ABOUT 25 years ago, Troy Cassar-Daley was broke, couch-surfing in Tamworth and scraping together 15 bucks for petrol.
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He was just as happy then as he is now, but with more time and money to dedicate to his music - he's taken his daughter Jem out on the road before his Tamworth show, Celebrating the Ladies of Country Music.
"Jem is a really smart kid and she wants to go to university but I suggested she do a gap year and come out and see our country," Cassar-Daley said.
"I've been mentoring her as much as I can but I don't push her, I hate pushy stage parents and people who live through their kids.
"I'm staying out of the way and letting her do her own thing, but it's been amazing to do my Greatest Hits Tour with my daughter."
The tour has given him time to reflect on the last quarter of a century in country music.
When he first began, Cassar-Daley said he didn't know where he would fit in the industry and whether his singing style would be accepted.
It was a few choice words from Slim Dusty that helped him find his place, he said.
He just told me to run my own race, not to look left or right and not to run all the time.
- Troy Cassar-Daley
"Slim Dusty pulled me aside at a show in WA and asked how I was finding it," he said.
"I told him I was finding it hard, I didn't sing bush ballads like him or rock and roll like Keith Urban.
"He just told me to run my own race, not to look left or right and not to run all the time.
"That's some of the best advice I've ever gotten, here was Slim saying it's okay not to be these other artists."
Cassar-Daley's Tamworth show will celebrate the ladies of country music with the help of some special guests.
It's just in time for the grand lady of country music Joy McKean's 90th birthday celebrations.
McKean won the first ever Golden Guitar Award and later married Slim Dusty.
"It's time we put a spotlight on them, for Joy to be turning 90 at the festival, that to me is incredible," Cassar-Daley said.
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"The performance is important to me to celebrate, we see women like Gina Jeffreys have kids and still make music - but some women don't come back.
"Some women we haven't heard from in a while and there needs to be a celebration of their input to acknowledge what they're doing."
Troy Cassar-Daley performs January 22 and January 23 at TRECC.
Madeline Link
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
