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West Australian Music News

Jun26

CMAA - PILBARA ARTIST BENNY WOODLEY JNR AWARDED CMAA SCHOLARSHIP

26/06/2012 4:26:00 PM by Justine Thornley

Australian iron ore producer BC Iron Limited is pleased to announce that the Palyku People of Western Australia have confirmed that Benny Woodley Junior has been selected to participate in the 2012 Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) Academy of Country Music Senior Course held in Tamworth, New South Wales.

This is a result of a long term partnership between BC Iron and the Palyku People of the Pilbara region, which includes an ongoing contribution from BC Iron into a Scholarship Fund designated for the Palyku People as part of a Native Title Agreement established in April 2010.

The Senior Course is designed for singers, songwriters and instrumentalists over the age of 18 years and has produced more than 300 graduates over the past 14 years including a number of high profile artists such as Jessica Mauboy. It commenced on Saturday 23 June 2012 and concludes two weeks later after the Graduation Concert on Saturday 7 July. The Senior Course coincides with the ‘Hats Off Country Music Festival’ in Australia’s country music capital, Tamworth.

The Palyku People have confirmed that their Scholarship Fund is contributing to all the costs associated with Benny Woodley Junior’s attendance on the Senior Course. These costs include airfares to and from Tamworth, accommodation, meals, master classes, tuition and the use of a pro tools recording studio.

Benny Woodley Junior, currently 22 years of age, was born in Perth in 1989 before he moved to Hedland at the age of five to be closer to his extended family. Benny attended Hedland Senior High School and grew up listening to country music including songs from Hank Williams, Merle Haggard and John Fogarty. By the age of 12, he owned his first acoustic guitar and two years later was given his first electric guitar. At the age of 16, Benny took part in his first ever music recording where he played rhythm and bass guitar as well as the drums for his father’s album.

After returning to Perth in 2003 and completing his education at Swan View High School, Benny commenced a career working for Fortescue Metals Group in the Pilbara on a mine site. While operating haul trucks on 12 hour shifts, he found the inspiration and time to write songs. This led to him recording his first song that he wrote at 21 years old and a year later he had produced an album entitled “Little Benny, No Place Like Home”, which is due to be released later this year.

In addition to his musical talents of playing the drums, guitar, saxophone and piano, Benny is a qualified Personal Fitness Trainer from the Australian Institute of Sport and represented the Swan Districts Colts at West Australian Football League (WAFL) level for several years.

Benny Woodley Junior said, “I have always enjoyed music and originally taught myself to play the drums and guitar but have recently learnt to write and record my own songs. I am really looking forward to working with leading musicians and artists to improve my musical skills. I would like to thank the Palyku People and BC Iron for providing me with this once in a lifetime opportunity and a chance to make my dreams come true.”

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