Edit history

Roger Knox is a respected First Nations musician and trailblazer whose legacy embodies hope, healing, and reconciliation. He is a proud descendant of the Gomeroi Nation, born in Moree and raised on Toomelah Aboriginal Mission Station near Boggabilla in north-western NSW. Roger is well loved in Aboriginal communities across Australia where he is widely known as the ‘Blak Elvis’ and the ‘Koori King of Country’, thanks to his deeply soulful, honey-soaked baritone voice. A multi award winning artist, Roger’s contributions to the music industry have been recognized over three decades. He was named NAIDOC National Artist of the Year (1993) and received the prestigious Jimmy Little Award for Lifetime Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music (2006). His accomplishments also include his induction into the Australian Country Music Foundation’s Hands of Fame Park (2004), the National Indigenous Music Awards Hall of Fame (2018), and the Tamworth Country Music Galaxy of Stars (2022). Roger’s musical journey spans nearly half a century, as a child singing Gospel with his mother in the church choir, hitting the road solo as a young man in his 20s, and touring in his late 30s - 40s with his family band, ‘Euraba’ - named after the healing plant ‘Eurah’. At 65 he began to co- write his own stories and songs. This album is the outcome of this more recent adventure. “Us blackfullas weren’t offered an education. We had to leave school and go to work at 15. I learnt to read and write ok, but never really felt I knew enough to put pen to paper. All our stories and songs were passed on orally. This album has taken a while, but it’s been a great process writing and recording these songs. I’m really excited to hear them and for them to be released out into the world”. Through his songs, Roger shares powerful messages of survival, resilience, love, hope, and healing. His lyrics speak not only to the struggles of the past but to the enduring strength of Aboriginal communities, and he is equally committed to putting those messages into practice. “Music has been a healing journey for me... it is a part of healing. Healing comes from song, dance, storytelling and silence, it needs to be done in unity and harmony to create better healing. Everyone needs to do it. There needs to be more healing and peace in our community. Re-visioning and reclaiming our culture is important to us as human beings. Self-knowledge is important for us to heal: self-esteem, self-respect, self-confidence and self-love.” In the early 1980’s he toured twice with the Bryan Young Roadshow. The show toured remote outback towns and missions across South Australia and the Northern Territory. Picked up by Bryan Young in a talent quest - as promising talent - Roger joined the show as a bass player. With his good looks and ‘Blak Elvis’ style he was in demand, yet his rise to stardom was cut short by not one but two plane crashes in the desert. In the second plane crash over Oodnadatta desert, he barely survived with his life. His last memory was running from the plane on fire. Roger credits his Aunt Hannah for healing him with bush medicine and most notably the ‘Eurah’ plant whilst on Country at Toomelah. Although unable to play bass, Roger slowly healed his body and soul, quietly gathering strength and his confidence for a return to stage. A life-long and vocal advocate for incarcerated Aboriginal people he has made a practice of regularly touring prisons both within his home states of New South Wales and Queensland and internationally, performing a repertoire of songs that speak to the experiences and struggles of First Nations prisoners. “The high numbers of our brothers and sisters in custody is a constant worry – how do we change that? I dunno why this is still happening”. With the likes of Chicka Dixon, Bobby McCleod and Vic Simms, Roger was a part of a movement which gained impetus during the 1988 Bicentennial year, taking culture to inmates, relaying family messages and holding talent quests to uplift those on the inside. Roger also joined the Friends of Myall Creek Memorial Committee in 2002 and was recently voted a Life Member. He plays an integral role in its annual events. The Memorial, which serves as a nationally significant and powerful symbol of reconciliation, brings together families from both sides of the Frontier Wars each June long weekend to strengthen their shared commitment to moving forward in unity. For Roger it provides an opportunity to break down stereotypes, born of misunderstanding and fear of the unknown. He openly invites all to NAIDOC events, community events and of course Myal Creek Memorial, encouraging people to: “Come together to develop some understanding of one another; to try to overcome these fears... Peace comes from dialogue, creating understanding. Communication and understanding, these will allow us to move forward together. Uncle Lyall Senior used to say that getting to know each other is the best way: “...there is no them and us – them is us”.” Roger has also acted as a patron of the Tamworth Country Music Festival’s Aboriginal Cultural Showcase since its inception in 2007. The Showcase plays an instrumental role in providing a platform to expose the talent of young Aboriginal musicians and was born out of a personal experience in which Roger, a well-established musician, was denied performance opportunities in Tamworth because he “attracted the wrong crowd”. Over 18 years, the Showcase has gone from strength to strength, serving as a vital stepping stone for many emerging Aboriginal artists who have gone on to have successful careers of their own. Over the years, Roger has broken new ground to carve space for himself within the music industry, and work against challenges that have mirrored the political awakening and Aboriginal rights movements in Australia. His efforts have paved the way for generations of young Aboriginal musicians who have come behind him. A beloved singer, songwriter, and storyteller, Roger Knox continues to inspire positive change through his unwavering commitment to reconciliation and healing. Through his music and advocacy, he fosters understanding and unity, using his platform to bridge divides and amplifies the voices of Aboriginal people. His work is a testament to the power of cultural expression as a tool for healing, and his dedication to fostering reconciliation and building stronger, more harmonious relationships across Australia. This album speaks to the social justice pursuits and community advocacy that Roger Knox has lent his name and following to, whilst passionately exploring his own destiny - that of a revered and much-loved Aboriginal music legend. DISCOGRAPHY Black Tear Tracks (Single – 17 January 2025) Stranger in My Land (Album - 2012) Cultural Swing (Compilation – 2011) Goin' On, Still Strong (Album - 2003) Yugal – Gamilaraay & Yuwaalaraay Songs (Compilation – 2002) Warrior in Chains: The Best of Roger Knox (Album - 1993) Carnivale Live (Compilation – 1991) Koala Bear (Single – 1988) Goulburn Jail (Single – 1988) The Gospel Album (Album - 1986) Koori Classics Volume 1-8 (Compilations 1986-1990) Give It a Go (Album - 1983)