For more than six decades Geelong’s Gene Fisk Bradley has been a part of the music industry, and his love for country music in particular has not waned over the years.
It is that love for communicating stories through song that has led to the release of his new song Blackhawk this week.
Written by hit Australian songwriter Paul Norton, the song is a tribute to Indigenous elder Blackhawk, whose passing was commemorated at the Walking with Spirits festival at Malkgulumbu (Beswick Falls) on Jawoyn land.
Mr Fisk, born in Colac, began performing in his first rock and roll band in 1959 while he was in the air force, the first of many.
While still serving, he began his broadcasting career in 1960 at Butterworth Malaysia at Radio RAAF as one of their first announcers.
He continued on commercial radio once he returned to civilian life, hosting shows in Hamilton, Maryborough, Bendigo and Geelong before joining 3UZ Melbourne to host its top rated country music program.
Mr Fisk, now 88, said he loved the stories of Australia and promoting new country music, which he continues to do as host of the OZ Country radio show.
“Back in the 60s I had rock and roll bands in Melbourne, Bendigo, Maryborough, you name it,” he said.
“But eventually I realised I was a bit old for rock and roll, so I went into country music.
“Country music attracted me, and still does, because they’re story songs, mainly. About people, places, about our own country.
“That’s what I promote. And I like the people that I write about because they’ve done something really decent. I’m pro-Australian, I guess you could say.”
Mr Fisk has always had an interest in First Nations people and culture, engaging in a lifelong study of the Gulidjan and Wadawurrung Nations.
“When the song came to me from Paul Norton I grabbed it straight away,” he said.
“It was different to anything I’d seen or heard before, and it was about a subject that I was not aware of, but I became very interested in.
“I’m hoping, mainly for the people involved in it, that it goes well because it has a strong message.”
Blackhawk will be released on streaming services on Saturday, May 25 and with accompanying film clip on YouTube at 4pm on Sunday, May 26.
