - , rowspan="2", Deadly Awards 2002 , "himself" , Male Artist of the Year , , - , ''Sensual Being'' , Album of the Year , , - , Deadly Awards 2003 , "himself" , Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music , , - ,

Deadly Awards 2004 Deadly Awards 2004 the awards were an annual celebration of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in music, sport, entertainment and community. Music *Most Promising New Talent in Music: Casey Donovan *Single Release of ...

, ''Ruby'' , Excellence in Film & Theatrical Score , , - ,

Deadly Awards 2010 The 2010 Deadly Awards were hosted by Luke Carroll and Naomi Wenitong (of The Last Kinection) at the Sydney Opera House on 27 September 2010. Performers included Archie Roach, Dan Sultan, Christine Anu, Frank Yamma, Ali Mills and the Bangarra Dan ...

, ''1988'' , Album of the Year , , - , rowspan="2", Deadly Awards 2013 , ''Into the Bloodstream'' , Album of the Year , , - , "himself" , The Lifetime Contribution Award For Healing The Stolen Generations , , -

Don Banks Music Award

The Don Banks Music Award was established in 1984 to publicly honour a senior artist of high distinction who has made an outstanding and sustained contribution to music in Australia. It was founded by the Australia Council in honour of Don Banks, Australian composer, performer and the first chair of its music board. , - , 2015 , Archie Roach , Don Banks Music Award , , -

Helpmann Awards

The Helpmann Awards is an awards show, celebrating live entertainment and performing arts in Australia, presented by industry group ''Live Performance Australia'' (LPA) since 2001. In 2018, Roach received the JC Williamson Award, the LPA's highest honour, for their life's work in live performance. , - , 2005 , , ''Kura Tungar: Songs from the River'' (with Ruby Hunter) , , Best Australian Contemporary Concert , , , - ,

, , ''Into the Bloodstream'' , , Best Australian Contemporary Concert , , , - , 2018 , , Himself , , JC Williamson Award , , , -

J Awards

The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the

Australian Broadcasting Corporation The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is the national broadcaster of Australia. It is principally funded by direct grants from the Australian Government and is administered by a government-appointed board. The ABC is a publicly-own ...

's youth-focused radio station

Triple J Triple J (stylised in all lowercase) is a government-funded, national Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners of alternative music, which began broadcasting in January 1975. The station also places a greater emphasis on broad ...

. They commenced in 2005. , - , J Awards of 2020 , Archie Roach , Double J Artist of the Year , , -

Mo Awards

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards) were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognised achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Archie Roach won two awards in that time. (wins only) , - , 1991 , Archie Roach , Folk Performer of the Year , , - , 1992 , Archie Roach , Folk Performer of the Year , , -

Music Victoria Awards

The Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. , - , rowspan="3",

, himself , Best Indigenous Act , , - , himself , Best Male Artist , , - , ''Into the Bloodstream'' , Best Folk Roots Album , , - , 2015 , himself , Hall of Fame , , - ,

, himself , Best Indigenous Act , , - Sources:

National Dreamtime Awards

The National Dreamtime Awards are an annual celebration of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in sport, arts, academia and community. They commenced in 2017. , - , 2018 , himself , Achievement award , , -

National Indigenous Music Awards

The National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA) recognise excellence, dedication, innovation and outstanding contribution in the

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory shares its borders with Western Au ...

music industry. They commenced in 2004. , - , rowspan="5",

, "himself" , Hall of Fame Inductee , , - , rowspan="2", ''Into the Bloodstream'' , Album of the Year , , - , Cover Art of the Year , , - , rowspan="2", "Song to Sing" , Film Clip of the Year , , - , Song of the Year , , - , 2018 , himself , Artist of the Year , , - , rowspan="2",

2019 File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...

, "himself" , Artist of the Year , , - , ''The Concert Collection 2012–2018'' , Album of the Year , , - , rowspan="2",

, "himself" , Artist of the Year , , - , ''Tell Me Why'' , Album of the Year , , - , 2022 , ''My Songs: 1989–2021'' , Album of the Year , , -

Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards

The

Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards The Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards were created in 1984 by the trustees of the Sidney Myer Fund to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of Sidney Myer. The awards were created to commemorate his life and his love for the arts. They inten ...

commenced in 1984 and recognise outstanding achievements in dance, drama, comedy, music, opera, circus and puppetry. , - , 2009 , , Archie Roach (with Ruby Hunter) , , Individual Award , , , -

References

External links

*
Archie Roach: His life story told through his music
at the

* Archie Roach at allmusic.com* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Roach, Archie 1956 births 2022 deaths APRA Award winners ARIA Award winners Australian guitarists Australian male singers Australian songwriters Indigenous Australian musicians Members of the Order of Australia Members of the Stolen Generations Storytellers People from Mooroopna Mushroom Records artists Australian male guitarists Australian autobiographers ARIA Hall of Fame inductees