Paul Kelly

Over forty years and across thirty albums, Paul Kelly has made himself unique among world songwriters by the sheer range and innovation of his work. Few songwriters find ways to keep that creative fever burning for as long and as brightly as Kelly. From St Kilda To Kings Cross, from the bus ride through the cane in To Her Door to the span-of-life sweep of Deeper Water, Kelly has written the soundtrack to Australian life. He has penned songs about the country's greatest cricketer in Bradman and its most infamous bushranger in Our Sunshine. Some songs take their time to make their mark - How To Make Gravy, a message from a prisoner who can't be home for Christmas, wasn't a hit when released in 1996 but is now recognised as an Australian classic. Kelly's artistic restlessness has led him down fascinating paths. He's set Shakespeare sonnets to music (Seven Sonnets And A Song), created albums ranging from bluegrass (Smoke) to experimental dub (Professor Ratbaggy), and collaborated with jazz pianist Paul Grabowsky (Please Leave Your Light On). His 2017 album Life Is Fine became his first No 1 album and that year Kelly won two ARIA Awards. He has received 17 ARIA awards for recording and five APRA awards for songwriting and was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1997. His Order of Australia in 2017 acknowledged distinguished service to the performing arts and the promotion of the national identity.