Background
Chi was born in 1948 to a Chinese/Japanese/Anglo-Australian father and a Scottish/Bardi Aboriginal mother.
(Willy and Old Uncle Tadpole flee the city to embark on a ...)
Willy and Old Uncle Tadpole flee the city to embark on a journey of personal discovery and outrageous adventures back to their Aboriginal homeland (2 acts, 5 men, 3 women, + ensemble).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0868192937/?tag=2022091-20
Chi was born in 1948 to a Chinese/Japanese/Anglo-Australian father and a Scottish/Bardi Aboriginal mother.
His best known work is the 1990 musical Bran Nue Dae which was adapted for film in 2009. From 1981 to 1982 Chi was the lead singer of the band Kuckles, before they disbanded. Bran Nue Dae, is a partly autobiographical work which took Jimmy many years to write.
lieutenant celebrates family, forgiveness and reconciliation and was a hit at the Festival of Perth in 1990 where it was performed by the Black Swan Theatre.
lieutenant went on to tour Australia extensively and it was Australia"s most successful musical play of the early 1990s. One of the famous verses from a song in the musical sums up Chi"s dry humour and sharp political approach: There"s nothing I would rather be Than to be an Aborigine and watch you take my precious land away.
Foreign nothing gives me greater joy than to watch you fill each girl and boy with superficial existential shit. lieutenant brought acclaim for many Aboriginal artists including Ernie Dingo, Josie Ningali Lawford and Leah Purcell.
The musical"s success was also instrumental in the formation of the Black Swan Theatre Company.
He also wrote the musical Corrugation Road, which was first performed by the Black Swan Theatre at the Fairfax Studio in Melbourne in 1996. lieutenant toured Australia and broke box office records. lieutenant smashed taboos surrounding mental health, abuse, sexuality and religion with humor and optimism.
Both musicals played a significant role in the development and direction of Indigenous performance.
His songs have been covered by such artists as the Irish singer Mary Black, and Aboriginal singer Archie Roach. Chi"s music has come to represent the colour of Broome.
Broome"s Opera Under the Stars festival has featured Chi"s "Child of Glory", from Bran Nue Dae, at every festival since 1993. His hymns are regularly sung at Aboriginal funerals in Broome.
Chi now chooses to spend most of his time at home in Broome with his family and friends.
In spite of life"s challenges, his work continues to be imbued with an underlying sense of hope and humanity.
(Willy and Old Uncle Tadpole flee the city to embark on a ...)