Bobby Cash (born 13 February 1961) is an Indian
country music singer, songwriter,
guitarist[10]and
composer[11] who lives in
Clement Town, a suburb of
Dehradun district in the state of
Uttarakhand.[14]
He is praised by media for being India's first international country music artist who has charted singles in Australia,[25] and also for being the only Indian country music artist to be featured in a
documentary film, The Indian Cowboy...One in a Billion, aired on
ABC Television (Australia) in January 2004 and on
Discovery channel in India in June 2004.[35] He is known as "The Indian
Cowboy, one in a billion" by media.[36]
Early life
Cash grew up in Clement Town, Dehradun. An aunt of his, who lived in
Nashville, Tennessee, regularly sent the latest country music releases of the time to Cash's mother. This was the music he grew up listening to and which he loved so much that he taught himself to play the guitar and sing those songs.[37] Because of the dearth of other country music style
genre musicians, he developed his own
guitar style that encompassed playing
bass lines,
rhythm,
finger-picking and lead to give a unique sound.[38]
While in Dehradun, Cash gave music lessons[41]and occasionally performed for the armed forces.[42] It was only in 1995, after his father died, that he moved to New Delhi to pursue a career as a solo musical artist.[44]
Career
Early music career (1995–2002)
Cash's career began performing in
New Delhi, at the popular hot spot, Rodeo.[50]
While in New Delhi, he briefly dabbled in
Indian pop music.
In 1996, he recorded his first Indian pop album Yeh Pyaar Hai under the
Magnasound (India) label with Indian pop director and producer,
Jawahar Wattal.
This was followed by a guitar
instrumental the same year called Film Hits on Guitar[54] In 1998, Cash recorded Ruk Ja Baby with Archies Music.[55]
Indian pop, however, could not capture Cash's heart and he returned to his first love, country music.[56]
2003–present
A chance meeting with Australian film producer, Colin Bromley while in New Delhi, resulted in Cash being invited to the
Tamworth Country Music Festival in New South Wales, Australia. Having heard him sing, and being impressed by his musicianship, Bromley, producer/director of Sydney-based television production house, Gobsmacked and Gerry O'Leary, Gobsmacked's head of production, decided to make a film on Cash performing in the festival and see what happened there. Thus, in January 2003, Cash went to perform in the Tamworth Country Music Festival.[64] An unknown, Cash struck a chord with the country music lovers there and grabbed the attention of the media.[65] A local wealthy farmer, Roy Eykamp, came forward and offered to finance Cash's debut country music album[67] What happened at the festival, and Cash rising from being an unknown to celebrity status became the subject of Bromley's documentary film, The Indian Cowboy...One in a Billion.[68]
In June 2005, Cash's music was recognized in the United States by the
Country Music Association, Nashville, Tennessee.
India is listed on the country music world map as one of the foreign territories outside the United States with a country music culture and Cash was invited as one of CMA's nominees for Global Artist of the Year Award given in recognition for furthering of country music in a territory other than the United States. While he did not win the Award, Cash's performance at The Stage on
Broadway did lead to a standing ovation led by the then chief of CMA, Ed Benson.[77]
The same year, heading back to Australia, he proceeded to record his second album, Phoenix to El Paso, a collection of cover versions of crowd favorites.[83]
In 2006, he recorded a third album, State of My Heart.[86]
Both albums, Cowboy at Heart and State of My Heart had several tracks from them making it to the Top Ten Australian country music charts. In August 2014, his music single "Ashiyaan" was published by Songdew[87]
Cash toured and played extensively in Australia for a number of years.[88] Currently, he tours mostly in India playing and promoting country music.[90]
Personal life
Cash lives with his wife Angelina and two children in
Clement Town, Dehradun, India.[91]
Discography
Hindi pop albums (India)
Yeh Pyaar Hai (Magnasound, 1996)
Film Hits On Guitar (Magnasound, 1996)
Ruk Ja Baby (Archies Music, 1998)
Country music albums (Australia)
Cowboy at Heart (Gobsmacked Television, Australia, 2003 & Universal Music, India, 2004)
Phoenix to El Paso (Gobsmacked Music, Australia, 2004)
State of My Heart (Gobsmacked Music, 2006)
Singles
"World Beneath My Wings" (from the album Light of Hope, Meat Pie Music (APRA), 2008)[92]
Documentary film
The Indian Cowboy...One in a Billion (2004)
Rockumentary: Evolution of Indian Rock (2018)
Bollywood song
"Budhau" (from the Hindi language feature film Gulabo Sitabo (2020, Rising Sun Productions, Amazon Prime Video)[93][94]
References
^
abcdGraham McDonald
"Act bound to raise a country smile"
The Canberra Times
February 9, 2004
^
abcdeAlison Rehn
"Hit-singing cowboy is an Indian"
The Courier-Mail, Brisbane
March 27, 2004
^
abcdefgSusan Kurosawa
"Cash and curry"
The Australian
November 27 – December 3, 2003
^
abhttp://trove.nla.gov.au/version/12250151
"The Indian cowboy (videorecording) one in a billion"
Published (Australia) : Gobsmacked Television Pty Ltd
Produced in association with the Australian Film Commission
2003, English, Video Edition
^
abcd"Indian cowboy is a one in a billion"
Northern Daily Leader Festival Update
(Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia)
January 15, 2004
p. 5
^
abcAnna Rose (country music writer)
"The lone cowboy in a billion"
Northern Daily Leader
(Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia)
January 8, 2004
p. 16
^
abcd"Cowboy down a country road"
Panorama Upfront(Australia)
January 24, 2004
p. 5
^
abcScott Jenkins
"A country boy at heart", "Tamworthy"
The Daily Telegraph
(Sydney, New South Wales, Australia)
January 22, 2004
^
abcdMichael Shmith
"When Delhi meets Tamworth" (preview The Indian Cowboy: One in a Billion)
The Age
January 22, 2004
p. 20
^
abBrian Courtis
January 18–24, 2004
Review of "The Indian Cowboy: One In A Billion" ABC, 10pm
The Sun-Herald Television Magazine, Critics choice (Australia)
^
ab"Indian Cowboy Excels in Tamworth"
Bharat Times, Local News, (Australia)
February 2003
p. 11
^Anna Rose
"Bobby Cash the Indian who wants to be a cowboy"
Northern Daily Leader
(Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia)
September 6, 2002
^
abcDeborah Minter
December 2003
"Cowboy at Heart"
Country Music Capital News, Sound Advice, Album Reviews
(Australia)
p. 52
^
abcdAnna Rose (Country Music writer)
"Bobby Cash back in town for Hats Off"
Northern Daily Leader
(Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia)
June 7, 2003
p. 3
^
ab"The Indian Cowboy: One in a Billion"
The Sunday Telegraph,
(Sydney, New South Wales, Australia)
January 18–24, 2004
p. 4
^
abcPeter Holder, Jo Casamento and Naomi Toy
"Sydney Confidential, Murmurs"
The Daily Telegraph (Australia)
January 4, 2003
^
abSacha Molitorisz
"The Indian Cowboy: One in a Billion"
The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
January 22, 2004
The Guide, p. 16
^https://itunes.apple.comLight of Hope by various artists (Music CD)
"The World Beneath My Wings", (Artist – Bobby Cash)
Released : 04 July 2008
Meat Pie Music (APRA)