APRA Awards to honour country music legend Joy McKean, announce full lineup
Plans for this month’s APRA Awards are ramping up, with the association announcing that country music matriarch Joy McKean OAM will be honoured on the night, and unveiling a host of live performances from new and established writers.
McKean will be the second recipient of the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music in 2021, alongside the late Helen Reddy, who was announced earlier this year. Her 70-year career began with writing songs in her early teens, before performing, recording and broadcasting with her sister Heather in the 1940s and ’50s.
APRA To Honour Country Legend Joy McKean
Country legend Joy McKean has been announced as the recipient of the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music for 2021.
Joy McKean first rose to fame in Australia as a recording artist in the 1940sand 1950s. She married Slim Dusty in 1951 and the partnership created an enduring legacy in the Australian music industry over the next 50 years.
Joy McKean OAM said, “I am honoured indeed to be chosen as the 2021 recipient of the prestigious Ted Albert Award. It was most unexpected, and I thank those who must have nominated me for such consideration by APRA. After what has been a lifetime of working in the music industry, and loving just about every minute of it, I find it fascinating to reflect on the changes that have taken place. I’ve seen a lot of them, and no doubt there will be many more than I will ever see. One thing I do look for is that Awards such as this will continue to honour and support Australians in our
Helen Reddy To Receive Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music
The late Helen Reddy will receive one of two Ted Albert Awards for Outstanding Services to Australian Music at the APRA Music Awards for 2021.
Helen was to receive the award in 2020 but Covid caused a reformatting of the event. Helen died in September, before the 2021 awards were announced.
Traci Donat, Helen’s daughter said: “I am so honoured to be accepting The Ted Albert Award on behalf of my mother who devoted her life and career to equal rights for all people. And in honouring her you honour not just her music but also what she stood for. We couldn’t be more deeply moved and grateful.”