JAN 24 - As India's only country music artist, Bobby Cash often has to
contend with preconceptions that his music is just a gimmick.
With his Bollywood good looks beneath his black cowboy hat, he certainly is
a novel sight, and some are tempted to dismiss him as a novelty act.
But as Cash says, you only have to listen to him perform a single song to
know this man is "the real deal".
A charismatic guitar virtuoso with a unique style and a smooth Nashville
singing voice, Cash has built a strong following in Australia, visiting
several times a year to play to rapt audiences.
Born Bal Kishore Das Loiwal, Cash grew up in northern India. When he was
young his aunt moved to the US and fell in love with country music, sending
back albums which Bobby in turn fell in love with: Johnny Cash, Willie
Nelson, Jim Reeves.
He taught himself guitar and started writing his own country tunes.
"It wasn't something that was supposed to be done, but I didn't know the
rules and I didn't care," Cash said.
After years of playing a genre of music totally unknown in India, a chance
meeting with an Australian film producer landed him a trip to the 2003
Tamworth Country Music Festival.
There he garnered enough money and support to record his first album and
started winning over audiences all over the country.
He's been coming every year since.
"I love Tamworth," Cash said.
 "It was the first place I came in Australia and the people were so accepting
and nice and helpful, it was love at first sight - this is my kind of town."
Which is why Cash has chosen to coincide his festival visit with the
recording of his third album, due out in April.
But while his musical career is taking off around the world (he is also
building a following in the US), India remains Cash's first priority.
He and his family run a school for underprivileged children in his home town
of Dehruda.
"It was just something I felt I should do, because I think education equals
empowerment," Cash said.
"And if you can get a few children educated and empowered you can change the
destiny not only of that child but of their families as well," he said.
"And if I can do well as an artist I can always put what I earn into this
project and, also, if I get a big name I can always use that to take the
project forward in a positive direction."
But while Cash can attract up to 10,000 people to concerts in India, country
music certainly hasn't secured a foothold there.
"As far as visible country artists go, I'm still the only one," he said.
One in a billion.
(AAP) |
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