The loss of Broderick Smith, the legendary frontman of country rock band The Dingoes, has left the Australian music industry in mourning. At 75 years old, Smith passed away in his home on Sunday, as announced by his son Ambrose Kenny-Smith, who is also a musician.
Although The Dingoes never released any singles in the UK, they were widely 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. Before joining The Dingoes, Smith was a member of Carson, a band whose song “Boogie” and album “Blown” both peaked in the top 30 in 1972.
Born in England in 1948, Smith migrated to Australia in 1959 as part of an assisted migration program. He began his music career in 1966, playing harmonica with the Adderley Blues Band. Throughout the 1990s, he recorded with big names such as Cat Stevens, Jimmy Barnes, and The Memphis Horns.
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Fans and fellow musicians have been paying tribute to Broderick Smith since news of his passing broke. Barnes, a celebrated Australian musician, fondly recalled 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 touching statement.
Like his father’s band, Kenny-Smith’s band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard has made a splash in the Australian music scene, with 13 of their 23 studio albums landing in the Australian top 10. They worked 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.
