Archibald William Roach (8 January 1956 – 30 July 2022) was an Australian singer, songwriter and Aboriginal activist. Often referred to as "Uncle Archie", Roach was a

Gunditjmara The Gunditjmara or Gunditjamara, also known as Dhauwurd Wurrung, are an Aboriginal Australian people of southwestern Victoria. They are the traditional owners of the areas now encompassing Warrnambool, Port Fairy, Woolsthorpe and Portland. Th ...

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", which featured on his debut solo album, ''

Charcoal Lane ''Charcoal Lane'' is the debut studio album by Australian singer song writer Archie Roach, released in 1990. Name From the 1960s through to the 1980s, the inner-city Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy was a meeting place for Aboriginal people who had ...

'', 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 received ...

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 Patricia Lee Smith (born December 30, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, poet, painter and author who became an influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album ''Horses''. Called the "punk poet ...

. His work has been recognised by numerous nominations and awards, including a Deadly Award for a "Lifetime Contribution to Healing the

Stolen Generations The Stolen Generations (also known as Stolen Children) were the children of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent who were removed from their families by the Australian federal and state government agencies and church mis ...

" in 2013. At the 2020 ARIA Music Awards 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 a rural town located north of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is on the banks of the Goulburn River opposite the larger town of Shepparton. The Midland Highway crosses the river between the two towns. At the 2016 census, Moor ...

. Mooroopna is named after an Aboriginal word referring to a bend in the

Goulburn River The Goulburn River, a major inland perennial river of the Goulburn Broken catchment, part of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the alpine, Northern Country/North Central, and Southern Riverina regions of the Australian state of Victor ...

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 Aboriginal population at Cummeragunja, were rehoused at

Rumbalara Cummeragunja Reserve or Cummeragunja Station, alternatively spelt Coomeroogunja, Coomeragunja, Cumeroogunga and Cummerguja, was a settlement on the New South Wales side of the Murray River, on the Victorian border near Barmah. It was also refe ...

. 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

, 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 ab ...

. 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 met ...

. 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 in

Adelaide Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...

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

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, " Took the Children Away", 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, ''

'', which was released in May 1990. The album was certified gold and awarded two

ARIA Awards The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (commonly known informally as ARIA Music Awards, ARIA Awards, or simply the ARIAs) is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Austra ...

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 The Australian Human Rights Commission is the national human rights institution of Australia, established in 1986 as the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) and renamed in 2008. It is a statutory body funded by, but oper ...

'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 ...

'' magazine. In May 1993, Roach released his second studio album, ''

Jamu Dreaming ''Jamu Dreaming'' is the second studio album by Australian singer song writer Archie Roach. The album was released in May 1993 and peaked at number 55 on the ARIA Charts. The album was recorded with musical assistance from David Bridie, Tiddas, ...

''. The album was recorded with musical assistance from David Bridie, Tiddas, Paul Kelly, Vika and Linda Bull, 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 The ARIA Music Award for Best Indigenous Release was an award presented at the annual ARIA Music Awards. It was presented from 1987 through to 1998. Originally titled Best Indigenous Record in 1987. It was renamed Best Aboriginal/Islander Release in ...

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 film '' The Tracker''. In 2004, Roach and Hunter collaborated with the

Australian Art Orchestra The Australian Art Orchestra (AAO) is one of Australia's leading contemporary ensembles. Founded by pianist Paul Grabowsky in 1994, it has been led by composer/trumpeter/sound artist Peter Knight since 2013 and led by pianist/composer/producer A ...

(AAO) and

Paul Grabowsky Paul Atherstone Grabowsky (born 27 September 1958) is an Australian pianist and composer. Biography Born in Lae, Papua New Guinea, Grabowsky is a pianist and composer of music for film, theatre and opera. His father Alistair had lived in Pap ...

to create a concert titled '' Ruby's Story''. ''Ruby'' tells the story of Ruby Hunter through music and the spoken word, from her birth near a

billabong Billabong ( ) is an Australian term for an oxbow lake, an isolated pond left behind after a river changes course. Billabongs are usually formed when the path of a creek or river changes, leaving the former branch with a dead end. As a result ...

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 at the Sydney Opera House 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 Melbourne International Arts Festival, formerly Spoleto Festival Melbourne – Festival of the Three Worlds, then Melbourne International Festival of the Arts, becoming commonly known as Melbourne Festival, was a major international arts festi ...

, 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 ovation A standing ovation is a form of applause where members of a seated audience stand up while applauding after extraordinary performances of particularly high acclaim. In Ancient Rome returning military commanders (such as Marcus Licinius Crassus a ...

s and was later performed at the Sydney Opera House and Adelaide Festival Centre. In 2005 ''Kura Tungar'' won the Helpmann Award for the Best Contemporary Australian Concert at the 5th Helpmann Awards. In October 2007, Roach released ''

Journey Journey or journeying may refer to: * Travel, the movement of people between distant geographical locations ** Day's journey, a measurement of distance ** Road trip, a long-distance journey on the road Animals * Journey (horse), a thoroughbred ra ...

'', an album of songs as a companion piece to a documentary film called ''Liyarn Ngarn'', made with Roach, Patrick Dodson and

Pete Postlethwaite Peter William Postlethwaite, (7 February 1946 – 2 January 2011) was an English character actor. After minor television appearances, including in '' The Professionals'', his first major success arose through the British autobiographical fil ...

. In October 2009 at the

, Roach performed in the world premiere of the musical theatre production of ''

Dirtsong Black Arm Band is an Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander music theatre organisation. History The organisation was founded in late 2005 by Steven Richardson and has produced seven large-scale productions since its debut performance a ...

'', created by

Black Arm Band Black Arm Band is an Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander music theatre organisation. History The organisation was founded in late 2005 by Steven Richardson and has produced seven large-scale productions since its debut performance a ...

theatre company. The songs were written by

Alexis Wright Alexis Wright (born 25 November 1950) is a Waanyi (Aboriginal Australian) writer best known for winning the Miles Franklin Award for her 2006 novel '' Carpentaria'' and the 2018 Stella Prize for her "collective memoir" of Leigh Bruce "Tracker" ...

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

1988 File:1988 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The oil platform Piper Alpha explodes and collapses in the North Sea, killing 165 workers; The USS Vincennes (CG-49) mistakenly shoots down Iran Air Flight 655; Australia celebrates its Bicenten ...

''.

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

In October 2012, Roach released '' Into the Bloodstream'', 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

". In October 2013, Roach released '' Creation'', 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 2015, Roach (and

Shane Howard Shane Michael Howard (born 26 January 1955) is an Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist, he was the mainstay of folk rock group Goanna (1977–85, 1998) which had hit singles with " Solid Rock" (September 1982, No. 3) and " Let the ...

) won Best Original Song Composed for the Screen "The Secret River" from '' The Secret River''. In November 2015, Roach celebrated the 25th anniversary of ''

'' with a deluxe remastered edition. The new edition included a second disc featuring previously unreleased ''Triple J – Live At The Wireless'' 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 The Australasian Performing Right Association Awards of 2017 (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 2017 was the 3 ...

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 Amy Louise Billings (born 14 May 1986), known professionally as Amy Shark, is an Australian indie pop singer-songwriter-guitarist and producer from the Gold Coast, Queensland. During 2008 to 2012, her early solo material was released and per ...

. In May 2019, Roach released '' The Concert Collection 2012–2018'' 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 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 Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) are publishers' and literary awards held by the Australian Publishers Association annually in Sydney "to celebrate the achievements of authors and publishers in bringing Australian books to readers". ...

. 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'' (2021), written and directed by Philippa Bateman and produced by Bateman, Kate Hodges 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 Coorong National Park is a protected area located in South Australia about south-east of Adelaide, that predominantly covers a coastal lagoon ecosystem officially known as The Coorong and the Younghusband Peninsula on the Coorong's southern si ...

. The film had its

world premiere A première, also spelled premiere, is the debut (first public presentation) of a play, film, dance, or musical composition. A work will often have many premières: a world première (the first time it is shown anywhere in the world), its firs ...

at the Brisbane International Film Festival in October 2021 and was an official selection for the

Sydney Film Festival The Sydney Film Festival is an annual competitive film festival held in Sydney, Australia, usually over 12 days in June. A number of awards are given, the top one being the Sydney Film Prize. the festival's director is Nashen Moodley. Histo ...

and the Melbourne International Film Festival 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 The 2022 ARIA Music Awards were the 36th 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 2022 ARIA Artisan Awards, ARIA ...

a special tribute in his honour will have Budjerah, Jessica Mauboy and Thelma Plum 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 Anthony John Abbott (; born 4 November 1957) is a former Australian politician who served as the 28th prime minister of Australia from 2013 to 2015. He held office as the leader of the Liberal Party of Australia. Abbott was born in Londo ...

, for an end to the Northern Territory Intervention.

Discography

* ''

'' (1990) * ''

'' (1993) * '' Looking for Butter Boy'' (1997) * ''

'' (2002) * ''

'' (2007) * '' Into the Bloodstream'' (2012) * '' Let Love Rule'' (2016) * '' Dancing with My Spirit'' (2018) * '' Tell Me Why'' (2019) * '' The Songs of Charcoal Lane'' (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 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 John Lewis Schumann (born 18 May 1953) is an Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist from Adelaide. He is best known as the lead singer for the folk group Redgum, with their chart-topping hit " I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Light Green)", a s ...

, Alice Skye,

Emily Wurramara Emily Wurramara is an Indigenous Australian singer and songwriter. In 2018, Wurramara was nominated for Best Blues and Roots Album at the ARIA Awards. Early life Wurramara is a Warnindhilyagwa woman from Groote Eylandt, off the Northern Te ...

, Paul Kelly, Billy Bragg, Mark Seymour, Midnight Oil and

. "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 The Yuwaalaraay, also spelt Euahlayi, Euayelai, Eualeyai, Ualarai, Yuwaaliyaay and Yuwallarai, are an Aboriginal Australian people of north-western New South Wales. Name and language The ethnonym derives from their word for "no" () to which ...

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, 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 as ambassadors of the foundation. The foundation has supported hundreds and inspired thousands more young people. His work in

youth detention centre In criminal justice systems, a youth detention center, known as a juvenile detention center (JDC),Stahl, Dean, Karen Kerchelich, and Ralph De Sola. ''Abbreviations Dictionary''. CRC Press, 20011202. Retrieved 23 August 2010. , . juvenile det ...

s 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 The Order of Australia is an Order (distinction), honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarchy of Australia, Queen of Aus ...

(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 Barmera is a town in the Riverland region of South Australia. It is on the Sturt Highway A20, 220 kilometres north-east of Adelaide, the capital of the state of South Australia. It is primarily an agricultural and viticultural town and is l ...

, 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

" Took the Children Away" was added to the National Film and Sound Archive's

Sounds of Australia The Sounds of Australia, formerly the National Registry of Recorded Sound, is the National Film and Sound Archive's selection of sound recordings which are deemed to have cultural, historical and aesthetic significance and relevance for Australi ...

registry in 2013.

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as

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. History The inaugural 2006 awards were held at ...

) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector. , - , rowspan="2" ,

AIR Awards of 2017 The AIR Awards of 2017 is the eleventh annual Australian Independent Record Labels Association Music Awards (generally known as the AIR Awards) and was an award ceremony at Queen's Theatre Adelaide, Australia on 27 July 2017. This is the first ...

, ''Let Love Rule'' , Best Independent Blues and Roots Album , , -

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards 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 s ...

, 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 t ...

, "Open Up Your Eyes" , Song of the Year , , , - ,

2021 File:2021 collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: the James Webb Space Telescope was launched in 2021; Protesters in Yangon, Myanmar following the coup d'état; A civil demonstration against the October 2021 coup in Sudan; Crowd shortly after t ...

, "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 Phi ...

, , rowspan="3", ''

'' , , Best New Talent , , , - , Best Indigenous Release , , , - , Breakthrough Artist – Album , , , - , " Took the Children Away" , , Breakthrough Artist – Single , , , - , 1992 , , " Down City Streets" , , Best Indigenous Release , , , - , 1994 , , ''

'' , , Best Indigenous Release , , , - ,

1997 File:1997 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The movie set of ''Titanic'', the highest-grossing movie in history at the time; '' Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'', is published; Comet Hale-Bopp passes by Earth and becomes one of ...

, , " 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; ...

, , ''

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

'' , , 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 fa ...

, , '' Into the Bloodstream'' , , 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",

, , rowspan="2", ''The Songs of Charcoal Lane'' , , Best Blues & Roots Album , , , - , Best Independent Release , , , - ,

2022 File:2022 collage V1.png, Clockwise, from top left: Road junction at Yamato-Saidaiji Station several hours after the assassination of Shinzo Abe; Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka in front of the Presidential Secretariat; The global monkeypo ...

, , "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 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. The event was held from 1995 to 2013. Description T ...

(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 , "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 , ''Ruby'' , Excellence in Film & Theatrical Score , , - , Deadly Awards 2010 , ''1988'' , Album of the Year , , - , rowspan="2",

Deadly Awards 2013 The 2013 Deadly Awards were hosted by Luke Carroll and Karla Grant at the Sydney Opera House on 10 September 2013. The Awards program was broadcast nationally on SBS One on 14 September 2013.

Don Banks Music Award

The

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, ...

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 Donald Oscar Banks (25 October 19235 September 1980) was an Australian composer of concert, jazz, and commercial music. Early life and education Jazz was Banks' earliest and strongest musical influence. He learned the saxophone as a boy in Aust ...

, 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 JC Williamson Award (formally known as the James Cassius Williamson Award), is an lifetime achievement award presented annually as a sector of the Helpmann Awards, governed by Live Performance Australia. The awards are named after the Ameri ...

, 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 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the Unit ...

, , Himself , ,

, , , -

J Awards

The

J Awards The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J and which are judged by the music and on-air teams from radio stations Triple J, ...

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 The J Awards of 2020 were the sixteenth annual J Awards, established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. The eligibility period for releases took place between November 2019 and October 2020. T ...

, Archie Roach , Double J Artist of the Year , , -

Mo Awards

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the

Mo Awards The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards) were an annual Australian entertainment industry award, that where established in 1975, to recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia. They were l ...

) 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 The Music Victoria Awards (previously known as The Age EG Awards and The Age Music Victoria Awards) are an annual awards night celebrating music from the Australian state of Victoria. They commenced in 2006 and are awarded in Melbourne Music W ...

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 The National Dreamtime Awards, known simply as the Dreamtime Awards, are an annual celebration of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in sport, arts, academic and community. History The inaugural Dreamtime Awards were ...

are an annual celebration of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in sport, arts, academia and community. They commenced in 2017. , - ,

, 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 Aust ...

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 , , - ,

, 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 , , - ,

, ''My Songs: 1989–2021'' , Album of the Year , , -

Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards

The Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards 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 National Film and Sound Archive * 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