Ken Robertson

Ken Robertson was born on the 3^rd of April, 1929 in Hilston, N.S.W., Ken’s family moved to Koondrook Vic., where he spent his childhood alongside the Murray River.  With a family history of poets, Ken’s love of music & lyrics blossomed early.  By 13 years old he was writing songs and lyrics & singing in the back shed by candlelight, ever planning to perform live.

Ken left home at 16 year old, working & travelling his way around Australia writing songs & performing.  In 1953 Ken met & married his lovely wife, Josephine & raised a family of four children in Swan Hill, Vic.  Ken and Josie both had a passion for country music, in between working they travelled & performed with their family at dances, festivals & concerts.

Around 1975, Ken set up the rooms of his Swan Hill home as a recording studio where he was to record many of his original songs onto cassette. Ken was approached in (1979) by ‘Bear Family Records’ of Germany with the record company pressing & releasing an L.P. album, called ‘Ken Robertson’s Songs of Australia’. 

The Album was one of the first LP to be released Europe prior to being released in Australia.  After years recording in their home, they finally built a sound proof music studio to create The Studio One Production, Pioneer Country Sounds.  Ken’s love of writing & recording songs continues with over 35 years of producing unique collections of Australian history & music.

Ken has written over 3000 songs, he has progressed from cassette & video productions to DVD’s & CD’s, meeting the demand for his music in line with technology’s every changing market.

Ken was inducted into ‘The Country Music Hands of Fame’ in Tamworth and Country Music Avenue of Fame S.A.  Ken has received countless awards including the ‘Norm Scott Award’ for song writing & the ‘Mountain Heritage Award’ for his song titled ‘The Man From Snowy Rivers Last Ride’

Ken’s songs cover a wide variety of subjects including adventure, ballads, gospel, comedy, love songs, children’s songs, animals, transport & historical songs. Over 400 of his songs have been recorded by other country music artists both in Australia and Overseas. Some of the well known artists to record Ken’s songs include Dusty Rankin, Rick & Thel Carey, Reg Poole, Bluey Francis, Don Gresham, John R. Williams, Mary Cummins, The Pitt Family and Michael T Wall (Canada).

Ken has travelled much of Australia researching areas gathering local history, stories and information to write into his songs.

Many songs have become well known, the south coast of Australia Ken’s song ‘The Child’s Vision’ was recorded onto ‘Songs of Australia’. While performing in Winton Queensland he wrote ‘The Battered Stockman’s Hat’ for the CD ‘Ringers and Drovers’.

His song ‘For Jenny A Rose’, found on the CD ‘Country Classics’, was written about school children from Jerilderie planting roses following the death of a young student.

Ken’s sentimental songs about family life are based on his family experiences. The song ‘The Family Bible’ written about his Grandmother’s leather bound family bible which she would read to the children in the garden.

The series ‘River Boats’ was written from Ken’s experiences growing up along the great Murray River & getting to know the skippers and crew of the Riverboats.

Ken’s experiences performing around rodeo’s & outback shows created a new range of songs about Australia including Shearers, Brumby Runners, Truckies, Opal Miners and Outlaws.

The tales about the great Cobb & Co & beautiful love songs have flown from his pen as if by unseen hands. These are truly great songs of Australia.