RUSSELL SMITH
I was honoured to be inducted into the South Australian Music Hall of Fame in November 2023. This included three iconic First Nations Artists – the late Uncle Archie Roach AC, the late Ruby Hunter, and No Fixed Address.  I am now the fourth, which is an enormous privilege for me as a First Nations Artists.

My induction to the Hall of Fame Port Augusta event was included in the Umeewarra Downtown Festival on Saturday 11 November 2023. Umeewarra Downtown is a unique festival with multiple benefits to community - through artist development, attracting tourism and celebrating First Nations artists, community and achievements.

The reason Port Augusta is important to me is I grew up on Umeewarra Aboriginal Mission, as did my mother, Winnie Bamara. My mother’s creativity was passed on to me in a different medium – my mother Winnie Bamara was a well-known painter.

I aim to connect people with my music, and as the late Uncle Archie Roach AC stated, “As a Pitjantjatjara/ Kokatha singer/ songwriter, Russell Smith has important stories to tell for all Australians to hear.”