Community & Business
7 September, 2022
Tributes flow for Keith Jamieson
Country singer songwriter Keith Jamieson was the brains behind the Gidgee Coal Bush Ballad Awards that ran in Pittsworth every November for 15 years.
“He was everyone’s mate in Pittsworth,” says Ros Scotney who was the mayor of the Shire when Keith first suggested an event be held here in honour of the song, By a Fire of Gidgee Coal.
The song was written by Stan Coster in the late 1950s while he was staying at the Tattersalls Hotel in Pittsworth.
It was co-written by Slim Dusty who recorded it in 1964.
“He loved everyone and everyone loved him, and he did a lot of good for our town,” Ros said.
It was while Keith was in Pittsworth for a concert at the town hall in the early 2000s that he had the idea for an event and it ran every November from 2006 until last year, bringing hundreds of music lovers to town to see a wide variety of bush poets and singers perform.
“He was a great supporter of Pittsworth, Ros said.
“But probably the number one thing he did was to support and encourage young bush ballad singers - including our local Jeff Brown from Mt Tyson.”
In the latter years of his career he was often seen performing on stage with his electric guitarist wife, Alisha Smith, and their young daughter, Caitlyn.
Keith earned many awards throughout his recording, performing and touring career, and tributes flowed for him after his death on August 12.
