Stars in Golden Guitar bunfight quit
 |
|
A happier Troy Cassar-Daley, Adam Harvey and Lee Kernaghan celebrated their nominations for the 2014 Golden Guitars last month. Picture: Cameron Richardson
Source: News Limited
TROY Cassar-Daley and Adam Harvey have quit this year’s Golden Guitar Awards after country music stalwart John Williamson hit out at their duets album for being too American.
The much-loved duo were to contest six awards with their Great Country Songbook record, one of the biggest country albums of the year which is closing in on platinum sales.
Williamson criticised their eligibility for the Album Of The Year because it included covers of American songs.
This was despite the first single being the revered Lights On The Hill, which was written by Australian country music godmother Joy McKean and originally recorded by her late husband Slim Dusty.
Williamson quit as president of the Country Music Association of Australia earlier this week and also launched a broadside at Keith Urban’s inclusion in next year’s Golden Guitars finalists.
“It’s as though the Golden Guitar Awards are the American Country Music Awards of Australia. It seems the industry is hell-bent on producing more Keith Urbans,” he wrote in his resignation letter.
“If we are not respected as a legitimate organisation to promote original Australian country music, I cannot be associated with it any longer.”
The awards bunfight highlights a growing divide within the Australian country music community about its identity.
Those in the Williamson camp want a return “what Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson started” as the True Blue star said in his statement.
Singer John Williamson…has criticised Troy Cassar-Daley and Adam Harvey’s duets album.
Source: News Limited
But the phenomenal success of Urban in America after many years of hard slog has inspired many young artists including The McClymonts, O’Shea and Catherine Britt to try their luck at the world’s biggest country music market.
Harvey and Cassar-Daley said they had decided to withdraw in an attempt to restore harmony within the fractured Australian country music community.
They have also declined to perform but will attend the ceremony in Tamworth in January to support their fellow nominees.
Hard at work … Country artist Troy Cassar-Daley at the 37th Country Music awards of Australia this year.
Source: News Limited
Their Great Country Songbook album paid tribute to the songs the pair grew up on including Coward Of The County and Rhinestone Cowboy.
“It would have been awkward. I don’t want the Golden Guitars to be about who didn’t deserve to win or who shouldn’t be there,” Harvey said.
“Troy and I are rapt with how well the album has gone and getting out there to celebrate these songs on tour.
“I don’t want it to look like I’ve grabbed my bat and ball and gone home so we will go and wish good luck to Sara Storer and Lee Kernaghan and all the other nominees.”
Gone from the Golden Guitars … Australian country musician Adam Harvey.
Source: Supplied
But Harvey admitted he had been hurt and saddened by Williamson’s comments particularly when the pair had been nominated for a Golden Guitar three years ago for their duet of the Roger Miller classic King Of The Road.
“To be honest, I have been hurt by some of the comments, not only from Willo, but from others I thought were really good friends as more people weighed in on this debate,” Harvey said.
“Our intentions in making this record were good and still are.
“John Williamson did ring me himself, so I’ll give him that, and said he hoped he hadn’t lost a friend over this but I had to tell him I was pretty disappointed.
“It was his idea for us to do King Of The Road and he was happy for that to be nominated.
“He told me he now regrets that.
“But I think there is so much more he could do as president and if he wants to change things, he would be better off staying.”
Harvey said the success of Urban, Kasey Chambers and other Australian country music artists in America should serve as an inspiration to young artists as much as the works of our bush poets.
“Keith Urban is proudly Australian and should be celebrated. Australia has a fantastic country music industry and I think there’s plenty of room for all of us, the bush balladeers, the John Williamsons, Keith Urbans, Troy and Kasey,” he said.
The popular singer and performer said he hoped now the awards could get back in track after Christmas.
“I know what I won’t be getting off Santa. No Golden Guitars this year,” he joked.
###
