Paul Kelly

Paul Kelly. Paul Maurice Kelly is an iconic Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist, widely regarded as one of the nation's most significant and influential musical storytellers. His extensive career, spanning over five decades, has produced a rich catalogue of songs that delve into Australian history, landscape, and the complexities of human relationships. Often described as a poet of the everyday, his work blends elements of rock and roll, folk music, and country music, earning him a revered place in the ARIA Hall of Fame and numerous other accolades.

Early life and education

Born in Adelaide, he was the sixth of eight children to an Irish Australian family. His early years were spent in the suburb of Elizabeth, before the family relocated to Sydney when he was seven, eventually settling in Melbourne. He attended De La Salle College in Malvern, where his initial forays into music began. After a brief period studying at La Trobe University, he left to pursue music full-time, immersing himself in the vibrant pub rock scene of Melbourne during the 1970s. This formative period exposed him to a wide range of influences, from the narratives of Bob Dylan to the raw energy of local acts, shaping his distinctive lyrical approach.

Music career

His professional journey started with bands like the High Rise Bombers and Paul Kelly and the Dots, who released several albums including *Talk* on Mushroom Records. A move to Sydney in the mid-1980s proved pivotal, leading to the formation of his celebrated backing band, initially called The Coloured Girls (later renamed The Messengers) due to legal concerns. This era produced seminal albums such as *Gossip* and *Under the Sun*, featuring classic songs like "To Her Door" and "Dumb Things". Throughout the 1990s and beyond, he demonstrated remarkable versatility, collaborating with artists like Professor Trance and the Starlight Orchestra, working on film soundtracks for projects like *Lantana*, and engaging in fruitful partnerships with indigenous musicians including Kev Carmody, with whom he co-wrote the landmark song "From Little Things Big Things Grow". His later work includes acclaimed solo albums, collaborative projects with artists such as Charlie Owen and Dan Sultan, and the orchestral song cycle *Conversations with Ghosts*.

Discography

His prolific output encompasses over thirty studio albums across solo and band projects. Key releases with his bands include *Post* (1985) with The Dots, *Gossip* (1986) with The Coloured Girls, and *Comedy* (1991) with The Messengers. Notable solo albums are *Words and Music* (1998), *Stolen Apples* (2007), and *Life Is Fine* (2017), which won the ARIA Award for Best Male Artist. He has also released several live albums, compilations like *Songs from the South*, and collaborative records such as *Death's Dateless Night* with Neil Finn. His most recent studio work includes *Paul Kelly's Christmas Train* (2021).

Awards and recognition

He has received extensive honors throughout his career, solidifying his status as a national treasure. He was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1997. He has won multiple ARIA Music Awards, including awards for Best Male Artist and Best Adult Contemporary Album. In 2011, he was awarded the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music at the APRA Awards. His contributions to the arts were formally recognized with the appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2017. Furthermore, he received the Australia Council for the Arts’ prestigious Don Banks Music Award in 2023, and several of his songs, such as "To Her Door", have been added to the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia registry.

Personal life

He has been married twice and is the father of three children. He maintains a relatively private life, with his dedication to music, family, and social causes being well-documented. A longtime resident of St Kilda in Melbourne, he is also known for his passion for Australian rules football, being a devoted supporter of the Port Adelaide Football Club. Beyond music, he is an advocate for various social and environmental issues and has published an acclaimed memoir, *How to Make Gravy*, which originated from a series of live storytelling and music shows at the Melbourne Writers' Festival.

Category:Australian singer-songwriters Category:Australian rock musicians Category:ARIA Hall of Fame inductees