Broderick Smith

Broderick Smith (17 February 1948 – 30 April 2023) was an English-born Australian multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and actor. He was a member of 1970s bands Sundown, Carson, and The Dingoes. In the 1980s, he was part of Broderick Smith's Big Combo where he recorded and performed both solos and duos. He acted on stage in the 1973 Australian version of the rock opera, Tommy, and in minor roles in the 1990s TV series Blue Heelers, Snowy River: The McGregor Saga, and State Coroner. Smith was involved with the writing of some 200 songs and ran workshops on song writing, harmonica, and vocals. He is the father of Ambrose Kenny-Smith, who has provided vocals, harmonica and keyboards for the rock band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard since 2011.

Early life and education Broderick Smith was born in Hertfordshire, England and, with his father Richard, mother Millicent (née Stone) and a younger sibling, migrated to Australia in April 1959 via RMS Orion out of the Port of Tilbury. They settled under the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme, He later recalled, "I remember going to sideshow in St Albans as a kid and seeing a dancing chicken. But I didn't know they were on hot plates at the time. I thought wow – dancing chickens, why are their feet smoking?" He left secondary school in 1963 and worked as a messenger boy. From 1965, he was a sales clerk for Allans retail music store for three years. Smith's early influences were, "Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Charlie Musselwhite." Other blues groups he joined included the Smokey Hollows in 1965. Upon his discharge, Smith briefly joined a country music group, Sundown, with Tolhurst, but left in 1971. Other members included Greg Lawrie (guitar, slide guitar), Ian Ferguson (bass, vocals), Tony Lunt (drums) and Ian Winter (guitar). He also kept up with Carson to record "Boogie, Part 1" / "Boogie, Part 2", which reached No. 30 on the National charts in September 1972.

Carson performed at the 1973 Sunbury Rock Festival, on the Australia Day long weekend. Other Australian artists involved were Daryl Braithwaite (as Tommy), Billy Thorpe, Doug Parkinson, Wendy Saddington, Jim Keays, Colleen Hewett, Linda George, Ross Wilson, Bobby Bright, and Ian Meldrum (as "Uncle Ernie" in Sydney). The original line-up included Tolhurst (ex-Adderley Smith Blues Band, Sundown, Country Radio) (singer, songwriter, guitars), Chris Stockley (ex-CamPact, Axiom) (guitars), John Strangio (bass), John Lee (ex-Blackfeather (drums)) and Smith (vocals, harmonica). and 1997's "Bloodstained Angels"; 1998's historical drama Snowy River: The McGregor Saga episode "Prince of Hearts" and crime drama State Coroner episode "On Thin Ice".

Smith delivered numerous workshops on song writing, harmonica and vocals to schools within Victoria, He considered himself to be primarily a lyricist. His song writing technique typically involves writing the lyrics in prose form, with the music then being written (usually by someone else), with the lyrics then changed to suit the music. Participating in several tours around Australia and one in New Zealand in the late 2000s. He also performed on their album, Tabasco Tom & Doc White.

In the 2010s, Smith appeared on two King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard albums, the band featuring his son Ambrose on harmonica. He narrated the voiceover for the track "Sam Cherry's Last Shot" on the band's first LP 12 Bar Bruise in 2012, and he wrote and narrated the text for the album Eyes Like the Sky released in 2013.

Death King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard paying tribute to Broderick Smith at their June 21, 2023, show. Smith died on 30 April 2023, at the age of 75 in his hometown of Castlemaine. Prior to his death, he had been scheduled to join King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard on stage at Hollywood Bowl for their final residency show on June 21, 2023, where he would have performed some of his parts from Eyes Like the Sky. However, due to his passing, the band instead used the show to pay tribute, performing four tracks from the album with Broderick's narration played through the PA while a slideshow in the background showed various pictures from his life.

Discography Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positions AUS Broderick Smith's Big Combo (Broderick Smith's Big Combo) Released: November 1981 Format: LP, Cassette Label: WBE (WBEX 1006) 23 Broderick Smith Released: 1984 Format: LP, Cassette Label: Wheatley (WRLP 1001) — Suitcase Released: 1992 Format: CD, Cassette Label: Mushroom (D 30825) — My Shiralee Released: 1994 Format: CD Label: Newmarket Music (NEW1049.2) — Songster Released: 1995 Format: CD Label: ABC Music (4798332) — Crayon Angels Released: 1996 Format: CD Label: ABC Music (4835692) — Too Easy Released: 2002 Format: CD Label: ABC Music (4835692) — Unknown Country Released: 2009 Format: CD Label: Liberation Music (LMCD0045) — Man Out of Time Released: 2018 Format: CD, LP, Digital Label: Bloodlines (BLOOD18) —

Compilation albums + List of compilation albums, with selected details Title Album details Journal – The Best of Broderick Smith Released: 2004 Format: CD Label: Redbird Records (rb1006)

Other albums + List of other albums, with selected details and chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positions AUS 12 Bar Bruise (by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard) Released: 7 September 2012 Label Flightless Narrated the track "Sam Cherry's Last Shot" 14 Eyes Like the Sky (by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard) Released: 22 February 2013 Label: Flightless Story and narration by Broderick Smith 10

Singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions Album AUS Credited as Broderick Smith "Goin' On Down to the End of the World" 1972 51 Credited as Broderick Smith's Big Combo "Faded Roses" 1981 31 Broderick Smith's Big Combo "My Father's Hands" 56 "High Rise" 1982 — "Ruby in the Snow" 99Credited as Broderick Smith "Vision of You" 1983 — Broderick Smith "When I Swim" 1984 — "Here Comes Trouble" — "Leah" 1985 — "Snowblind Moon" 1992 — Suitcase "Battler's Ballad" (with The Bushwackers) 1996 — "I Still Miss Someone" 1997 — Crayon Angels