PETER COAD
OAM
Biography
PETER
COAD OAM
1948: Born in Hawker, SA.
Raised in a musical family, Peter’s parents played old time
dance music and all of his six siblings are successful entertainers.
Growing up in an isolated area of South Australia gave Peter the inspiration
to write about Australia and its characters. In the early days he
was inspired by Tex Morton, Buddy Williams, Slim Dusty, and other
hillbilly artists.
The majority of his recorded work are all his own compositions.
His early education was via correspondence with School of the Air,
where the pupils talked to a teacher based in Port Augusta via two-way
radio. Peter was one of the first pupils to use the network in 1958.
Peter got his first guitar in 1955 for 5 pounds and ten shillings
from LS Wise Music Shop in Adelaide. Peter played in his parents Old
Style Dance band in between other musical events.
1961:
First professional performance was on the Bob Fricker Show at the
Hawker Town Hall with Johnny Mac & The Showband, and the following
day on the same show held as a matinee in the Pt Augusta Town Hall.
1963: Performed on the Saturday Night Show on radio
5AU Port Augusta and went on to play for various events around South
Australia.
1977-1979: As the Coad Bros (with Phil and Trevor)
released their debut album, In Ford Country, with their Ford Anniversary
Song being used in a documentary by the Leyland brothers. Popular
songs included ‘The Trucking Duck’, ‘Poor Sort Of
Man Who Won’t Help His Neighbour’.
1980-83: Tamworth Country Music Festival. The Coad
Brothers (Phil, Trevor and Peter), along with their brother Big Mal
Coad played the first electrified music in the streets at night during
the Tamworth Festival and were employed by French’s Café,
Peel Street, Tamworth. Police had to close Peel Street to traffic
due to the large crowd gathered in front of French’s Café.
When the owners changed at French's Cafe, the new owners said they
would not pay for music as they could now get artists who would play
for free outside their shop, so Coad Bros began their own successful
door shows at various venues during the Tamworth Festival for many
years. Phil Coad left Coad Bros to pursue his own musical career with
his wife Christine.
1984: Peter and Trevor Coad released the album Coad
Bros Country, recorded at Hadley Studio, Tamworth, with Lindsay Butler
as engineer. This was quite successful with original songs such as
‘The Pichi Richi Train’, ‘Lonely House’, ‘Kid
On The Kangaroo’, ‘Santa’s Outback Run’ and
‘Grannies Fiddle’. The same year Coad Brothers Mal, Trevor,
and Peter Coad performed on main stage at the Webb Bros Gympie Muster
at their Thornside property with the Coad Bros band Lin Day, Gwen
Kimber, and Nick Cleary.
1986: The Coad Bros (Peter and Trevor) entered Hadley
Studio once again to record another album – Halley’s Comet
Country Style, in conjunction with the Coonabarabran Observatory Tourist
Association, as it coincided with the comet’s return. The Coad
Bros toured extensively around Australia each year along with their
band. Trevor then decided on a solo career and Peter did likewise.
1987: Peter Coad released his first solo album, Peter
Coad, Vol. 1, recorded with Roy Cooper in Sydney. Popular originals
were: ‘She Wrote The Rusty Bell’, and ‘Old Ulebar’.
1988: Peter Coad released a cassette of all-time
favourites, Peter Coad – Requested, recorded at Chris McCusker’s
Studio in Bathurst, and performed at the Brisbane World Expo '88,
and many major agricultural events throughout Queensland.
1990: Peter began working with his sisters Virginia
and Lynette as Peter Coad and the Coad Sisters, but all still recorded
individually as well as recording as a trio.
Together they performed around Australia, covering 80,000km on the
road each year with venues ranging from the Birdsville Races, Sydney
Opera House, Adelaide and Melbourne Royal Shows, Country Music Festivals
(Tamworth, Bungendore, Yeppoon, Nanango, Boyup Brook, Bunbury, Kempsey,
Ulmarra Festivals, to mention a few) Clubs, Rodeos, and Ag. Shows
and touring the isolated outback Australian regions and furthest communities.
Peter Coad & The Coad Sisters are one of the very few fulltime
Australian traditional country bands that ran their own TV advertisement
around Australia for their tours.
1991: Peter released a four-track EP of his own songs,
Barcaldine Shearing, recorded at Ross McGregor’s Axent Studios
in Kogarah. This song was used as part of the Barcaldine Centenary
celebration and Peter appeared on the 'Midday' TV Show speaking about
his song and the event.
1993: Peter Coad released Rainbow Road, also recorded
with Ross at Axent Studios. This album spawned ‘’Riding
Out The Storm’ and ‘If Only I Was Young’, which
was a finalist in various awards. Both songs have since been recorded
by many other artists.
Approx. 1993: Peter Coad was awarded the Norm Scott Award by Anthony
Dolden at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. The trophy awards included
a huge card signed by many fellow artists.
93-96: Peter Coad & The Coad Sisters toured several
times with international floorshow act – The Vandeleur Family
– Whips of Australia with TV-promoted tours of WA, QLD and SA.
This was between their own personal tours. Peter Coad & The Coad
Sisters appeared on ‘It’s Country Today’ in Sydney.
They also toured occasionally with their brother Big Mal Coad throughout
NSW and Victoria with TV Promoted concerts as well.
1997: Peter Coad released an album of bush verse
titled Bush Verse, recorded at Day One Studios, produced & recorded
by the Coad Sisters.
1998: The album Bush Verse was a finalist in the
Australian Bush Laureate awards. Peter Coad & The Coad Sisters
performed at the Melbourne Royal Ag. Show.
1999: Peter Coad released the album Face of Australia,
recorded at Day One Studios, produced & recorded by the Coad Sisters,
which attracted further finalist placings in the TIARA and TSA awards
with his original songs. Family health issues forced the band to ease
on its hectic touring schedule, so tours went from being yearly affairs
to shorter periods of time.
2000: Peter Coad became the inaugural president of
the Australian Bush Balladeers’ Association (ABBA) and currently
(2021) holds the position. He has also been the editor of the Association’s
quarterly members magazine ‘The Balladeers Bulletin’ for
(currently) 21 years.
2003: Released the Peter Coad & The Coad Sisters
trio album, ‘Home Again’, produced & recorded by the
Coad Sisters.
2004: 4 finalists’ tracks from ‘Home
Again’, in the 2004 T.I.A.R.A, TSA and Bungendore Stan Coster
Memorial Bush Ballad awards and COAD SISTERS version 'Camooweal' from
the album, won the Group/Duo Award at the Bungendore Stan Coster Awards.
2005: Released Peter Coad & The Coad Sisters
trio album ‘The Road We Travel’, produced & recorded
by the Coad Sisters.
2006: Awarded ‘Touring Artists of the Year’
at the NSW Gold Medallion Media Awards (with The Coad Sisters) and
achieved Finalist spots in the New Zealand/Tasmanian Songwriters Awards
2006, the Bungendore Awards 2006 and the Bush Ballad section of the
Victorian Awards 2006.
2007: Peter Coad was inducted into the Hands of Fame,
Tamworth. Released the solo album, Outback Chapters in May, recorded
and produced by Coad Sisters. Popular songs included ‘Lights
Of Camooweal’, and ‘The Old Saddle’.
2011: Released a solo album, ‘Old Bush Mates’,
produced & recorded by the Coad Sisters. Popular tracks included
‘Garden Full Of Roses’ (Winner 2012 TSA Country Song /&
Country Ballad Of The Year), ‘Faded Shirt Of Blue’, and
the re-recording of ‘Riding Out The Storm’, and ‘The
Kid On The Kangaroo’ ‘In 2011, Peter Coad & The Coad
Sisters, along with Jim Hermel performed in the U.S.A. Highlights
were performances at the Smith Family Theatre, (the biggest music
show in east Tennessee,) the famous Carter Family Theatre, (a theatre
built on the old A.P. Carter Family property in the Clinch Mountains
of Virginia,) and a one hour live radio broadcast from Nashville beamed
around the world.
2012: The album Old Bush Mates picked up 3 TSA awards
in January 2012 - 'Garden Full Of Roses' TSA 'Country Song of The
Year' and TSA 'Country Ballad Of The Year' & TSA 'The Kid On The
Kangaroo' took out the 'Comedy section'. "Album Of The Year"
at the Bungendore Stan Coster Bush Ballad Awards in February 2012
and the Gidgee Coal Awards.
2013: Peter Coad & The Coad Sisters released
– ‘The Road Of Song’, Recorded and produced by Coad
Sisters. Won ‘Album Of The Year’ at the Gidgee Coal Bush
Ballad Awards. The trio also released Peter Coad & The Coad Sisters
- '25 Years Revisited' - in July, containing a selection of popular
tracks from album and singles which were no longer available.
2014: 'The Road Of Song' Winner of ‘Album Of
The Year’ at the Bungendore Awards 2014. Peter Coad - 2014 Golden
Medallion Award – ‘Western NSW Balladeer Of The Year’.
Peter Coad released a solo album, ‘Music Highway’, produced
& recorded by the Coad Sisters.
2015: ‘Music Highway’, won ‘Album
of the Year’ and ‘Comedy Song of the Year’ for Peter’s
song ‘Cooper’s Run’ at the Bungendore Country Music
Muster Awards.
Peter Coad received the Golden Medallion Award for ‘West NSW
Balladeer Of The Year’ at Tamworth.
Peter Coad & The Coad Sisters released a combined album 'Banjo
& Henry' produced & recorded by the Coad Sisters featuring
the songs and poems of Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson.
Peter Coad & The Coad Sisters were inducted into the Barmera South
Australian Country Music Hall of Fame.
Peter Coad & The Coad Sisters received the Legends Award - Bony
Mountain festival.
2016: Peter Coad & The Coad Sisters recorded
a live DVD at Enrec Studios in 2015 and it was released in 2016. The
DVD featured all their own material.
2017: Peter Coad was awarded the Medal of the Order
of Australia (OAM) in the general division for service to the performing
arts, particularly to country music.
2019: Peter Coad OAM released Full Circle November
2019, produced & recorded by the Coad Sisters.
2021: Full Circle delivered multiple TSA Semi-Finalists
and Finalists tracks. 'Two Old Bushmen' (Peter Coad) from the album
was - Winner TSA Bush Ballad Of The Year.
2021 - (Peter Coad) 'Two Old Bushmen’ Golden Guitar
nomination in Bush Ballad Of The Year. 2021 – Bungendore
Stan Coster Memorial Awards: Winner - Male Vocal: 'Lonely Outback
Moon' (Peter Coad) and 'Full Circle' - Winner Album of The Year, Songwriter:
‘Two Old Bushmen’ Finalist.
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