IT ALL BEGINS- IN 1982- with my Gelding- Tobin Bronze!
From ripping around on horses and Chasing cattle -being a young Mum-mustering- to Recording studios- writing songs- who ever thought anyone would want to hear my songs? not me. But here I am over thirty years down the track and I'm still writing songs-your'e all still listening? incredible. I can honestly say the best thing about music and songwriting in particular- is sharing it all with others who enjoy it all. I love you all for that.
I DRAGGED MY HORSE ALL THE WAY TO COFFS -SO I'D HAVE MY OWN HORSE ON THE COVER!
AWARDS AND ALBUMS -from 1982- until 2014
First Album-
RODEO QUEEN- 1982 recorded in Coffs Harbour- Country Records Label
a finalist in the Tamworth Awards-
VANISHING HORSEMEN-1985 recorded in Sydney- Selection Records label
An Award winning album- Winning Heritage Award "How THe Firequeen Crossed the Swamp" (Golden Guitar) & TSA Songwriting Award for Stumpy.
RIVER GUMS & MALLEE DUST- 1987-recorded in Sydney- Selection Records Label
Featuring some of Norma's classic songs- "Darlin' Billy" has won many awards . Also the wonderful duet Norma & John Williamson sang & wrote together on this album- won - TSA - Song of The Year! 1988.
Norma was signed to Festival Records in 1988- & recorded/wrote/produced her first album at the famous old Pyrmont studios in Pyrmont with Mark Thomas a young Engineer.
COLOURS -1988 recorded in Sydney at the famous old Pyrmont Studios in Pyrmont Sydney- on Festival Records label.
A host of finalist places with -Sydney or The Bush-Colonial Ladies- and several classic songs that still endure. PHOTO OPPOSITE (Norma & Marti) approx 1990
CLOSER NOW-1990 recorded in Sydney at Pyrmont Studios--Festival Records label
No less than six finalist places with- Roses's Cafe- Who's Takin' You Home- Best Album- and a Best Female Vocal- Golden Guitar with the beautiful -"Sarah's Memory". in 1991.And also an ARIA finalist with this album.
WINDS OF CHANGE-1992 recorded in Kurri Kurri- at Enrec Studio-with Steve Newton engineer- Festival Records label.
The classic song- Barbwire & Bamboo- inspired by Phil's Dad -was a finalist in Heritage. But the big song -Tamworth (the song) was to win Norma another Golden Guitar for Best Female Vocal Award. in 1993
NORMA'S BEST-1993 recorded in Kurri Kurri- at Enrec Studios- Festival Records label-
Norma was a finalist once again with Mehi River Blues- but the Comedy Song Award- TSA -went to Take A Cutting". an absolute classic ! and won TSA Comedy Song of the year! Still as popular as ever.
SWEET RAIN-1995 Recorded at damian/gerard Studio - Sydney- Norma's first Independent release! Producing her own albums was now a much more comfortable process. On Norma's own Gumleaf Music label.
(Norma's label at that time)- Engineer-Russell Pilling This is truly a testimony to Norma's talent-as a Songwriter/Producer/artist - Co produced with Rod McCormack- a classic collection. Featuring the classic The Old FJ & Melbourne Cup (the song) Glenrowan & many more.
LIVE IN BUNDABERG-1999- recorded (live) at The Brothers Club- Bundaberg
Norma's only live album/DVD- a brave venture-but this local bunch of Bundaberg musicians really pulled it off . A2ZED with Ross Andersen- Sibi Morano- acoustic guitar Michael Fix- and others -this album is considered one of Norma's best! With some brilliant musicianship-great Slide Guitar-Keyboards etc "Fresh Horses" was a finalist in Tamworth, is still today very much a favourite song recorded by other artists and always requested. A must for any collector it is full of O'Hara Murphy gems! There is also a DVD of this album.
Norma took a long break at this time amidst several overseas tours representing Australia in China/Japan and the UK. Around this time the family had a big move to Qld - to Bony MOuntain near Warwick which ended up a ten year break!
WHISKEY GULLY ROAD-2010 Norma's fabulous return to the recording studio- recorded at damian/gerard studios- Balmain- Bony Mountain Music label- Title track getting solid airplay on BBC London- and making finals of QMusic Awards in Brisbane in 2011. Also winning the Stan Coster Bush Ballad Songwriting Award -with "Goin' For Glory". in 2011 at the much loved Bungendore Muster.
BEST OF ME-2011 a Compilation released during 2011- mainly as a request to Radio Stations- who no longer had any of Norma's music - and for her faithful fans of course.
THE CELTIC CONNECTION-2011 (volume one) two new tracks recorded- "Ring Around The Barley Oh'" and the traditional - Forever & Ever.
On Norma's own brand new- Bony Mountain Music label- released in 2011- this collection has opened a whole new chapter for Norma's music- making her a Finalist at the Celtic Awards in Glen Innes. for 2013 Awards. Norma also entered "Gilbert O'Meally & Hall" in the Bush Lauriete Awards- and won the prestigeous Golden Gumleaf Award for "Traditional Song Lyric of the Year" presented at Tamworth Town Hall- 2012.
THE CELTIC CONNECTION-2013 (volume two)-2 new tracks recorded damien/gerard-2013 THe new songs- traditional- The Water Is Wide- and Legend of Barney Duffy.
Released on Bony Mountain Music label- 2013- And has won Norma one of her most coveted Awards- AUSTRALIAN CELTIC ARTIST OF THE YEAR! 2014.
Now released in October 2014- SOLID GOLD.
SOLID GOLD- 2014 recorded damien/gerard studio.Sydney. Bony Mountain Music label-
Norma wanted to give her fans one last country album! a special collectors item!
This album is recieving a lot of airplay and some great feedback from Radio all around Australia and the world. Already an award winner with the track-Gone Drovin' co written with Dick Wilson. Norma won Best Female Vocal & the Coveted Songwriter Award both at Bungendore Muster 2015. A finalist again at Bungendore Muster-for 2016
Also a finalist at Gold Guitar Awards 2016.
If you would like to catch Norma in Tamworth-go to TOURING DATES!
NORMA'S HISTORY
YOU ASKED FOR IT- This is a page for all of you who have requested my career details- Awards- my Albums- my History for the last thirty years! It will take a while to get all the information together and make certain all details are correct. These are my early years! where it all began & some wonderful highlights to remember & share with everyone.
NORMA & ROCKY PAGE- (after winning TSA Award in 1986- in Tamworth.
BEST NEW SONGWRITER AWARD- (Stumpy) Stumpy was inspired by (Stumpy Timmins) who I knew from Campdrafting, he was a great horseman & one of only 3 blokes who have won both the open Saddle Bronc & Warwick Gold Cup at Warwick Rodeo. The other two are old Jack Stanton & Ben Hall. Stumpy will always be a special song.
"RODEO QUEEN"
MY FIRST (HORSE ALBUM) NUMBER TWO COMING UP!
HERE I AM IN THE STUDIO- AT COFFS HARBOUR!
I can remember being so nervous " I was nearly sick! My little songs all recorded on an album for the first time. I look back now and wonder how I ever got through ! But I'm proud of the songs, and there are some good ones there! It's only taken me nearly 30 years to record my new (horse) album- my third I guess- that will be an exciting time for sure! The difference with this new one is- I'm totally focused now- know exactly what I want and I did not stray off the track, it truly is a (a total Horse/Rodeo) collection!
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