John Schumann

John Lewis Schumann (born 18 May 1953) He is best known as the lead singer for the folk group Redgum, with their chart-topping hit "I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Light Green)", a song exploring the psychological and medical side-effects of serving in the Australian forces during the Vietnam War. The song's sales assisted Vietnam Veterans during the 1983 Royal Commission into the effects of Agent Orange and other chemical defoliants employed during the war.

Since 2005 he has been performing as part of John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew, including fellow ex-Redgum member Hugh McDonald.

Biography 1975–1985: Redgum

Schumann was born on 18 May 1953 and attended Blackfriars Priory School, and then Flinders University studying philosophy, English and drama for his Bachelor of Arts. In 1975 he contributed to a radical politics in art project, convened by Professor Brian Medlin with fellow students Michael Atkinson and Verity Truman. The three students went on to form political folk band Redgum and began performing in local pubs and campuses. An 'underground recording' of their music was made at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) studios in Adelaide by Darc Cassidy – the tapes went on to become popular on campuses across Australia and on independent radio. Chris Timms (also from Flinders University) joined the group in 1976 and they toured to Melbourne as a part-time group. Schumann was by then teaching English and Drama at Marion High School and performing on weekends and school holidays. By December 1980, they decided to become a full-time band. Schumann wrote their biggest hits including "Long Run", "The Last Frontier", "I Was Only Nineteen" (March 1983) and "I've Been to Bali Too" (1984). He embarked upon a solo career with CBS, where he released several records, including Etched in Blue (1987), and a children's record, Looby Loo (1989). The 1987 single "Borrowed Ground" from Etched in Blue was given the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) Most Performed Australasian Country Work Award in 1988. In 1992 he recorded a single for Sony titled "Eyes on Fire", this was followed by an album for Columbia Records in 1993, True Believers.

In 2007 John Schumann and The Vagabond Crew provided the music for a stage play, Lawson, starring Max Cullen as Henry Lawson. After refusing to appear live on the 1980s ABC music-TV show, Countdown, Schumann appeared in the Countdown Spectacular 2 concert series in Australia in August and September 2007. He sang the Redgum hit "I Was Only 19" only. From late 2007, John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew have appeared at major music festivals around Australia. Schumann signed a new multi-album deal with ABC Music and Behind the Lines, an album of songs related to Australians at war, was released in August 2008.

Schumann has performed for Australian forces overseas several times. In December 2009 he visited East Timor to play for Australian and New Zealand troops stationed there, in September–October 2011 he played for Australian troops in Afghanistan and in July 2013 he played for Australian troops and Australian Federal Police in the Solomon Islands.

In 2011 Schumann worked with the Defence department on "Dents in the Soul", a project designed to help soldiers deal with post traumatic stress disorder.

In 2015, Schumann recorded "Kokoda – Only The Brave Ones", a duet with Lee Kernaghan for his album Spirit of the Anzacs.

In 2015 he was commission by the Australian Army to write "Every Anzac Day", a song about aboriginal soldiers who served in the Australian military. It was released in April 2015 ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings. It was released with "Anzac Biscuits" as a B-side.

Personal life Schumann met Denise 'Denny' Storen in 1981 and they later married. She is the sister of Vietnam veteran Mick Storen, whose recollections inspired "I Was Only 19". The couple have a son and a daughter.

Discography

Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positions AUS Etched in Blue Released: October 1987 Format: LP, CD, Cassette Label: CBS (460271 2) 63 John Schumann Goes Looby-Loo: A Collection of Songs for Little Kids Released: 1988 Format: LP, CD Label: CBS (463255 2) 116 True Believers Released: October 1993 Format: LP, CD Label: CBS (473818 2) — Lawson (as John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew) Released: 2005 Format: CD Label: Bombora Creative (Bombora1) — Behind the Lines (as John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew) Released: 2008 Format: CD, CD+DVD, download Label: ABC Music, UMA (1778130) — Ghosts and Memories (as John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew) Released: July 2018 Format: CD, download Label: ABC Music (6765315) —

Compilation albums + List of compilation albums, with selected details Title Details Portrait: The Very Best of John Schumann Released: 2002 Format: CD Label: CBS (5109202000) Gelignite Jack – The John Schumann Collection Released: 2007 Format: CD, download Label: ABC (5144227712)

Charting singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions

AUS In 2022, Schumann was appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2022 Australia Day Honours for "significant service to the veteran community, to music, and to the community".

ARIA Music Awards

Country Music Awards of Australia The Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA) (also known as the Golden Guitar Awards) is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. They have been held annually since 1973.

Top Selling Song of the Year APRA Song of the Year

Footnotes