Jimmy Little AO (b. 1937), singer, made his recording debut in 1956. Australia's first indigenous pop star, Little was one of a handful of well known Aboriginal people by the late 1950s. After a national number one hit, 'Royal Telephone', he was named Pop Star of the Year in 1964. Over the 1970s, by which time he had gained the nickname 'Gentleman Jim', Little's popularity lapsed, and he went on the club circuit. In a characteristically low-key resurgence, he won the Mo award in 1997, and in 1999 his album Messenger - featuring covers of songs by The Cruel Sea and The Church - won an ARIA Award for Best Adult Contemporary Album. At 64 he released his 29th album, Resonate (2001), and appeared in a duet with Kylie Minogue on Corroboration (2001). Listed as a National Living Treasure, Little has two honorary doctorates and won the Classic Rock Performer Mo Award in 2004.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2005
© John Elliott
Accession number: 2005.34
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John Elliott (19 portraits)
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves: who we read, who we watch, who we listen to, who we cheer for, who we aspire to be, and who we'll never forget. The Companion is available to buy online and in the Portrait Gallery Store.
John Elliott talks about his photographic portrait practice, including his iconic image of Slim Dusty arm-in-arm with Dame Edna Everage.
Drawn from some of the many donations made to the Gallery's collection, the exhibition Portraits for Posterity pays homage both to the remarkable (and varied) group of Australians who are portrayed in the portraits and the generosity of the many donors who have presented them to the Gallery.
Thousand mile stare provides a unique portrait of people of rural Australia
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