Rods Bio:
A Message
From Rod
It was a highlight for
me winning QLD Champion of Champions Male Vocal
for 2002 but let me take you back a few years. I
was born in Broken Hill and spent many years alongside
my grandfather (Gentleman Jim) who was a Boundary
rider on the Dingo Fence in the "Corner Country"
where SA, NSW and QLD meet. Although schooled in
Adelaide at every opportunity I escaped to the Outback
to work with cattle, horses and machinery.
In 1988 while working on a Drilling Rig in the Simpson
Desert I had an accident and was flown into Broken
Hill Base Hospital by the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
It was here, I met and was nursed back to health
by my wife to be, Eve. We eventually left the Outback
to pursue an Earthmoving Business and raise a family
on the NSW Mid Nth Coast.
Earthmoving has been a major part of my life operating
machinery from, drilling rigs, D10 dozers, 75 Ton
excavators, graders, rollers, back hoes, tractors,trucks,
mini excavators, picks and shovels. You name it,
I've driven it, from Outback Australia to SA's Adelaide
Hills, Central West of NSW, Northern Territory's
Top End to the NSW East Coast. It has been my life
and I love it and can't imagine life without diesel,
hydraulic oil and grease.
 
Over the last few years
I have also been working consistently in the Country
Music Industry and in 2001 whilst registered with
the National Secretariat for Centenary of Federation
traveled with my family extensively to many Festivals
and Talent Quests making my way into 3 state finals
singing our own material and winning many awards.
In 2002 I worked extensively on my new album "Earthmover"
with the release of my first single " Back
Outback" as my tribute to Year of the Outback
which became a chart hit leading up to the Tamworth
Festival in 2003.
"Earthmover"
an album about Australian life experiences,
is a 13 track album with 10 original songs written
by my wife Eve and myself. Five of these songs
have won TSA songwriting awards. The “Earthmover"
Album was launched to a magnificent crowd of 750
plus at the Longyard Hotel during the 2003 Tamworth
Country Music Festival.
The Album includes
the magical input of multi award winner Benjy
Pocock ( QLD's, Wild Turkey Band) on rhythm and
lead guitar. Soni Kildey on Bass. Juzzie Smith
( Byron Bay Blues Festival Champion, 2 years running)
on Harmonica. Multiple Moe award winners Shelly
White and Les Woodford produced the Album at Riversound
Studio's and add their expertise on keyboards
and drums.
“These extraordinary
talented musicians provide a modern rhythmic country
sound combined with Rod's dynamic, masculine and
gutsy vocals artfully bringing to life songs about
Australian people and this fantastic country we
live in”.
My Country Music career
escalated when we took Australia's heritage, combined
with Indigenous and Australian Bush Culture to
Darling Harbour for the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade, and to Stadium Australia with
The Rovers and Drovers Australiana Show at the
2000 Olympics. Throughout the Olympics the Show
promoted Australia's Agricultural and Geographical
resources to the World through their songs, film
and performances.
Rovers and Drovers have
gone on to be accredited by the NSW Department of
Education and the QLD Arts Council enabling the
show to perform in schools.
In
July, my wife Eve and I locked the gates to our
property, loaded our 3 boys, our lives and business
into a 22 seater Nissan Civilian Bus and trailer,
to tour for 12 months throughout Australia promoting
the “Earthmover" Album. Eve is also
my co-writer and manager supporting me every step
of the way. The aim of the tour is to take our
songs to new audiences whilst also networking
with media and retail outlets as we travel this
beautiful country.
Thanks
to Swagman
Internet, our web site has now been upgraded.
Throughout the pages you will find interesting
information and photos about our albums, the Rovers
and Drovers Show, CD purchase information with
lyrics to read and music to listen to. You can
share our tour experiences and gigs with us in
our Australian Tour Diary or sign our guest book
on our contacts page. Thank you for your time
to visit my site and if you are purchasing an
album I wish you well and hope you enjoy.
All
the best
Rod Esam
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