PBS is saddened to learn of the passing of Broderick Smith earlier this week (17/02/1948 - 30/04/2023).
Broderick was a highly regarded multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, and was no stranger to the PBS airwaves and stages around the city and across the world, and will be sorely missed.
“Deeply saddened by the loss of one of Australia’s best musicians & foremost songsmiths, Broderick Smith. That sentence is well worn, but in this case, never truer. My many music memories of Brod came flooding back, almost comforting. Those many Saturday arvo’s at The Station, Prahran, with The Dingoes, Martini’s in Carlton, Sunbury Festival 1 & 2 in the 1970s. Brod played at all four Sunburys.
"Still etched in my musical memory is his rendition of 'Ocean Deep' at Andy Durant’s Memorial Concert, August 19, 1980, at the Palais. Many wonderful collaborations I’ve been present at, such as with Doc White & the late Tabasco Tom, guitarist Shannon Bourne & over the last 20 or so years, Pianist, Richard Tankard & The Backsliders, among many others. I consider myself privileged to have sat in a corner at a gig on more than a few occasions chatting with Brod. His knowledge was vast, being a voracious reader, his memory and sharp wit was impeccable and always kind & honest.”
- Helen Jennings OAM
"We are sad to learn of the death of Broderick Smith. As a gifted singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, actor and storyteller, he was a significant Australian artist.
"Influenced early on by the blues, Smith became lead singer of the Adderley Smith Blues Band in 1966, and later Carson, and then the magnificent Dingoes. Originally formed to fuse rhythm and blues with bush music, the Dingoes’ music became known as country rock. At their long-standing 1970s Saturday-afternoon residency at Prahran’s Station Hotel, 300 punters regularly crammed into a 100-person space crackling with energy.
"Arguably the finest Australian male singer of his generation, Smith performed at all four Sunbury festivals, and continued gigging in bands such as Broderick Smith's Big Combo, as well as solo and duo.
"He delivered numerous workshops on song writing, harmonica and vocals to Victorian schools; wrote about 200 songs; and has run workshops on song writing, harmonica and vocals. He performed in the musical Tommy, as well as acting in television and films. Brod released simultaneously a book and album, Man Out of Time, in 2018.
"He collaborated with his son Ambrose’s band King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard in 2013 for the album Eyes Like the Sky, writing the lyrics and narrating the words. The album reached number 10 on the Australian chart.
"Smith, as part of the Dingoes, was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2009.
"He was known for his kindness, deep thinking and wit."
- Jackey Coyle, Presenter of 'Wordy-Gurdy’ on Roots of Rhythm
A number of programs will pay tribute to Broderick Smith across PBS over coming weeks, displaying his inlfuence on the Australian music landscape.
Vale Broderick Smith.
