Vic Simms facts for kids

Simms performing in 2007

William Victor Simms (29 January 1946 – February 2025), known as Vic Simms, Vicki Simms and Uncle Vic, was an Australian singer and songwriter. He was from La Perouse, New South Wales, and was a Bidjigal man. He performed with Johnny O'Keefe, Shirley Bassey and Robie Porter among other prominent singers.

Biography

Early life

Simms was born on 29 January 1946 on La Perouse Mission in the south east of Sydney. He was one of 10 children.

1957–2025: Career

Simms began his singing career at age 12 at the Manly Jazzorama Music Festival in 1957, In 1961, he released his debut single (as "Vicki Simms"), "Yo-Yo Heart" on Festival Records, at age 15.

After committing a robbery, he was sent to prison. Whilst incarcerated, he learnt how to play guitar and started writing songs.

In 1973, his music was heard by a Robin Hood Foundation and they sent a tape to RCA who organised to have him record an album. This album was recorded in one hour with a mobile studio in the prison dining room and was released as The Loner. It has been described as "Australia's great lost classic album of black protest music". After the release of the album he was sent on tours of other prisons, shopping malls and the Sydney Opera House as an example of a model prisoner. After he was convinced he was being used he refused to continue the shows.

After his release from prison, he reentered the entertainment industry. He toured Australian prisons and, in 1990, he toured Canada with Roger Knox and Bobby McLeod where they played in prisons and on reservations.

In 1996, he released a covers album titled From the Heart.

At the Deadly Awards 2001 he was awarded Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal Music.

Simms began teaching at the University of New South Wales in 2009. The same year, The Loner was added to the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia registry. In 2013, it was re-released by Sandman records.

"Selections From the Loner" was released by Painted Ladies 6 June 2014. Songs from the original album were re-recorded by artists including Luke Peacock, Paul Kelly and Vic Simms himself.

In 2024, he was awarded an honorary degree from the University of New South Wales.

Simms died of natural causes in February 2025, at the age of 79.

Discography

Albums

Extended plays

Awards

Deadly Awards

The Deadly Awards, (commonly known simply as The Deadlys), was an annual celebration of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in music, sport, entertainment and community. They ran from 1996 to 2013.