Jimmy Little

Jimmy Little began his recording career in 1956, firstly with Regal Zonophone and then with Columbia before signing to Festival Records in 1959. 45 years later Jimmy is still making music with the Festival Mushroom Group who only recently celebrated their 50th year as a record company.
Jimmy has said that apart from his admiration for his father's own musical talent, his two greatest musical influences had been Nat King Cole and American country artist Jim Reeves. His early recordings for Festival definitely reflect this. With his effortless, silky smooth vocal style atop the lush orchestrated arrangements of the early 60s', Jimmy began adopting a more traditional country sound as the decade progressed.

In the 1980s’ Jimmys’ life took a different direction. In 1983 he recorded the single, “Beautiful Woman” with American producer Ricky Fataar. As it is in the tradition of reggae music Jimmy aimed to inspire indigenous youth as a role model and as a mentor/teacher for the indigenous adult education course at the Eora college for performing arts in Redfern. Today Jimmy remains committed to indigenous education and continues to use his recognition and success as an entertainer, spending considerable time as an indigenous ambassador for the Department of Training, Youth and Educations literacy and numeracy indigenous education program.

Jimmy is a very proud Australian who has something in his repertoire to entertain all age groups. In 2004 a public vote named him a “National Living Treasure” and Jimmy received an Australian Order ( AO ) for his life in the entertainment industry and his ongoing work with indigenous education and health. Queensland University of Technology have awarded Jimmy an honorary Doctorate and recently he received the Classic Rock performer MO award of 2004.

Uncle Jimmy and Nova worked together in Alice Springs to create awareness in Kidney Health. Jimmy will be our Indigenous Advocate in Canberra and will be entertaining at Nova's Health event.

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