Thanks to an upbringing in Broken Hill, Bluey Matthews has always had a strong love of country music.

Bluey used to perform with his band Country Blue, but when the band split in 1991 he decided to go solo. The upshot of that was his CD Memories, which he recorded with the help of Umeewarra Aboriginal Media Association.

Bluey says he called the album Memories because all the songs have a connection with his past.

“Thank You Darlin'” he wrote for his wife Christine in 1982. “Storms In My Heart” and “An Old Aboriginal Stockman” were written by Herbie Laughton from Alice Springs, a man who had some of his songs recorded by the late Buddy Williams.

“Goondi Windi Boondi” is a song Bluey always loves to sing as it reminds him of his son, Byron. “Natural High” and “Life’s Getting Better All The Time” were originally recorded by Slim Dusty. Because Bluey is one of Slim’s greatest fans he felt he couldn’t make a CD without including some of his songs.