Hugh McDonald (Australian musician)
| Hugh McDonald | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1954 |
| Origin | Cowell, South Australia, Australia |
| Genres | Rock, Australian folk, Folk Rock |
| Occupation(s) | musician, singer, songwriter, guitarist |
| Years active | 1970s-current |
| Labels | CBS Epic Columbia Sony |
| Associated acts | Redgum, John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew |
| Website | Hugh McDonald Studios |
| Notable instruments | |
| guitars, mandolin, violin | |
Hugh McDonald is an Australian musician. Active since the 1970s, he performed and recorded with The Bushwackers, The Sundowners, Moving Cloud, and The Colonials.[1]
He became better known when he joined the folk-rock group Redgum in 1981. McDonald wrote a number of the group's songs, including "The Diamantina Drover". After lead singer John Schumann left the band in 1986, he took over as lead singer until the group disbanded in 1990.[2]
Post-Redgum, he continued playing and recording music,[3] and also taught music, including working with the Geelong Music College Orchestra.[4] In addition, he has his own recording studios in Melbourne.[5]
Hugh has also lent his musical and recording expertise to the production of the Poowong Consolidated Primary School's annual music CD and more recently DVD. He has worked alongside the students and music teacher Phil Beggs to compose, write, record and produce the CD.
From 2005 McDonald has been working with Schumann again as part of the Vagabond Crew,[6] touring and performing on the albums Lawson and Behind the Lines. The latter album was recorded at McDonald's studios.
In 2014 McDonald released his fourth post-Redgum solo album titled The Land, which includes his more recent originals "If It All Goes South", a tender heartfelt song which he wrote for his wife, Rebecca Harris Mason, and "Shrodinger's Cat", a contemplative song about accepting the uncertainties of life.
McDonald has performed for Australian forces overseas several times. In December 2009 he visited East Timor to play for Australian and New Zealand troops stationed there,[7] in September–October 2011 he played for Australian troops in Afghanistan[8] and in July 2013 he played for Australian troops and Australian Federal Police in the Solomon Islands.[9] In 2014 he played for the Royal Australian Navy troops in Tanzania, Africa.
As of 2015, he has seven children, six grandchildren and lives with his wife, pianist Rebecca Harris Mason, and his two stepchildren.[10]
Discography
- The Lawson Album (1994)
- Where's the Party? (2002)
- Spirit of the Land (2007)
- The Land (2014)
References
- ↑ Hugh McDonald Studios website About
- ↑ Bmusic Redgum: Where Are They Now?
- ↑ That Striped Sunlight Sound blog Hugh McDonald's Lawson album
- ↑ National Library of Australia website Interview information
- ↑ Hugh McDonald Studios website Studio Information
- ↑ That Striped Sunlight Sound Lawson review
- ↑ Facebook Facebook album
- ↑ Soundcloud website John Schumann talks about his November gig with the Vagabond Crew in Canberra Retrieved on 5 January 2012
- ↑ Department of Defense One last show before curtain draws on Operation ANODE 26 July 2013
- ↑ Peter MacCallum Cancer Center YouTube Channel Peter Mac prostate cancer patient Hugh McDonald shares his story 11 June 2013
