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Allan Caswell

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Allan Caswell
Born
David Allan Caswell

(1952-03-09) 9 March 1952 (age 72)
Chester, UK
Occupation(s)Songwriter, singer, author, record producer, journalist and teacher
Years active1966~present
Known forTheme song of television soap opera Prisoner

David Allan Caswell, publishing under pen name Allan Caswell is an English Australian songwriter and performer, author, record producer, freelance journalist and teacher. He has had over 1200 songs published and over 650 recordings of his songs worldwide in a career lasting over 40 years.

His best-known song is “On The Inside” (the theme from the television series Prisoner).[1] It was a No. 1 record in Australia and New Zealand. It reached No. 3 in the UK and also featured on the Billboard Country charts in the USA.

Awards and recognition

Allan has been awarded with 7 Golden Guitars at the Country Music Awards of Australia. As a songwriter he has received 2 gold single awards an APRA award, and an ARIA award. He also has been awarded 1 platinum and 3 gold records for his writing and production work on a series of children's albums featuring Don Spencer.

He has performed as an artist in every state of Australia, as well as appearing on stages in the US and New Zealand. He has performed for Australian troops stationed in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.

He currently resides in Medlow Bath in the NSW Blue Mountains and continues to write and record songs. He also worked for 10 years with children in juvenile detention and behavioral schools (on behalf of the Australian Children’s Music Foundation) teaching music and songwriting as a way for young people to integrate into the community.

Early years

Allan Caswell, was born in Chester and grew up in North Wales, Berkshire and South London before migrating to Australia in 1966. He was educated at Wimbledon County Secondary School and later at South Sydney Boys High School. He has worked full-time in the Australian Music Industry since 1979.

Music industry history

Allan Caswell’s songwriting career started in 1973 when Chris Gilbey signed a song he had written with his brother Brian Caswell to Albert Music in Sydney. However it was 6 years later when Allan Caswell had a song recorded. Again he was signed by Chris Gilbey, this time to the newly formed Australian subsidiary of ATV Music Limited - ATV Northern Songs. The first song signed was “On The Inside” [2] which became the theme for the television series “Prisoner” and later a major international hit song. The success of “On The Inside” triggered a succession of recordings by artists of the caliber of Patti Page, Cilla Black, The Irish Rovers, Max Bygraves and Acker Bilk, Slim Dusty, The Living End, Chad Morgan, Lynne Hamilton, James Blundell, Anne Kirkpatrick, Don Spencer, Graeme Connors, The Delltones, Doug Ashdown and Ricky May.

Caswell won his first Golden Guitar in Tamworth for Best New Talent in 1980, Song of the Year in 1981, 1983 and 1986, Male Vocalist of the Year in 1988, Vocal Collaboration Of The Year (with Drew McAlister) in 2007 and Bush Ballad Of The Year (With Manfred Vijars)in 2016. In 1988 he was the recipient of the Songmaker Award.[3] Caswell has been Awarded 9 Southern Star Awards (Australian Independent Country Music Awards), including 3 times Album Of The Year. In 2016 He won an unprecedented 5 Awards Album, Single, Heritage Track, Male Vocal,and Independent Artist Of The Year.

2016 has proved to be a huge year for Caswell … He celebrated the 50th Anniversary of his arrival in Australia in 1966 with an album called 50 YEARS IN OZ, a Golden Guitar, 5 Southern Star Awards and had 55 of his songs recorded in a single year.

In 2006 Caswell published his first book “Writing Great Song Lyrics”.[4] The book has proved popular with young songwriters and is an important part of his many songwriting workshops.

Recent years

Caswell released his 15th album in July 2016 and continues to write, produce, and lecture on songwriting. He intends to complete work on his autobiography “My Version Of The Truth” (a story of survival in the Australian Music Industry).

In 1995 Caswell was asked by Don Spencer, on behalf of his Australian Children’s Music Foundation, to work with children in Juvenile Detention teaching music and songwriting. He has helped set up similar programs in other centres. He also worked with the Foundation in their aim of making music accessible to underprivileged children.

Discography

  • Caswell Sings Caswell - Shoestring Records 2001
  • Don't Count On It - Shoestring Records 2002
  • Al's Bar And Grill - Shoestring Records 2006
  • "Stong Enough" EP for Lifeline 2007
  • Rules For Love - Shoestring Records 2008
  • "Behind Bars" -Shoestring Records 2010
  • "Just Kidding" - Shoestring Records 2011
  • "It's A Country Song" Shoestring Records 2012
  • " Sometimes When You Lose You Win" Shoestring Records2013
  • "My Version Of The Truth" Shoestring Records 2015
  • " 50 Years In Oz" Shoestring Records 2016
  • "Mexico" Shoestring Records 2018

References

  1. ^ DOUGHTY J (8 October 1987). "ALLAN CASWELL LOVES HIS COUNTRY". COURIER-MAIL. Nationwide News Pty Limited.
  2. ^ "On The Inside", [1], National Library of Australia's online catalogue
  3. ^ Tamworth Songwriters Association"Songmaker Award"
  4. ^ "Writing Great Song Lyrics, [2], National Library of Australia's online catalogue
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