Associated acts The Country Outcasts | Music director Sunny and the Dark Horse | |
Similar Auriel Andrew, Roger Knox, Jimmy Little | ||
Harry Williams and Wilga Munroe were Indigenous Australians who performed professionally between the 1960s and 1980s. Harry Williams was called the godfather of Koori country.
Contents
Harry Williams
Harry "Buck" Williams was born in 1927 on the Erambie Mission just outside the town centre Cowra, New South Wales and died in 1991 under the same tree he was born under. His father "Knocker" Williams led a travelling tent show in which Harry played. In his 20s he started playing with Alan Saunders. Williams also worked as an actor, appearing in films and on TV, including Blackfire (1972, the first known film by an indigenous Australia) and Matlock.
Wilga Munro
Wilga Munro was born in Tamworth, New South Wales in 1940. She was named after the wild orange tree she was born under. After serving in the Air Force she returned to Tamworth and started performing.
Music
Harry Williams and Wilga Munroe started performing together in a band called The Tjuringas (meaning sacred object) around Newcastle in 1971. Other members were Alan Saunders and Keith Saunders. after this band broke up Harry and Wilga performed as a duo, which Harry was tricked into doing by Wilga Munroe, and then moved to Melbourne and in 1974 formed The Country Outcasts with Ian "Ocker" McKie and Bert Williams ((Harrys' oldest son to wife Ella Cooper Williams)). They toured widely throughout Australia and New Guinea and released two full length albums. Other Country Outcast members included Bill Brunswick, Debbie Williams, Ian(Ocker)McKie Carole Fraser, Ian Johnson, Harry Thorpe, Laurie Ingram, Claude "Candy" Williams, Mac Silva and Auriel Andrew.
Harry and Wilga Williams started a national Aboriginal Country Music Festival in Canberra in 1976 and a radio show, Country Music Shindig, for 3CR.
In 1981 they were recognised in the Country Music Hands of Fame in Tamworth.