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Australia John Schumann OAM is a distinguished Australian singer-songwriter and musician, recognized for his powerful storytelling and advocacy for social justice and the veteran community.
John Schumann's works are published and managed by Universal Music Publishing Australia, encompassing his extensive catalog from his leadership of Redgum and his solo career, including his Vietnam veterans' anthem, "I Was Only 19."
Schumann performs with his band, The Vagabond Crew, named after a line in a Henry Lawson poem. They have a stellar reputation on the festival circuit and have released albums like "Lawson," "Behind The Lines," and "Ghosts and Memories."
John Schumann has a multi-album deal with ABC Music. His albums, such as "Behind the Lines" and "Ghosts and Memories," have been released through this label, often in collaboration with Universal Music Australia.
Australian hip-hop group The Herd covered Schumann's "I Was Only 19" in 2006, with Schumann contributing some vocals to their version, bringing the song to a new generation.
In 2011, Schumann collaborated with the Australian Defence Department on "Dents in the Soul," a project aimed at assisting soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder. He has also performed for Australian forces overseas multiple times.
Schumann recorded a duet titled "Kokoda – Only The Brave Ones" with country music artist Lee Kernaghan for Kernaghan's 2015 album "Spirit of the Anzacs." The song reflects on Australian wartime history.
The Australian Army commissioned John Schumann to write "Every Anzac Day" in 2015, a song commemorating Aboriginal soldiers who served in the Australian military. It was released ahead of the Gallipoli landings' 100th anniversary.
Born on May 18, 1953, in North Adelaide, South Australia, John Lewis Schumann embarked on his musical journey by studying philosophy, English, and drama at Flinders University. In 1975, he co-founded the political folk band Redgum, where he served as the lead singer and songwriter. The band gained national recognition, particularly for their chart-topping hit “I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Light Green)” in March 1983. This song provided a poignant look into the psychological and medical aftermath of the Vietnam War on Australian soldiers and played a role in assisting Vietnam veterans during the 1983 Royal Commission into Agent Orange. Before Redgum became a full-time band in late 1980, Schumann balanced his musical pursuits with a career teaching English and Drama at Marion High School.
Schumann’s career with Redgum included writing other significant songs such as “Long Run,” “The Last Frontier,” and “I’ve Been to Bali Too.” The band toured internationally in 1985, performing at major festivals across England and Europe, including the Edinburgh Festival and in Belfast. After leaving Redgum in late 1985 to prioritize his family, Schumann pursued a solo career with CBS, releasing albums such as “Etched in Blue” (1987) and the children’s record “Looby Loo” (1989). His 1987 single “Borrowed Ground” earned him the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) Most Performed Australasian Country Work Award in 1988. He continued with Sony in 1992, releasing “Eyes on Fire,” followed by the album “True Believers” (1993) with Columbia Records.
Beyond his musical contributions, Schumann has been a vocal advocate for social justice, engaging in campaigns such as rallying against Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen and the ‘Save The Franklin River’ movement. He served as chief of staff for Australian Democrats leader Meg Lees and contested the federal election in 1998, narrowly missing a win against Alexander Downer. Since 2005, he has performed with John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew, releasing albums like “Lawson” (2005) and “Behind the Lines” (2008), which focus on Australian culture and wartime experiences. He has performed for Australian troops overseas in East Timor, Afghanistan, and the Solomon Islands. In 2014, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), and in 2022, he was appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant contributions to music and the veteran community.
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