View source for Slim Dusty

{{Short description|Australian country music singer-songwriter (1927–2003)}}
{{other people|David Kirkpatrick}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Slim Dusty
| honorific_suffix  = [[Order of Australia|AO]] [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]]
| background        = solo_singer
| image             = Slim Dusty with Golden Guitar.jpeg
| image_size        = 
| caption           = Dusty at the Golden Guitar awards in Tamworth
| birth_name        = David Gordon Kirkpatrick
| birth_date        = {{birth date|1927|6|13|df=y}}
| birth_place       = Nulla Nulla Creek, [[New South Wales]], Australia
| death_date        = {{death date and age|2003|9|19|1927|6|13|df=y}}
| death_place       = [[Sydney]], New South Wales, Australia
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Australian country music|Country]]|[[bush ballad]]|[[Australiana]]}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|guitarist|music producer}}
| instrument        = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar}}
| years_active      = 1945–2003
| label             = {{hlist|[[Regal Zonophone Records|Regal Zonophone]]|[[EMI]]}}
| past_member_of   = {{unbulleted list|Joy McKean|Anne Kirkpatrick|Smoky Dawson|Buddy Williams|The Wiggles|South Kempsey Boys|Shorty Ranger}}
| website           = [http://www.slimdustymusic.com.au/ slimdustymusic.com.au]
| spouse            = [[Joy McKean]]
}}

'''Slim Dusty''', [[Order of Australia|AO]] [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] (born '''David Gordon Kirkpatrick'''; 13 June 1927 – 19 September 2003) was an [[Australian country music]] singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer. He was an [[Culture of Australia|Australian cultural icon]], referred to universally as [[Honorific nicknames in popular music|Australia's King of Country Music]] and one of the country's most awarded stars, with a career spanning nearly seven decades and producing numerous recordings. He was known to record songs in the [[Australian patriotism|legacy of Australia]] genre, particularly of bush life, including works by renowned Australian [[bush poet]]s [[Henry Lawson]] and [[Banjo Paterson]], who represented the lifestyle. The music genre was coined the "bush ballad", a style first made popular by [[Buddy Williams (country musician)|Buddy Williams]]. Dusty was also known for his many trucking songs.

Slim Dusty "released more than a hundred albums, selling more than seven million records and earning over 70 gold and platinum album certifications". He was the first Australian to have a No.&nbsp;1 international hit song, with a version of [[Gordon Parsons (singer-songwriter)|Gordon Parsons]]' "[[A Pub with No Beer]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aso.gov.au/titles/music/a-pub-with-no-beer/notes/|title=Curator's notes A Pub With No Beer (1957) on ASO - Australia's audio and visual heritage online|website=Aso.gov.au|access-date=28 October 2019}}</ref> He received 38 [[Country Music Awards of Australia|Golden Guitars]] and an [[Australian Recording Industry Association]] (ARIA) award. He was inducted into the [[ARIA Hall of Fame]] and [[Australian Roll of Renown]]. At the time of his death, age 76, Dusty had been working on his 106th album for [[EMI Records]]. In 2007, his domestic record sales in Australia surpassed seven million. During his lifetime, Dusty was considered an [[Australian National Living Treasure|Australian National Treasure]]. He performed a cover of [[Banjo Paterson]]'s "[[Waltzing Matilda]]" at the [[2000 Summer Olympics closing ceremony|closing ceremony]] of the [[2000 Summer Olympics|Sydney 2000 Olympic Games]].

==Family and career==
===Childhood and early career===
David Gordon Kirkpatrick was born on 13 June 1927 in Nulla Nulla Creek west of [[Kempsey, New South Wales]], the son of a cattle farmer. His childhood home, "[[Homewood, Bellbrook|Homewood]]", survives and is now heritage-listed. He was known by his middle name, Gordon. He wrote his first song, "The Way the Cowboy Dies", in 1937 and adopted the stage name "Slim Dusty" in 1938 at age 11.<ref>"Senior Australian of the Year", 1999 award by the Australian government. Retrieved 10 March 2008.</ref> His earliest musical influences included American [[Jimmie Rodgers (country singer)|Jimmie Rodgers]], New Zealander [[Tex Morton]], and Australia's [[Buddy Williams (country musician)|Buddy Williams]]. In 1945, Dusty wrote "[[When the Rain Tumbles Down in July]]" and released his first record that year at age 18. In 1946, he signed his first recording contract with Columbia Graphophone for the Regal Zonophone label.<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09/21/1063625259334.html "Slim Dusty: The boy who lived his dream"], ''The Age'' (Australia), 21 September 2003</ref>

===Influential wife, and children===
[[File:Cunnamulla Fella.JPG|thumb|Statue of the "[[Cunnamulla Fella]]" erected as a tribute to songwriter [[Stan Coster]] and Slim Dusty]]
In 1951, Dusty married singer-songwriter [[Joy McKean]] and, with her help, achieved great success around Australia. In 1954, the two launched a full-time business career, including the Slim Dusty Travelling Show. McKean was Dusty's wife and manager for over 50 years. 

McKean's sister Heather, half of the McKean Sisters music duo that preceded Joy's association with Dusty, was married to Australian country singer [[Reg Lindsay]], before separating and later divorcing in the 1980s, whereupon the McKean sisters re-started their music duo.

Together Dusty and Joy McKean had two children, [[Anne Kirkpatrick]] and David Kirkpatrick, who are also accomplished singer-songwriters.<ref name="slimdusty.com.au">{{cite web |url=http://www.slimdusty.com.au/news.html#joytributeconcert |title=News |publisher=Slim Dusty |access-date=10 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430142753/http://www.slimdusty.com.au/news.html#joytributeconcert |archive-date=30 April 2012}}</ref>

===Dusty hits written by Joy McKean===
McKean wrote several of Dusty's most popular songs, including "[[Lights On The Hill]]", "Walk a Country Mile", "Indian Pacific", "Kelly's Offsider", "The Angel of Goulburn Hill" and "[[The Biggest Disappointment]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://store.countrymusic.com.au/store/item.inetstore?id=343 |title=The Country Music Store – Slim Dusty Sings Joy McKean |publisher=Store.countrymusic.com.au |access-date=10 April 2012 |archive-date=30 August 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020830034755/http://store.countrymusic.com.au/store/item.inetstore?id=343 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Other songwriters' contributions===
Although himself an accomplished writer of songs, Dusty had a number of other songwriters, including Mack Cormack, [[Gordon Parsons (singer-songwriter)|Gordon Parsons]], [[Stan Coster]], and Kelly Dixon, who were typically short on formal education but big on personal experience of the [[Australian bush]]. Drawing on his travels and such writers over a span of decades, Dusty chronicled the story of a rapidly changing postwar Australian nation.

===First megahit===
Dusty's 1957 hit "[[A Pub with No Beer]]" was the biggest-selling record by an Australian to that time, the first Australian single to go gold and the first and only 78 rpm record to be awarded a gold disc.<ref name="Guardian-obit">Dave Laing, [https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/sep/20/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries "Slim Dusty: Country singer famous for A Pub With No Beer"], ''The Guardian (UK)'', 20 September 2003</ref> (The "Pub with No Beer" is a real place, in Ingham, North Queensland].)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mynrma.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/mynrma/hs.xsl/north_coast_pub.htm|title=North Coast: The Pub With No Beer|publisher=[[NRMA]]|access-date=13 June 2008}}</ref> In 1959 and 1960, Dutch and German cover versions of the song became number one hits (even evergreens) in Belgium, Austria and Germany, brought by the Flemish country singer-guitarist and amusement park founder [[Bobbejaan Schoepen]].
In 1964 the annual Slim Dusty Australia-round tour, a {{Convert|48280|km|mi|0}} journey that went on for ten months, was started. This regular event was the subject of a feature film, ''[[The Slim Dusty Movie]]'', in 1984.

===Contributions of other songwriters===
Dusty recorded not only songs written by himself and other fellow Australian performers but also classic Australian poems by [[Henry Lawson]] and [[Banjo Paterson]], with new tunes to call attention to the old "bush ballads". An example is "[[The Man from Snowy River (poem)|The Man from Snowy River]]" by Paterson. The 1980 album and songs ''The Man Who Steadies the Lead'' and ''The Pearl of Them All'' were the works of Paterson's rival for the title of Australia's bush balladeer, Scottish-Australian poet [[William Henry Ogilvie|Will H. Ogilvie]] (1869–1963). In 1970, Dusty was made a member of the [[Order of the British Empire]] for services to music.<ref>[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1084733 It's an Honour] – Member of the Order of the British Empire</ref> In 1989 Slim recorded 'Murray Moon' by fellow Aussie [[Reginald Stoneham|Reg Stoneham]] with vocals by his daughter Anne Kirkpatrick.

==Awards and honors==
In 1973, Dusty won Best Single at the inaugural [[Country Music Awards of Australia]] at the [[Tamworth Country Music Festival]] (McKean won Song of the Year as writer of "[[Lights on the Hill (song)|Lights on the Hill]]"). By March 1976, Dusty had achieved 37 gold and two platinum records, more than any other Australian artist.<ref name="aus76">{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1976/Cash-Box-1976-03-13.pdf|title=Slim Dusty Inks Huge EMI Deal |magazine=[[Cash Box magazine|Cash Box]]|via=World Radio History|page=55|date=13 March 1976|access-date=21 November 2021}}</ref>

Dusty and his wife were patrons of the National Truck Drivers' Memorial, located in [[Tarcutta]], New South Wales.

The general manager of the [[Grand Ole Opry]] in [[Nashville, Tennessee]], Bob Whitaker, invited Dusty and his wife to perform in 1997, recognising 50 years of contributing to country music. 

The following January, Dusty was appointed an Officer of the [[Order of Australia]] for his service to the entertainment industry.<ref>[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/870179 It's an Honour] – Officer of the Order of Australia</ref>

Dusty recorded and released his 100th album, ''Looking Forward, Looking Back'', in 2000 and became the first artist in worldwide commercial recording history to do so; second was [[Cliff Richard]]. All 100 albums were recorded with the same record label, EMI, making Dusty the first music artist in the world to record 100 albums with the same label.<ref name="nla.gov.au">{{cite web |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.cs-ma-destra+Media~76AE0801-0FCD-4334-A8D0-86AA829BE178 |title=Music Australia – Slim Dusty |publisher=Nla.gov.au |date=3 April 2007 |access-date=10 April 2012 |archive-date=29 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629165046/http://nla.gov.au/nla.cs-ma-destra+Media~76AE0801-0FCD-4334-A8D0-86AA829BE178 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 

Dusty was appointed to sing "[[Waltzing Matilda]]" at the closing ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics; the whole stadium (officially 114,714 in attendance, the largest in Olympic history) sang along with him.<ref>{{cite web|title=2000 Sydney Closing Ceremony Music List|url=https://olympicceremonies.wordpress.com/2000-sydney-closing-ceremony-music-list/|website=Olympic ceremonies|date=30 August 2008 |access-date=8 June 2015|ref=olym2000}}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/UORKwBTKWqw Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20120430114540/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UORKwBTKWqw Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|title=Slim Dusty performing|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UORKwBTKWqw|website=YouTube| date=17 December 2009 |access-date=8 June 2015|ref=performance2000}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===ARIA Music Awards (ARIA)===
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (commonly known informally as ARIA Music Awards or ARIA Awards) is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).
Slim Dusty has won one award from 10 nominations. 
Additionally, Dusty was awarded two achievement awards and inducted into the Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/award/Best-Country-Album|title=ARIA Awards Best Country Album|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA)|access-date=29 March 2020}}</ref>

{{awards table}} 
|-
| [[ARIA Music Awards of 1987|1987]] || ''Stories I Wanted to Tell'' || [[ARIA Award for Best Country Album|Best Country Album]] || {{nom}} 
|-
| [[ARIA Music Awards of 1988|1988]] || himself || [[ARIA Hall of Fame]] || {{yes2|inductee}} 
|-
| [[ARIA Music Awards of 1989|1989]] || ''G'day, G'day!'' || Best Country Album || {{nom}} 
|-
| [[ARIA Music Awards of 1990|1990]] || ''Two Singers, One Song'' <small>(with Anne Kirkpatrick)</small> || Best Country Album || {{nom}} 
|-
| [[ARIA Music Awards of 1991|1991]] || ''Coming Home'' || Best Country Album || {{nom}} 
|-
| [[ARIA Music Awards of 1993|1993]] || "Lights on the Hill" <small>(with Keith Urban)</small> || Best Country Album || {{nom}} 
|-
| [[ARIA Music Awards of 1994|1994]] || ''Ringer from the Top End'' || Best Country Album || {{nom}} 
|-
| [[ARIA Music Awards of 1995|1995]] || ''Natural High'' || Best Country Album || {{nom}} 
|-
| [[ARIA Music Awards of 1996|1996]] || himself || [[ARIA Achievement Awards#Special Achievement|Special Achievement]] || {{yes2|inductee}} 
|-
| [[ARIA Music Awards of 2000|2000]] || himself || [[ARIA Achievement Awards#Outstanding Achievement|Outstanding Achievement]] || {{yes2|inductee}} 
|-
| [[ARIA Music Awards of 2001|2001]] || ''[[Looking Forward Looking Back]]'' || Best Country Album || {{won}} 
|-
| [[ARIA Music Awards of 2001|2001]] || ''Looking Forward Looking Back'' || Highest Selling Album || {{nom}} 
|-
| [[ARIA Music Awards of 2004|2004]] || ''[[Columbia Lane - the Last Sessions]]'' || Best Country Album || {{nom}} 
|-
{{end}}

===Country Music Awards (CMAA)===
The Country Music Awards (CMAA) are an annual awards ceremondy celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. It first commenced in 1973 at the [[Tamworth, New South Wales|Tamworth]] [[Country Music Awards of Australia]].

According the Country Music Association of Australia, Slim Dusty won 44 [[Golden Guitar|Golden guitar]] plus, an induction into the [[Australian Roll of Renown]]. (listed below). This is more than any other artist.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.country.com.au/awards/golden-guitar-award-winners|title=CMAA Award Winners|date=October 2019|access-date=29 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://country.com.au/golden-guitars/award-winners/1970s |website=CMAA|title=Award Winners 1970s |access-date=29 March 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://country.com.au/golden-guitars/award-winners/1980s |website=CMAA|title=Award Winners 1980s |access-date=29 March 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://country.com.au/golden-guitars/award-winners/1990s |website=CMAA|title=Award Winners 1990s |access-date=29 March 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://country.com.au/golden-guitars/award-winners/2000s |website=CMAA|title=Award Winners 2000s |access-date=29 March 2020 }}</ref>

According to Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 2022, [[Troy Cassar-Daley]] won his 40th, surpassing Slim Dusty's record of 38 awards.<ref name="CMAA2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-20/golden-guitar-winners-2022-country-music-tamworth/101002818|title=2022 Golden Guitar Awards see Cassar-Daley take out Slim Dusty record, Shane Nicholson and Ashleigh Dallas collect top gongs|website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=20 April 2022|access-date=21 April 2022|author= Maguire, Kemii}}</ref>

{{awards table}} <small>(wins only)</small>
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1973 || ''Me & My Guitar'' || Album of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| "Lights on the Hill" || Song of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| "Lights on the Hill" || Best EP or Single || {{won}}
|-
| 1974 || ''Live At Tamworth'' || Album of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1975 || ''[[Australiana (album)|Australiana]]'' || Album of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| "Biggest Disappointment" || Song of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| "Biggest Disappointment" || Male Vocalist of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1976 || ''[[Lights on the Hill (album)|Lights on the Hill]]'' || Album of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| "Worst in the World" || Top selling song of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1977 || ''Angel of Goulburn Hill'' || Album of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| "Three Rivers Hotel" || Song of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| "Things I See Around Me" || Top selling song of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| "Angel Of Goulburn Hill" || Male Vocalist of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1978 || "Indian Pacific" || Song of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| "Indian Pacific" || Top selling song of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1979 || "Beat of the Government Stroke" || Song of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| "Marty" || Male Vocalist of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| himself || [[Australian Roll of Renown]] || {{yes2|inductee}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1980 || ''Walk a Country Mile'' || Album of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| ''Walk a Country Mile'' || Top Selling || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1981 || ''The Man Who Steadies the Lead'' || Album of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| ''The Man Who Steadies the Lead'' || Top Selling || {{won}}
|-
| 1982 || "Where Country Is" || Heritage Award || {{won}}
|-
| 1983 || "Banjo's Man" || Heritage Award || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1984 || ''On the Wallaby'' || Album of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| ''Australia's On the Wallaby'' || Heritage Award || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1985 || ''Trucks On The Track'' || Album of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| ''Trucks On The Track'' || Top Selling || {{won}}
|-
| 1987 || "He's a Good Bloke When He's Sober" || Song of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| 1988 || ''Neon City'' || Album of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1989 || "We've Done Us Proud" || Song of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| "We've Done Us Proud" || Heritage Award || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1991 || "Two Singers, One Song" <small>(with Anne Kirkpatrick)</small> || Top Selling || {{won}}
|-
| ''Coming Home'' || Album of the Year|| {{won}}
|-
| 1992 || "Things Are Not the Same On the Land" || Song of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| 1994 || "Leave Him In the Longyard" <small>(with Lee Kernaghan)</small> || Vocal Group or Duo of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1997 || "Old Time Country Halls" || Heritage Song of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| "Must've Been a Hell of a Party" || Bush Ballad of the Year|| {{won}}
|-
| 1998 || "Lady Is a Truckie" || Bush Ballad of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2001|| ''[[Looking Forward Looking Back]]'' || Top Selling Album of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| "Looking Forward Looking Back" || Video Clip of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| "Paddy William" || Bush Ballad of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| 2002 || "West of Winton" || Bush Ballad of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| 2003|| "Just an Old Cattle Dog" || Bush Ballad of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| 2005|| "Get Along" || Video Clip of the Year || {{won}}
|-
{{end}}

===King of Pop Awards===
[[Australian pop music awards#1967–1978: King of Pop Awards|The King of Pop Awards]] were voted by the readers of ''[[TV Week]]''. The King of Pop award started in 1967 and ran until 1978.<ref name="Top40TV">{{Cite web | url = http://users.ncable.net.au/~ronjeff/top40/oz_king.htm | title = Australian Music Awards | publisher = Ron Jeff | access-date = 16 December 2010 | archive-date = 30 June 2012 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120630220831/http://users.ncable.net.au/~ronjeff/top40/oz_king.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref>

{{awards table}}
|-
| 1977
| himself
| Most Popular Australian Country Musician
| {{won}}
|-
| 1978
| himself
| Most Popular Australian Country Musician
| {{won}}
|-
{{end}}

* Note: the Most Popular Australian Country Musician award was only presented in 1977 and 1978.

===Mo Awards===
The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the [[Mo Awards]]), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Slim Dusty won two awards in that time. From 2006, the "best country entertainer" award was named in his honour.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.moawards.com.au/awardwinners|title=MO Award Winners|website=Mo Awards|access-date=16 March 2022}}</ref>
{{awards table}} (wins only)
|-
| 1985
| Slim Dusty
| Male Country Entertainer of the Year
| {{won}}
|-
| 2015
| Slim Dusty
| Special Lifetime Achievement Award
| {{won}}
|-
{{end}}

===Tamworth Songwriters Awards===
The Tamworth Songwriters Association (TSA) is an annual songwriting contest for original country songs, awarded in January at the [[Tamworth Country Music Festival]]. They commenced in 1986.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tsaonline.com.au/song-competition/|title=Tamworth Songwriters Association|website=Tamworth Songwriters Association Online|access-date=23 March 2022}}</ref> Slim Dusty won two awards in that time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tsaonline.com.au/past-winners/|title=Tamworth Songwriters Association Past Winners|website=Tamworth Songwriters Association Online|access-date=23 March 2022}}</ref>
{{awards table}} (wins only)
|-
| 1993
| "Bucking Horse Called Time" by Slim Dusty and Keith Garvey
| Traditional Bush Ballad of the Year
| {{won}}
|-
| 1996
| "Fifteen Hundred Head" by Slim Dusty and K&M Dixon
| Traditional Bush Ballad of the Year
| {{won}}
|-
{{end}}

==Country gospel music interest==
[[Slim Dusty discography|Dusty's repertoire]] included [[country gospel]] music, with which he liked to finish his shows.<ref>Per narration by Slim Dusty, ''Slim Dusty Live at Wagga Wagga''; Track 12, 1972</ref> His live albums usually carried the theme, and in 1971 he released the Gospel album ''Glory Bound Train'' featuring the eponymous hit ''Glory Bound Train'' and other songs of a Christian theme. ''Glory Bound Train'' was in turn the song selected to conclude the tribute concert held at Tamworth after his death. The "Concert for Slim" was recorded live on 20 January 2004, at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre, and an all-star cast of Australian musicians sang out the show with Slim's ''Glory Bound Train''. The DVD was certified 3× Platinum in Australia.<ref name=ARIACert05>{{cite certification|region=Australia|artist=Various Artists|type=video|certyear=2005|access-date=17 December 2021}}</ref>

==Death==
He died at his home in [[St Ives, New South Wales]], on 19 September 2003 at the age of 76 after a protracted battle with [[Colorectal cancer]].<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/19/1063625203882.html "Slim Dusty dies"], ''Sydney Morning Herald'', 19 September 2003</ref>

Eminent figures, including the [[Prime Minister of Australia]], [[John Howard]], and the federal opposition leader, [[Simon Crean]], attended a [[state funeral]] at [[St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney]], on 26 September 2003, where thousands had gathered. In the funeral, the Anglican Dean of Sydney, [[Phillip Jensen]] paid tribute by leading the congregation of family, statesmen, fans and musicians in the singing of "A Pub With No Beer". Several tributes were featured from Dusty's children as well as words from other national musicians ([[Peter Garrett]] and [[John Williamson (singer)|John Williamson]]) and music from [[Graeme Connors]], [[Kasey Chambers]] and [[Troy Cassar-Daley]]. Around Australia, thousands of fans gathered to stand outside the cathedral; Dusty was later cremated.

Dusty had been working on his 106th album for EMI at the time of his death. On 8 March 2004 the album, ''[[Columbia Lane – the Last Sessions]]'', debuted at number five on the Australian album charts and number one on the country charts. Gold status was achieved after being on sale for less than two weeks.

''Columbia Lane'' is a tribute to the laneway juxtaposed to [[Parramatta Road]] in [[Strathfield]] (near the railway bridge link), where the EMI studios once stood (now a [[Kennards Self Storage]] store), and where he began his music career.

In 2004, Tamworth hosted the "Concert for Slim" as a memorial tribute featuring more than 30 Australian musical artists including [[Joy McKean]], [[Paul Kelly (Australian musician)|Paul Kelly]], [[Keith Urban]], [[Lee Kernaghan]] and [[Kasey Chambers]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chaos.com/product/concert-for-slim-slim-dusty/571478-192588.html |title=Concert for Slim (Slim Dusty): DVDs |publisher=Chaos.com |access-date=10 April 2012 |archive-date=4 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304023057/http://chaos.com/product/concert-for-slim-slim-dusty/571478-192588.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2005, in tribute to the iconic song "[[Cunnamulla Fella]]" performed by Dusty with lyrics by [[Stan Coster]], an eponymous statue was unveiled in the Queensland town of [[Cunnamulla]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/things-to-see-and-do/cunnamulla-fella/index.cfm |title=Cunnamulla Fella – Things To See and Do |publisher=Queensland Holidays |date=18 November 2005 |access-date=10 April 2012}}</ref>

[[EMI Records]]' Australian sales of Dusty's records surpassed seven million in 2007.<ref name="sdc">{{cite web |url=http://www.slimdusty.com.au/milestones.html |title=Milestones |publisher=Slim Dusty |access-date=10 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920214044/http://www.slimdusty.com.au/milestones.html |archive-date=20 September 2011}}</ref>

==Milestones==
Slim Dusty was Australia's most successful and prolific musical artist, with more [[Gold album|Gold]] and [[Platinum albums]] than any other Australian artist.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/music/country/ |title=Australian country music – australia.gov.au |publisher=Cultureandrecreation.gov.au |date=31 October 2007 |access-date=10 April 2012 |archive-date=17 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217020802/http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/music/country/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was also:<ref name="nla.gov.au"/>

* The first Australian to receive a [[Gold Record]]. 
* Made a [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] and an [[Officer of the Order of Australia]] for services to entertainment.
* On 14 April 1981, on [[Space Shuttle Columbia|Space Shuttle ''Columbia'']]'s [[STS-1|first mission]], Dusty's rendition of "[[Waltzing Matilda]]" was broadcast to Earth.<ref>[https://www.honeysucklecreek.net/other_stations/orroral/Orroral_STS-1_audio.html STS-1 audio (Orbit 16)]. 14 April 1981. Recorded at [[Orroral Valley Tracking Station]]. Retrieved 30 January 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/04/14/Country-singer-Slim-Dusty-whose-recording-of-the-song/1845356072400/ Country singer Slim Dusty, whose recording of the song...]. 14 April 1981. From [[United Press International|UPI]] archives. Retrieved 30 January 2019.</ref>
* The Royal Australian Mint issued a coin celebrating his life.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.allnumis.com/royal-australian-mint-celebrates-the-life-of-slim-dusty-with-a-1-dollar-coin.html |title=Royal Australian Mint celebrates the life of Slim Dusty with a 1 Dollar coin |publisher=News Allnumis |date=13 June 2013 |access-date=13 June 2013}}</ref>
* Dusty's image was featured on an [[Australia Post]] postage stamp.
* In December 2020, Slim Dusty was listed at number 40 in ''Rolling Stone Australia''{{'}}s "50 Greatest Australian Artists of All Time" issue.<ref>[https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/50-greatest-australian-artists-of-all-time-king-gizzard-the-lizard-wizard-22575/ 50 Greatest Australian Artists of All Time – No. 40: Slim Dusty]. Troy Cassar-Daley, ''Rolling Stone Australia'', 4 February 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.</ref>

==Legacy==
* Dusty's life was the subject of a 1984 feature film: ''[[The Slim Dusty Movie]]''.
* "Pub With No Beer" was added to the [[National Film and Sound Archive]]'s [[Sounds of Australia]] registry in 2008.
* The 2010 book ''[[100 Best Australian Albums]]'' by Toby Creswell, Craig Mathieson and John O'Donnell ranked ''[[The Very Best of Slim Dusty]]'' as the 24th best Australian album of the previous 50 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/musicnews/s3050375.htm |title=The 100 Best Australian Albums &#124; music news &#124; triple j |publisher=Abc.net.au |date=28 October 2010 |access-date=10 April 2012}}</ref>
* The Slim Dusty Centre was built in Kempsey, NSW, Dusty's home town, and opened in October 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slimdustycentre.com.au/default.htm |title=The Slim Dusty Centre Project. Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia. Slim Dusty Paver Program. Slim Dusty Tyrrells Wines. Slim Dusty Music Memories Week |publisher=Slimdustycentre.com.au |date=30 October 2011 |access-date=10 April 2012}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{main|Slim Dusty discography}}
[[EMI Records]]' Australian sales of Slim Dusty records surpassed 7 million in 2007.<ref name="sdc"/>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.slimdusty.com.au/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127061237/http://www.slimdusty.com.au/ |date=27 January 2008 }} (includes a more thorough discography)
* {{discogs artist|Slim Dusty}}
*[http://colsearch.nfsa.afc.gov.au/nfsa/search/display/display.w3p;adv=yes;group=;groupequals=;holdingType=;page=0;parentid=;query=Number%3A357298;querytype=;rec=0;resCount=10 Slim Dusty at the National Film and Sound Archive] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018065202/http://colsearch.nfsa.afc.gov.au/nfsa/search/display/display.w3p;adv=yes;group=;groupequals=;holdingType=;page=0;parentid=;query=Number%3A357298;querytype=;rec=0;resCount=10 |date=18 October 2015 }}
*[http://www.slimdustycentre.com.au/ Slim Dusty Centre Project]
* Listen to a clip from [http://aso.gov.au/titles/music/a-pub-with-no-beer/ "Pub With No Beer"] and read more about it on australianscreen online.
* {{IMDb name|0244730}}

{{Slim Dusty}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dusty, Slim}}
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:2003 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian guitarists]]
[[Category:Australian acoustic guitarists]]
[[Category:APRA Award winners]]
[[Category:ARIA Award winners]]
[[Category:ARIA Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Australian country guitarists]]
[[Category:Australian country singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Australian Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Australian people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in New South Wales]]
[[Category:Deaths from kidney cancer in Australia]]
[[Category:Deaths from lung cancer in Australia]]
[[Category:Australian male guitarists]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:People from the Mid North Coast]]
[[Category:Singers from New South Wales]]
[[Category:Australian yodelers]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian male singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian male singers]]
[[Category:Australian male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Australian Christians]]
[[Category:Burials at Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Regal Zonophone Records artists]]