Troy Cassar-Daley

Troy Cassar-Daley (born 18 May 1969) is an Australian country music songwriter and entertainer, and author.
Cassar-Daley has released thirteen studio albums, two live albums and five compilation albums over 30 years, including the platinum-selling "The Great Country Songbook" with Adam Harvey. Throughout this time he has received awards including 4 ARIA Music Awards, 37 Golden Guitars, 9 Deadly Awards (Australian Indigenous Artist Awards), 4 Country Music Association of Australia Entertainer of the Year awards and 2 National Indigenous Music Awards.
In August 2016 Cassar-Daley released his first book, an autobiography of his early life and music career titled "Things I Carry Around" with an accompanying album of the same title. In 2017 Cassar-Daley was the 50th inductee into the prestigious Australian Roll of Renown.
Early life and career.
Cassar-Daley was born in the Sydney suburb of Surry Hills to a Maltese-Australian father and an Aboriginal mother. At a very young age, he moved with his mother to Grafton in north-eastern New South Wales. At eleven, Troy went to the Tamworth Country Music Festival and returned the next year to busk on the streets. At 16 he and his band, Little Eagle, were touring the North Coast of New South Wales and he made the top 10 in Tamworth's Toyota Star Maker Quest. He won the 1986 "Search for a Star" competition and then toured with Brian Young for seven months in which he began to develop his songwriting skills. After returning home he replaced James Blundell as leader of country music band The Blue Heeler Band.
2018 – present.
In October 2018 Cassar-Daley released his 42-track double album Greatest Hits, along with a new single called "Wouldn't Change A Thing" on the Bloodlines label, part of Mushroom Group. The extensive album was also released on vinyl.
In June 2020, Cassar-Daley inked a worldwide label deal with Sony Music Entertainment Australia. It is a full-circle moment for the Australian country music star, who first signed to the major label in 1995 to launch his record-breaking career.
Personal life.
Troy is married to radio and television presenter Laurel Edwards with whom he has two children.
In 2020, Troy's participation in Australia's Who Do You Think You Are? was broadcast on SBS, where he traced both his ancestral roots on his father's side in Malta, and his mother's Aboriginal Australian ancestry.
Awards and nominations.
AIR Awards.
The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector. They commenced in 2006.
APRA Awards.
Cassar-Daley had been nominated for 12 awards, winning 3 at the APRA Awards.
ARIA Awards.
Cassar-Daley had been nominated for 12 awards, winning 4 at the ARIA Music Awards
! Lost to
CMAA Awards.
The Country Music Awards of Australia is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. Cassar-Daley has won 37 awards; second only to Slim Dusty. Cassar-Daley was inducted into the Australian Roll of Renown in 2019. 
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.
National Indigenous Music Awards.
The National Indigenous Music Awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians from throughout Australia. They commenced in 2004.
Queensland Music Awards.
The Queensland Music Awards (previously known as Q Song Awards) are annual awards celebrating Queensland, Australia's brightest emerging artists and established legends. They commenced in 2006.