Today's Birthday 8/1
Today's Birthday, January 8: Archie Roach, Australian singer, songwriter (1956 - ).
Arcdhie Roach was born in Mooroopna, near Shepparton in central Victoria. As a toddler, he was taken from his Aboriginal family and rehoused in two rough orphanages, before settling with the Cox family in Melbourne.
It was through his foster father's record collection that he discovered future musical influences such as Leonard Cohen, Nina Simone and Nat King Cole.
After learning about the circumstances of his childhood, Roach travelled to Sydney and Adelaide, often sleeping rough through periods of alcoholism. During this time he started making music and met his partner in music and life, Ruby Hunter.
In the 1980's Roach and Hunter formed the Altogethers band with other indigenous Australians.
After encouragement from fellow musician Paul Kelly, Roach released his debut solo album Charcoal Lane in 1990. One of the featured songs, Took the Children Away, particularly struck a chord with Australians as it documented the story of the Stolen Generations and his own story of being taken from his family.
The track went on to win two Aria Awards and the first international Human Rights Achievement Award to ever be awarded to a songwriter for a song.
Since then, Roach has released 10 albums and won five Aria Awards, seven Deadlys and three National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA).
In February 2010, the musician was devastated by the death of his soul mate Hunter, at 54. They had been together for almost 40 years, since Roach was 16 and Hunter 15.
Later that year, Roach had a stroke while on tour in the Kimberley region of WA, and in 2011 he was diagnosed with lung cancer and had half of his left lung removed. Despite three heavy blows, in October Roach released a surprisingly joyous new album - Into The Bloodstream.
"It's just good to be alive," Roach told AAP in 2013, the same year he was inducted into the NIMA Hall of Fame.
Roach was recognised in the Queen's Birthday honours in 2015 for his service to the performing arts and as an advocate for social justice.
The indigenous folk and roots singer-songwriter received the Ted Albert Award at the APRA Awards in 2017. Previous winners include Paul Kelly, Slim Dusty, The Seekers and Cold Chisel.
