Vic Simms

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Australian singer (1946–2025)

title: "Vic Simms" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1946-births", "2025-deaths", "indigenous-australian-musicians", "australian-male-singers", "australian-male-songwriters", "australian-guitarists", "australian-male-guitarists", "academic-staff-of-the-university-of-new-south-wales"] description: "Australian singer (1946–2025)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vic_Simms" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Australian singer (1946–2025) ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Vic_Simms.jpg" caption="Simms performing in 2007"] ::

William Victor Simms (29 January 1946 – 8 February 2025), known as Vic Simms, Vicki Simms and Uncle Vic, was an Australian singer who 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

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

Simms began his singing career aged 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, aged 15.

After getting into alcohol and committing a robbery, he was sent to prison. Whilst incarcerated in the notorious Bathurst Gaol 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 on 8 February 2025, at the age of 79.

Discography

Albums

::data[format=table title="List of albums, with selected details"]

TitleDetailsThe LonerFrom the Heart
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Extended plays

::data[format=table title="List of EPs, with selected details"]

TitleDetailsYo Yo Heart
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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. |- | 2001 | Vic Simms | Outstanding Contribution to Music | |-

References

References

  1. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20170103004138/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/messagestick/stories/s1484180.htm "Once in a Lifetime" the story of Vic Simms]''. ''[[Message Stick]].'' ABC''.'' 21 October 2005. Archived from [https://www.abc.net.au/tv/messagestick/stories/s1484180.htm the original] on 3 January 2017.
  2. Aaron (30 July 2013). [https://web.archive.org/web/20160917163547/http://messandnoise.com/features/4604590 Vic Simms: ‘I Wasn’t In The Position To Make Demands]. ''Mess and Noise''. Archived from [http://messandnoise.com/features/4604590 the original] on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  3. (27 August 2024). "Ordinary Council – Business Papers".
  4. Michie, Isabella. (21 September 2024). "From rock and roll to medical tutor, Uncle Vic's 'fractured fairytale' recognised with honorary degree". ABC News.
  5. link. (7 August 2008.)
  6. [https://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/01/1088488079139.html?from=storyrhs Jailhouse rocker]. ''The Age''. 2 July 2004.
  7. link. (20 December 2008. The 2001 Deadlys.)
  8. National Film and Sound Archive [https://nfsa.gov.au/collection/national-collection/sound/sounds-australia/complete-list/ Sounds of Australia registry]. {{webarchive. link. (11 May 2011.)
  9. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180918082137/https://www.sandmanrecords.com.au/sand422.html Vic Simms – The Loner]''. Sandman Records''. Archived from [https://www.sandmanrecords.com.au/sand422.html the original] on 18 September 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  10. [https://www.discogs.com/Vic-Simms-The-Loner/release/5160536 Vic Simms – The Loner (CD, Album)]. ''Discogs''. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  11. (27 June 2014). "Reviving The Tunes Of Vic Simms".
  12. O'Neill, Sharon (15 November 2013). [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-15/musician-vic-simms-survives-alcoholism-and-jail-before-revival/5095514 Vic Simms album The Loner revived by Australian musicians including Paul Kelly]. ''ABC''. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  13. [https://web.archive.org/web/20170222143109/https://www.thepaintedladies.com.au/recording-info/ Recording Info]. ''Painted Ladies''. Archived from [https://www.thepaintedladies.com.au/recording-info/ the original] on 22 February 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  14. Fidler, Richard. (4 March 2016). "Musicians Vic Simms and Luke Peacock bring new life to 'The Loner'".
  15. (9 February 2025). "Legendary musician and proud Bidjigal Elder Uncle Vic Simms dies aged 78". ABC News.

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1946-births2025-deathsindigenous-australian-musiciansaustralian-male-singersaustralian-male-songwritersaustralian-guitaristsaustralian-male-guitaristsacademic-staff-of-the-university-of-new-south-wales