NLA Collection

• About the collection
• Biographical note
• Series 1- Box 1
• Series 1- Box 2
• Series 1- Box 3
• Series 1- Box 4
• Series 1- Box 5
• Series 1- Box 6
• Series 1- Box 7

GUIDE TO THE PAPERS OF WARREN FAHEY AM.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Warren Fahey was born, Sydney, 3rd January, 1946, making him a post-war baby rather than a baby boomer. His father, George Patrick Fahey, was the eldest son of an extremely large (18 surviving children) Irish family raised in Balmain Street, Leichhardt, and his mother, Deborah Miriam Phillips (nee Solomon) was the eldest daughter of a British Jewish family of nine. He has one sibling, Zandra Stanton.

Educated at the Marist Brothers College, Kogarah, he commenced his commercial life in advertising agencies and as a youth worker before working exclusively in music. Throughout his music business life Fahey also managed a performance career and another life as a folklorist. He was a regular broadcaster on ABC radio for over twenty five years and has performed extensively as a solo artist and with his group, The Larrikins.

His interest in the music industry saw him establish Folkways Music and Larrikin Records and then, at a later stage, a period working as Deputy Managing Director of the Festival Mushroom Group. In 2000 he left FMG and established Planet Productions which he exited in 2003. He was a Director of the Australian Record Industry Association, the ARIA Awards Board of Governors and, in 1998, was instrumental in staging a major exhibition on the industry for the Powerhouse Museum. Many Australian artists received their first recording opportunity through Fahey including Eric Bogle, Robyn Archer and Redgum, to name a few.

As a performer he has made several sound recordings, toured extensively and developed a unique repertoire of Australian music.

Warren Fahey has written over a dozen books, mostly on folklore, music and history.

He has been honoured with the Order of Australia, Centennial Medal, Advance Australia Award and declared Republican of the Year.

He lives in Potts Point, Sydney, and continues his work as a folklorist, writer and performer.