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Coloured Stone is an Aboriginal Australian band whose members originate from the Koonibba Mission, west of Ceduna, South Australia. They first became known for their 1984 single, "Black Boy". The band performs using guitar, bass, drums, and Aboriginal instruments – didjeridu, bundawuthada (gong stone) and clap sticks – to play traditional music.
Coloured Stone | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Koonibba, South Australia |
| Genres | Aboriginal rock, ska, reggae, funk influence |
| Years active | 1977–current |
| Labels | CAAMA, RCA/BMG |
| Members | Bunna Lawrie and guest musicians. |
| Past members | Selwyn Burns Cee Cee Honey Bee Tjimba Possum-Burns Russell (Rusty) Pinky Duane Lawrie Neil Coaby Mackie Coaby Bart Willoughby Selwyn Burns Jason Scott Bruce 'Bunny' Mundy John John Miller Joseph Williams Ash Dargan Robby Fletcher Jojo Coleman Corey Noll Nicky Moffat Lionel Sarmardin |
Background and members
edit
The original Coloured Stone band members were three brothers, Bunna Lawrie (drums, lead vocals, songwriter), and Neil Coaby (rhythm guitar and backing vocals) and Mackie Coaby (bass guitar and backing vocals), and their nephew, Bruce (aka Bunny) Mundy (lead guitar and backing vocals). All are from the community of Koonibba, South Australia.
Lawrie is a member and respected elder of the Mirning people coastal Nullarbor region in South Australia. He is known as a whale-dreamer, songman, medicine man and storyteller. He is Coloured Stone's founding member and chief songwriter.
The band's single, "Black Boy" was a success when first released in 1984. It became the number one song in Fiji, and sold 120,000 copies. The lyrics included the line "Black boy, black boy, the colour of your skin is your pride and joy", which was a somewhat revolutionary sentiment for Aboriginal people in the 1980s. Four decades after its release, the single still inspires hope and inspiration for generations of Aboriginal people.[1] The song was used in Warwick Thornton's 2021/2 vampire TV series, Firebite.[2]
Lawrie's son, Jason Scott, played guitar, bass, drums and didgeridoo for Coloured Stone from the age of 13 years. His first major gig was "Rock Against Racism" in Adelaide. Scott has also performed at the Sydney Opera House and he toured the US in 1994 with the Wirrangu Band as part of a cultural exchange program. With his band Desert Sea, Scott released an album in 2002 titled From the Desert to the Sea.
The current[when?] members of Coloured Stone are: Lawrie (vocals, rhythm guitar, didgeridoo, gong stone), Selwyn Burns (lead guitar, vocals), Peter Hood (drums), Cee Cee Honeybee (backing vocals) and guest musicians (bass guitarist, didgeridoo player, keyboard player.
Support for Aboriginal causes
editOn the first day of an April 1998 outdoor gig, Wild Water opened for Coloured Stone and Regurgitator at Brown's Mart Community Arts Centre. On the third day the band went to Jabiru, Northern Territory, to play at the Sports and Social Club. At dawn on day four, Coloured Stone travelled to Jabiluka to play on a makeshift stage in support of the Mirrar people's protest blockade of the road to a uranium mine on Mirrar land.
From March to August 2001, Lawrie and fellow Aboriginal musician Barry Cedric took part in a songwriting workshop for Aboriginal youth at Yarrabah. The young people learned to play musical instruments, compose a song and set it to music. At the end, six youths went to Cairns to record their song, "One Fire", in a recording studio.
Four of Coloured Stone's songs have been recognised as important resources for Australian teachers and educators to employ when discussing topics such as reconciliation, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, contributions and histories. These pieces include, Island of Greed, No more boomerang[3] (based on Oodgeroo Noonuccal's poem of the same name), Black Boy and Human Love.[4]
In the media
edit"A Rare Gem: Coloured Stone" is an episode of 2013 TV series Desperate Measures, which features the band.[5]
Awards and recognition
edit- 1978: Perth's 3rd National Aboriginal Country Music Festival Talent (Western Australia) – First Prize for Best Band
- 1978: Perth's 3rd National Aboriginal Country Music Festival Talent – Best Original Song for "Dancing in the Moonlight"
- 1995: Brian Syron Scholarship Award (Australia) – Contribution to Aboriginal music
- 2012: National NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award (Australia) to Bunna Lawrie
ARIA Music Awards
editThe ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Coloured Stone has one ARIA Award and been nominated for three, as follows:[citation needed]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Human Love | Best Indigenous Release | Won |
| 1989 | Wild Desert Rose | Best Cover Art | Nominated |
| 1990 | Crazy Mind | Best Indigenous Release | Nominated |
| 1993 | Inma Juju | Best Indigenous Release | Nominated |
Deadly Awards
editThe 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. It ran from 1995 to 2013
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Coloured Stone | Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal Music | awarded |
Don Banks Music Award
editThe 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.[6] It was founded by the Australia Council in honour of Don Banks, Australian composer, performer and the first chair of its music board.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000[7] | Bunna Lawrie | Don Banks Music Award | awarded |
Music Victoria Awards
editThe Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Dance to the Sun | Best Global or Reggae Album | Nominated | [8][9] |
National Indigenous Music Awards
editThe National Indigenous Music Awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians from throughout Australia. It commenced in 2004.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011[10][11] | Coloured Stone | Hall of Fame | inducted |
South Australian Music
edit| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024[12] | Coloured Stone | Hall of Fame | awarded |
Discography
editAlbums
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Koonibba Rock |
|
| Island of Greed |
|
| Human Love |
|
| Wild Desert Rose |
|
| Crazy Mind |
|
| Inma Juju Dance Music |
|
| Rhythm of Nature |
|
| I Dance to the Sun |
|
Compilation albums
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Black Rock from the Red Centre |
|
| Bunna Lawrie's Best of Coloured Stone |
|
| Bunna Lawrie's Best Of Coloured Stone |
|
Singles
edit| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | "Dancing in the Moonlight" | |
| 1984 | "Black Boy" | Koonibba Rock |
| 1985 | "Island of Greed" | Island of Greed |
| 1987 | "Dancing in the Moonlight" | Human Love |
| "Human Love" | ||
| 1988 | "Stay Young" | Wild Desert Rose |
| "Kiss the Days Goodbye" / "Dreamtime Stories" | ||
| "Wild Desert Rose" | ||
| 1989 | "Crazy Minds" | Crazy Mind |
| 1992 | "Love is the Medicine" | Inma Juju Dance Music |
| 2000 | "Australia"[13] | non album single |
| 2011 | "Black Boy"[14] (featuring Yung Warriors) | non album single |
References
edit- ^ "Coloured Stone's 'Black Boy' continues to offer hope, almost four decades on". Double J. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- ^ "New TV Series To Showcase Aussie Artists To Millions Worldwide". The Music. 16 December 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ ORIGNALAUSTRALIAN (16 May 2009). No More Boomerang - COLOURED STONE. Retrieved 5 September 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Narragurrawali - Resource Guide, The Arts - Music". Narragurrawali. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "A Rare Gem: Coloured Stone (2013) - The Screen Guide". Screen Australia. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ "Don Banks Music Award: Prize". Australian Music Centre. Archived from the original on 18 August 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
- ^ "Don Banks Music Award : Prize : Australian Music Centre". Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
- ^ "Previous Nominess". Music Victoria. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ^ "Previous Winners". Music Victoria. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ^ "Gurrumul dominates NIMAs". Deadly Vibe. Vibe Australia. 22 August 2011. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
- ^ O'Toole, Kate (20 September 2011). "Bunna Lawrie and Coloured Stone perform at the NIMAs". ABC Radio. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
- ^ "Coloured Stone Inducted Into The South Australian Music Hall Of Fame". The Music. 6 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "Australia - single". Apple Music. 2000. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- ^ "Black Boy (remix) - single". Apple Music. 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- Ryan, P (10 June 2006). "Mujik – Coloured Stone in 1985 – Cultural Pages". RAM Magazine. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
- Dawson, Peter (10 June 2006). "Mujik – Musicians on a Mission – Cultural Pages". Retrieved 30 December 2013.
- "Celebrity Vibe: Jason Scott". Vibe Australia. 1 January 2001. Archived from the original on 4 January 2006. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
- Daniels, Carmen (1 September 2011). ""ONE FIRE": Yarrabah Youth Write and Record a Song with Indigenous Recording Artists!". Aboriginal Youth Network. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
- Hayward, Philip (1998). Sound Alliances: Indigenous Peoples, Cultural Politics, and Popular Music in the Pacific. Continuum International Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-304-70050-9.
- Dunbar-Hall, Peter; Chris Gibson (July 2004). Deadly Sounds, Deadly Places. Contemporary Aboriginal Music in Australia. University of New South Wales Press. ISBN 978-0-86840-622-0.
- Lawrie, Bunna (1991). Coloured Stone songbook. Warner Chappell Music. ISBN 978-1-86362-027-7.
- McFarlane, Ian (1999). Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 978-1-86448-768-8.