Paul Kelly to Receive JC Williamson Award at 2015 Helpmann Ceremony

In recognition of his longstanding contribution to the live performance industry, Live Performance Australia (LPA) is honoured to announce Australian music icon, Paul Kelly as the recipient of this year's JC Williamson Award.

The JC Williamson Award is bestowed on an individual who has made a truly outstanding contribution to the enrichment of the Australian live entertainment and performing arts culture and shaped the future of the industry for the better.

Mr Kelly will be presented with the JC Williamson Award honouring his extraordinary career at the 15th annual Helpmann Awards Ceremony to be held at Sydney's Capitol Theatre on Monday 27 July.

LPA Chief Executive, Evelyn Richardson acknowledged Mr Kelly's formidable reputation as a performer who transcends boundaries as a source of inspiration for not only musicians, but the broader live performance industry.

"Mr Kelly's prolific career is extensive and reflects his passion and commitment to creating, performing, and producing music over more than three decades," said Ms Richardson.

"During the past 35 years, Mr Kelly has come to be recognised and respected as one of Australia's most accomplished songwriters and performers, with many of his songs now lodged deeply into the Australian psyche.

"His commitment to mentoring and supporting younger artists is legendary as is his engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians and communities.

"He has been lauded as a poet and storyteller who captures the essence of what it is to live in this country with all its complexities and foibles.

"Mr Kelly's contribution to the live performance industry is enormous and it is truly an honour to bestow the prestigious JC Williamson Award upon such a worthy recipient."

Mr Kelly's influential career spans more than 35 years and includes twenty recorded studio albums as well as several film soundtracks, two live albums, and a critically acclaimed memoir.

Mr Kelly said he was honoured to be the recipient of this year's prestigious JC Williamson Award.

"Live performance is the crucible, the nitty gritty, where you make mistakes and find the stuff that works. So this is an important award to be a part of. Thank you to all involved," said Mr Kelly.

NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events, Stuart Ayres congratulated Mr Kelly on receiving such a prestigious award.

"Mr Kelly is a great Australian talent and a deserving recipient of the JC Williamson Award. He has made an enormous contribution to the local music landscape over the past 35 years, and I am pleased to see he will be recognised at this year's Helpmann Awards in Sydney," said Mr Ayres.

Mr Kelly joins the ranks of previous JC Williamson Award recipients, including such iconic figures as Dame Joan Sutherland OM AC DBE, Barry Humphries AO CBE, Michael Gudinski AM, John Farnham AO, Kylie Minogue OBE, and Graeme Murphy AM.

The JC Williamson Award is proudly supported by Foxtel's newly launched channel, Foxtel Arts, a high definition channel dedicated to arts, artists and a diverse heritage of creative expression.

The Helpmann Awards Ceremony, including the presentation of the JC Williamson Award to Mr Kelly, will be broadcast live on Foxtel Arts, Monday 27 July at 7.30 pm.

The 2015 Helpmann Awards will be presented on the set of Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed new production of LES MISERABLES which is now playing in Sydney.

The full program for the 15th annual Helpmann Awards, including award category nominees, will be announced in June. Tickets to the 2015 Helpmann Awards are on sale now from Ticketmaster.

Paul Kelly has recorded twenty studio albums as well as several film soundtracks (Lantana and the Cannes 2006 highlight, Jindabyne) and two live albums, in an influential career spanning more than thirty years. He was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1997.

Songs From The South, a selection of his popular songs first assembled in 1997 and expanded to a double album in 2008, contains many of his songs now lodged deep in the Australian psyche.

He continues to cross musical boundaries. The triple j tribute album Before Too Long, released in 2010, featuring John Butler, Missy Higgins, Megan Washington, Paul Dempsey, Ozi Batla and many others is evidence of his influence on generations of musicians.

His first work of prose How To Make Gravy, a self-described 'mongrel memoir', was published in 2010 with Penguin and is accompanied by a CD box set of live recordings and an audio book with readings from Paul and some of Australia's finest actors Cate Blanchett, Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Judy Davis and Ben Mendelsohn.

The book, the audio book and the A-Z recordings now make up a unique app. An app which in Paul's words is "the closest thing to how I imagined the book to be - something that sings and talks and plays."

In August 2012, 'Paul Kelly - Stories Of Me', a feature-length documentary premiered in Melbourne. Distributed by Madman Films, the documentary is an intimate portrait of the very private man behind the music. For the first time on film, Kelly speaks candidly about the people who have helped shape his life and music. Featuring rare archival footage, 'Paul Kelly - Stories Of Me' also unveils newly recorded live performances, as well as interviews with family members, former and current band members, music contemporaries and music media.

In October 2012, he released a solo album entitled 'Spring And Fall', a song cycle which tells a love story from multiple points of view. Paul Kelly's most recent album 'Paul Kelly Presents The Merri Soul Sessions' - a soul record - was released in December 2014. Paul assembled his touring band and an exciting group of singers to record a set of new songs as well as one old classic. The tracks were performed live in the studio by Clairy Browne, Vika and Linda Bull, Dan Sultan, Kira Puru and himself. For more, visit www.paulkelly.com.au or follow him on Facebook: www.facebook.com/paulkellyofficial.

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