Eric Bogle Australian folk musician, author and performer Date of Birth: 23.09.1944 Country: Australia

1. Biography of Eric Bogle
2. The Rock Star Dream
3. A Journey into Folk Music
4. From Accountant to Musician
5. Achievements and Recognition
6. Notable Releases

Biography of Eric Bogle

Eric Bogle is an Australian folk musician, songwriter, and performer. He was born on September 23, 1944, in Peebles, Scotland, and his twin sister Sandra Bogle was born 15 minutes later. At the age of 16, Eric dropped out of school and embarked on a journey to conquer the world. Over the next eight years, he worked various jobs including waiter, bar steward, laborer, mill worker, and clerk in an export firm, often getting fired due to his lack of talent in anything except music.

The Rock Star Dream

When Eric was 18, a friend informed him that a local rock band called 'The Informers' was looking for a new vocalist. He auditioned and secured a spot, possibly because of his vocal abilities or simply because he had an old van. However, his plans to make 'The Informers' famous and become a rock idol did not pan out, leading to his disillusionment with pop music.

A Journey into Folk Music

Eric shifted his focus to folk music and quickly developed a passion for it. Today, he is recognized as one of the most acclaimed musicians in the folk scene. In 1969, he decided to seek happiness in Australia and settled near Adelaide, South Australia. In 1971, he met Carmel Verona Sutton in Canberra, and they got married a year later, surprising both themselves and each other.

From Accountant to Musician

Around the same time, Eric claimed to have grown up significantly and landed a job at a company that rented construction equipment. He quickly climbed the career ladder, partly due to his self-confidence, ability to learn quickly, and the useful skill of exceeding the director's alcohol consumption. By 1980, Eric, a young and energetic individual, found himself as an accountant with a high salary, a house in Brisbane, and a company car. However, he looked around and thought, 'Is this all?' Dissatisfied with the answer, Eric resigned, took Carmel, returned to Sydney, and embarked on the uncertain path of a professional musician.

Achievements and Recognition

Eric has released 14 albums, and some of his songs have become classics of Australian folk music. He has extensively toured North America, European countries, and Australia over the past 25 years. Eric is invited to every major folk and country music event in Australia and abroad, including the Port Fairy Folk Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Tamworth Country Music Festival, Gympie Muster Country Music Festival, Philadelphia Festival, Newport, Toronto, Edinburgh, Vancouver, and New Orleans.

He has received numerous awards, including the Order of Australia medal for his contributions to the entertainment industry and the Peace medal from the U.N. for his efforts in promoting peace and racial harmony. Many of Eric's most famous songs reflect on the futility of war and the irreparable losses it brings. In jest, Eric refers to himself as something between 'U2' and Mother Teresa.

Notable Releases

In 2000, a five-CD collection of Eric Bogle's work titled 'Singing The Spirit Home' was released. In May 2009, his only live performance recording was released on DVD.