Castlemaine country music singer and songwriter, Colin ‘Fish’ Fraser, was honoured to be a finalist in the recent Tamworth Songwriters Salute Awards.
The 76-year-old said that he discovered his passion for music later in life.
After a relationship breakdown at 55 he picked up the guitar and hasn’t looked back.
“I had a few lessons initially but it never quite worked out. But I was later invited to jam with some other local musos at Maldon and before I knew it I was hooked,” he said.
Colin enjoyed a trip to Le Mars, Iowa in the US with a musician friend, which further sparked his interest.
In the years since, he has found his voice and now enjoys regularly singing and performing with friends at the Maryborough and Bendigo Clubs and at walk ups at various festivals and events.
“My partner Lyn and I travel to Nanango Country Music Muster every year where I enjoy walk ups and have also played on the main stage. We also enjoy travelling and I often pull out the guitar at caravan parks wherever we stop over.
“It’s a wonderful way to connect with people. We have made a lot of friends on the road and in the country music scene,” he said.
Colin is a fan of traditional Australian country music by greats such as Slim Dusty, and also enjoys the work of up and coming artist Tom Maxwell.
“Tom has collaborated with and recorded songs written by the late acclaimed bush poet and songwriter Ray Rose and I just love his material,” he said.
In later years, Colin began writing his own songs and lyrics and even released his own album Songs For You.
The songwriter believes he has honed his craft as time has gone on and his songs have improved a lot.
“It’s about finding lyrics that really resonate with people,” he said.
This year Colin entered four songs in the Tamworth Songwriters’ Association Inc’s ‘Tamworth Songwriters Salute Awards’ for the first time and was thrilled to be a semi finalist in three divisions.
He collected a semi finalist gong in the New Songwriter Section for Two Dollar Lair and a semi finalist nod in the Geoff Mack Commemorative Award for Lyrics Only for Australia has it all and The Soldiers Battle.
Colin was also thrilled to be a finalist in the Garry Koelher Commemorative Award for Novice Songwriting with Singer of Renown.
“With 200 or 300 songs in each category this was a huge honour,” he said.
“It’s a real thrill when you hear one played on the radio.”
Locals can catch Colin’s catchy tune Two Dollar Lair on YouTube. But beware, she’s an earworm!
Colin’s latest success goes to prove it’s never too late to try something new. You may just discover a lifelong passion.