Troy Cassar-Daley humbled by awards haul

TROY Cassar-Daley has a big place in his heart for the Golden Guitars.

When he inspected the flood-ravaged basement of his Queensland farmhouse the first item he salvaged was one of the statuettes.

He also dragged out a banjo, given by his wife Laurel, upon which he would later write award-winning songs, but even that didn't match the relief of accounting for his collection.

"The award was for a song called Born To Survive so it couldn't have been a more fitting one to find," recalled Cassar-Daley.

"I didn't even have the heart to wipe off all the mud properly just so that I'd be reminded about that moment forever.

"I was more worried about finding that award than our car."

While "cooler" musicians play down the significance of awards in the context of their art, Cassar-Daley has been gratefully receiving Australia's greatest country music accolade since 1996.

The prolific singer-songwriter has 25 Golden Guitars after winning four more at the CMAA Awards, the finale to this year's Tamworth Music Festival.

The latest haul, including best male, song, and album of the year, moves him level with John Williamson as the third most celebrated artist in CMAA history.

"Winning awards is nothing to be scoffed at but I always get embarrassed when there's that many to tell you the truth," Cassar-Daley said before Saturday's ceremony.

"You find yourself running out of people to thank but I'm always grateful for each one."

Fortunately for Australian country music fans, Cassar-Daley has not been running out of things to say on record.

Over 10 albums, the 43-year-old singer has been moving closer to the heights he sets in emulating the songwriting prowess of his idols Slim Dusty and Merle Haggard.

His musicianship was never in question but his lyrics have sharpened.

"I've always prided myself as a musician more than a singer or lyricist so there's always been room to grow.

"When you're learning you've got to be living so I'm continually trying to express myself in different ways."

Cassar-Daley's latest album Home, recorded last year, was a direct response to the 2010-2011 floods that claimed lives, livestock, livelihoods and homes.

Songs such as The River Runs and Country Is were directly inspired by the disaster, and Cassar-Daley was determined his sympathies would not only be conveyed through song.

He went on tour to entertain flood victims, on occasions requiring a boat to reach flood-affected areas, and held a number of benefit concerts including one for a family who could not afford to bury their baby son.

Despite having to rescue his own property, Cassar-Daley's attentions were concerned at the people around him.

"We only spend half of our time at the farm but for the people around us it was their absolute home," he said.

"To me the album was a chance to re-evaluate the meaning of home and talk about the importance of family. I took it for granted until I saw how disaster can affect entire communities."

Born to Maltese-Australian father and an Aboriginal mother, Cassar-Daley grew up in Grafton with a guitar in hand.

He started busking on the streets of Tamworth at 11 under the wing of his uncle Jimmy, a "one-man PR machine" who badgered the big artists of the day like Jimmy Little to give him a break.

He honed his songwriting skills on a seven-month tour with Brian Young before returning home and replacing James Blundell as frontman of The Blue Heeler Band.

After going solo, his debut album Dream Out Loud scooped the 1995 ARIA for best country record and a year later he won a first Golden Guitar.

Cassar-Daley hopes to win more.

"I never stop writing and I'm always looking forward but I have to be inspired before I write an album. There's got to be a reason behind it."

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