‘Unapologetic & unstoppable’: Live music awards dub Deborah Conway 2019 Live Legend
Deborah Conway is being honoured by the National Live Music Awards as its 2019 Live Legend.
The accolade marks her 40th anniversary since she entered the industry as a singer with The Benders, while still at university in Melbourne.
She met drummer and composer Dorland Bray, and they formed Do Re Mi, moving to Sydney, where their output included the crossover hit ‘Man Overboard’ – the only Australian hit to get radio airplay, despite lines like “Your pubic hairs are on my pillow” and “every time she comes inside you”.
Aside from a long run of solo albums with long-time collaborator Willy Zygier (the last one The Words of Men from this year), she involved herself in diverse projects.
These included acts like Drawcards, Rose Amongst Thorns and Ultrasound, the Broad Festival which was a touring showcase of female musicians and stage productions as Dreaming Transportation: Voice Portraits of the First Women of White Settlement at Port Jackson and Always…Patsy Cline.
She also served as director of the Queensland Music Festival.
“To be able to celebrate one of Australia’s best musicians is a true honour; Conway is everything that’s great about Australian music,” says NLMA director Larry Heath. “Unapologetic, uncompromising and unstoppable.
“As someone who has given so much to this industry, we’re thrilled to pronounce her as a Live Legend – if there was even a doubt that she already was.”
Conway and Zygier are one of the acts performing around the country on December 4.
They will be at the gala at the Triffid in Brisbane, alongside Jack Carty, Little Georgia and The Blockades.
The Sydney event at the Newsagency (TMN is the media partner for NSW), hosted by Georgia Mooney of All Our Exes Live in Texas, with sets from Alice Terry, and Sam Buckingham already announced.
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