The Australian music industry is in mourning following the loss of iconic country rock band The Dingoes’ frontman, Broderick Smith. At the age of 75.
Smith passed away in his home on Sunday, as confirmed by his son Ambrose Kenny-Smith, who is also a musician.
Although The Dingoes never released any singles in the UK, they were immensely popular in their home country. Their single “Way Out West” peaked at number 40 on the Australian charts in 1973, and the band released three consecutive top 40 albums on international record labels.
Prior to joining The Dingoes, Smith was a member of Carson, a band whose song “Boogie” and album “Blown” both charted in the top 30 in 1972.
Smith, who was born in England in 1948, migrated to Australia in 1959 as part of an assisted migration program. He started his music career in 1966, playing harmonica with the Adderley Blues Band.
Throughout the 1990s, he recorded with prominent names such as Cat Stevens, Jimmy Barnes, and The Memphis Horns. Since news of Smith’s passing, fans and fellow musicians have been paying tribute to the legendary frontman. Barnes, a renowned Australian musician, fondly remembered Smith as his hero during his early days as a singer.
Kenny-Smith, who followed in his father’s footsteps to become a successful musician, expressed his love and admiration for his father in a heartfelt statement. Kenny-Smith’s band, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, has also made waves in the Australian music scene, with 13 of their 23 studio albums landing in the Australian top 10.
They collaborated with Smith on their 2013 album “Eyes Like the Sky,” where he wrote all the lyrics and narrated certain sections of the record. Despite his passing, Broderick Smith’s legacy and contribution to the Australian music industry will continue to inspire future generations of musicians.
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