Who is Broderick Smith? Cause of Death, Bio, Age, Career, Family
Broderick Smith, one of Australia’s best musicians, a songwriter, and an actor, passed away at the age of 75.
How Did Broderick Smith Die?
English born Australian singer-songwriter Broderick Smith has passed away. He played blues, boogie, country and rock music in Australia. This sad news was announced by his son, Ambrose Kenny-Smith in a following statement,
“Hope you finally find the holy grail of harmonica tones wherever you are,” said his son. I love you so much. I am lost without you but the show must go on. Goodbye for now you beautiful lil weirdo wombat.”, he added.
Phil Manning paid him a tribute in a following statement.
With a heavy heart I mourn the passing of a truly great musician, harmonica player, singer, songwriter and wonderful wordsmith.
He was a pure delight to have known and shared the stage with over the years.
My deepest condolences go out to his family and friends and all who loved his creative spirit. RIP Broderick Smith.
Who was Broderick Smith?
Broderick played in three renowned Australian bands: Broderick Smith’s Big Combo (1979–1988), The Dingoes (1973–1979), and the blues group Carson (1971–1973).
Smith recorded fifteen albums, nine under his own name, in Australia, Canada, and the United States. He worked with Cat Stevens, Jimmy Barnes, Steve Cropper, The Memphis Horns, Buffy Saint Marie, Phil Ochs, Ted Egan, Tommy and Phil Emmanuel, and many others.
Broderick is also the father of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s keyboardist Ambrose Kenny-Smith, who performs vocals, harmonica, and keyboards in King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard and The Murlocs.
All of the songs and narration of King Gizzard’s second album, “Eyes Like the Sky,” were written and performed by Broderick.
Broderick Smith Early Life
Smith, who was born in England but immigrated to Australia as a young child, grew up in St. Albans, a town that used to be on the outskirts of Melbourne.
He began performing in bands there at the age of 14 and began playing the harmonica, banjo, guitar, and microphone in addition to other instruments.
Smith pursued a variety of odd jobs after graduating from high school before joining the renowned Adderley Smith Blues Band in 1966, which marked the beginning of his musical career.
When he was called up in 1968 for two years of national service, his rock career was put on hold. He founded the country-roots band Sundown in 1970 and the boogie and blues group Carson in 1972 after his discharge from the military.
Broderick Smith Career
Musical journey
Smith, a multi-instrumentalist, played with renowned Australian bands in the 1970s. He was The Dingoes’ vocalist and harmonica player from 1973 to 1979, and again when the band revived in 2009.
The Dingoes’ self-titled debut album debuted at number 24 on the ARIA Albums Chart in 1974. Their third studio LP, Orphans Of The Storm, debuted at #32, while their second album, 1977’s Five Times The Sun, peaked at #25.
Sam Cherry’s Last Shot, a track from the King Gizzard album “12 Bar Bruise,” also features Brod. In 1972, Broderick and Carson performed at the inaugural Sunbury Music Festival.
They issued one studio album, “Blown,” in 1972, as well as a live album, “On The Air,” which included the performance at Sunbury, in 1973.
‘Boogie’ from ‘Blown’ peaked at number 29 on the Australian singles chart in 1972. Later, Broderick founded The Dingoes.
In 1973, Broderick teamed up with Kerryn Tolhurst of Country Radio to form The Dingoes. (Tolhurst later penned the huge song by Pat Benatar, “All Fired Up”).
The Dingoes were a country rock band best known for the song “Way Out West,” which was later covered by James Reyne and James Blundell and most recently by Reyne and Ella Hooper. The song is now regarded as an Australian classic.
Broderick founded Broderick Smith’s Big Combo following the dissolution of The Dingoes. The self-titled album by Big Combo, which featured the radio songs “My Father’s Hands” and “Faded Roses,” was released in 1981.
Actor role
Smith acted on stage in the 1973 Australian version of the rock opera, Tommy, and in minor roles in 1990s TV series.
He appeared in the films Snowy River: The McGregor Saga, State Coroner, and Blue Heelers. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, this son Ambrose’s band, and Brod began working together in 2023 for the album ‘Eye Like The Sky’.
In 2009, the Dingoes were admitted into the ARIA hall of fame. The group came back to the Australian charts with the release of their new album, Tracks, a year later.
Smith told Australian Musician in 2018 in an interview, that “I’m not retired but I am an old pensioner dude now”
“I’ll do as much as I can but as I say, I’m 70 and the phone’s not ringing for me to be on the cover of Vanity Fair. I’m just trying to pack in as much as I can.”
Broderick Smith cause of death
According to his website, he passed away “peacefully at home” with heartfelt condolences offered to his family and friends.
David Mackrell announced this heartbreaking news saying,
“Sadly, I must convey the news that rock legend, Broderick Smith, has passed away at just 75, at home and peacefully (according to reports). This is something of a shock as he had still been working and planning gigs.
Nothing further known at this stage. Vale to my fellow copywriter and fellow fan of my wife. Way out west, the rain may not fall. But the tears surely will in every direction.”
Smith wrote over 200 songs, and he wrote nearly all of the lyrics for his solo albums. According to his biography, he typically began by composing lyrics in prose form and changed them to fit the music once it was written.
He believed that lyrics should convey meaning rather than simply being something to sing along to. Smith was admitted to the ARIA Hall of Fame as a member of The Dingoes in August 2009.
Tributes flooded social media after his demise news broke out.
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