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Kirkpatrick was born in Kempsey , New South Wales , the son of a cattle farmer. He adopted the stage name "Slim Dusty" in 1938 at eleven years of age, in emulation of the singing cowboys such as US performer Gene Autry . His earliest musical influences included Jimmie Rodgers . Slim released his first record in 1943 at the age of sixteen.
His 1957 hit "A Pub With No Beer" was the biggest-selling record by an Australian to that time, and the first Australian single to go gold. Over the course of his career, he has collected more gold and platinum albums than any other Australian artist. (The "Pub With No Beer" is a real place, in Taylors Arm, New South Wales , not far from Kempsey where Slim Dusty was born).
Slim Dusty plaque at the National Truck Driver Memorial at
Tarcutta
In 1979 he was elevated to the Country Music Roll of Renown. In 1998 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).
Slim Dusty, with wife Joy McKean, were patrons of the National truck drivers' memorial located at Tarcutta , New South Wales.
When he died (of cancer), he had been working on his 106th album, for EMI Records. The album Columbia Lane - the Last Sessions debuted at number 5 in the Australian album charts and number one on the country charts on March 8 2004 . It went gold after being on sale for less than two weeks. The first single "Answer to Billy" was receiving more airplay than any other country song in the same period.
Slim Dusty was best known overseas for his moving rendition of Waltzing Matilda to close the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games .His daughter Anne Kirkpatrick is also an award-winning country singer.
There is an urban legend that Slim Dusty was the first artist broadcast from space. The only reference NASA has to Slim Dusty is in reference to a wake up call. During the flight of STS-89 "Singer From Down Under" was used as the wake up song on 1/26/98.
See also: Slim Dusty discography