Slim Dusty and Joy McKean

**Artist **Tanya Barlett

**Production date **2014

Media Bronze statue

Bronze statues of musicians Joy McKean and Slim Dusty.

The ‘power couple’ of Australian country music, Slim Dusty and Joy McKean, who married in 1951, forged pioneering careers in singing and song-writing that would make Slim an Australian National Treasure. While his greatest hit, ‘The Pub with No Beer’ of 1957, was written by Gordon Parsons and became a number one international hit song, other hits by Slim, including ‘Lights on the Hill’ were penned by Joy. ‘Lights on the Hill’ won Song of the Year at the inaugural Country Music Awards in Tamworth in 1973. This was the first time that a woman had been recognised for song-writing. Slim also revived bush ballads by Henry Lawson, Banjo Paterson and Will Ogilvie, with new tunes to appeal to modern Australians. The couple toured Australia with their children, Anne and David Kirkpatrick, who also made careers as country music singers and song-writers. Slim Dusty received 38 Golden Guitars over his lifetime in country music.

Located at 365 Peel Street, Tamworth.