View source for Nicky Bomba

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Short description|Australian musician (born 1963)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name                = Nicky Bomba
| image               = John Butler Trio @ Sir Stewart Bovell Park (8 1 12) (6693053233).jpg
| image_size          =
| landscape           = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank -->
| alt                 =
| caption             = Bomba, as a member of [[John Butler Trio]], performing at the 2012 [[Southbound Festival]]
| background          = solo_singer
| birth_name          = Nicholas Caruana
| alias               =
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1963|9|7|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Malta]]
| origin              = [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], Australia
| death_date          = <!-- {{death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} (death date 1st) -->
| death_place         =
| genre               = [[Reggae]], [[funk]], [[Roots revival|roots]], [[jazz]], [[ska]], [[mento]]
| occupation          =
| instrument          = [[Drum kit|Drums]], [[Percussion instrument|percussion]], [[guitar]], [[singing|vocals]]
| years_active        = 1978–present
| label               = Transmitter<br>[[FOUR FOUR]]
| associated_acts     =
* [[Melbourne Ska Orchestra]]
* [[The Truth (Australian band)|The Truth]]
* [[Bomba (band)|Bomba]]
* [[John Butler Trio]]
* Bustamento
| website             = {{URL|nickybomba.com}}
}}
'''Nicholas Caruana''' (born 7 September 1963), also known as '''Nicky Bomba''', is an Australian musician and singer-songwriter. He is the leader of the ARIA Award-winning [[Melbourne Ska Orchestra]], frontman of his band, [[Bomba (band)|Bomba]], as well as the former drummer and percussionist of [[John Butler Trio]] (2003–04, 2009–13). He has performed in other acts and as a solo artist.<ref name="WhosWho">{{cite book|url=http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/aboutww.htm|title=The Who's Who of Australian Rock|chapter=Bomba, Nicky|chapter-url=http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/PHPMuso.php?categorywho=musos&userasks=11690|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|last1=Spencer|first1=Chris|first2=Paul|last2=McHenry|first3=Zbig|last3=Nowara|isbn=978-1-86503-891-9|orig-year=1989|year=2007|access-date=5 February 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229232852/http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/aboutww.htm|archive-date=29 February 2012|df=dmy-all}} Note: [on-line] version was expanded from the 2002 edition.</ref> His youngest sister, [[Danielle Caruana]], (who performs as Mama Kin), is married to his former bandmate, [[John Butler (musician)|John Butler]]. His older brother, Michael Caruana, is a member of Bomba and of Mama Kin's backing band.
==Early life==
Nicholas Caruana was born on 7 September 1963 in [[Malta]], he later performed under the name Nicky Bomba.<ref name="APRA">{{cite web|publisher=[[Australasian Performing Right Association]] (APRA) &#124; [[Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society]] (AMCOS)|title="Wait Until Tomorrow" at APRA search engine|url=http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Wait%20Until%20Tomorrow|access-date=24 August 2009}}</ref> His father, Nicholas "Nicol" Caruana (born 4 June 1933) and mother, Iris (born 8 October 1934) had four children, Josephine, Michael, Carmen and Nicholas, in Malta.<ref name="NAA A2478">{{cite web | url = http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=1240905&isAv=N | title = Item details for: A2478, Caruana N | publisher = [[National Archives of Australia]] | date = 29 April 1994 | access-date = 6 January 2015 }}</ref> The family migrated to Australia in late 1964 and lived in the Melbourne suburb of [[Newport, Victoria|Newport]]. They had two more children, including their youngest daughter, [[Danielle Caruana|Danielle]] (who later performed as Mama Kin).<ref name="Collins">{{cite news | work = The West Australian | url = https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/entertainment/a/6892207/mama-kin-born-into-music/ | title = Mama Kin Born into Music | last = Collins | first = Simon | date = 5 March 2010 | access-date = 6 January 2015 }}</ref> Bomba started learning drums when he was six years old.
==Career==
===1978-1997: Early years and The Truth===
{{main|The Truth (Australian band)}}
In 1978 Bomba formed a cover band with his brother, Michael, called Fugitive Flight. In 1982 they began playing original music with Peter Miller on lead vocals, Steve Morgan on bass guitar (later of [[Icehouse (band)|Icehouse]]), and Peter Weeda on guitar. They soon changed their name to Guided Tour. After working in a variety of lesser known bands, Bomba formed [[The Truth (Australian band)|The Truth]] in 1991 in Melbourne as a funk group.<ref name="Leedham">{{cite news | url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article130538303 | title = Truth Is Stranger than Fiction | last = Leedham | first = Nicole | newspaper = [[The Canberra Times|The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995)]] | date = 17 November 1994 | access-date = 6 January 2015 | page = 25 | publisher = [[National Library of Australia]] }}</ref> Initially Bomba was on drums with Michael on keyboards, Tony Kopa on lead vocals and Geoff Wells on guitars.<ref name="Leedham"/> Their debut single, "Secrets", was recorded in December 1992 and was followed by "My Heavy Friend" (1993).<ref name="Leedham"/> The Truth released a self-titled album in 1995, and in 1997 added a bass player, Mick Girasole, for the release of their second album, ''Headspace'' with the band re-branded as Truth. The Truth broke up in late 1997.
In September 1996 Bomba had supplied drums for [[Ross Hannaford|The Ross Hannaford Trio]], with Hannaford on lead vocals and guitar and Howard Cairns on bass guitar.<ref name="McFarlane"/> The trio issued a self-titled album on [[Mushroom Records]]<ref name="McFarlane">{{Cite book | last1 = McFarlane | first1 = Ian | author-link1 = Ian McFarlane | title = [[Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop]] | chapter = Encyclopedia entry for 'Ross Hannaford' | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040823035655/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=869 | chapter-url = http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=869 | access-date = 6 January 2014 | year = 1999 | publisher = [[Allen & Unwin]] | location = [[St Leonards, New South Wales|St Leonards, NSW]] | archive-date = 23 August 2004 | isbn = 1-86508-072-1 }}</ref><ref name="NLA RHT">{{cite web | author1 = The Ross Hannaford Trio | author-link1 = Ross Hannaford | title = ''The Ross Hannaford Trio'' | date = 1996 | publisher = [[Mushroom Records]]. National Library of Australia | url = http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/9150948 | access-date = 6 January 2015 }}</ref>
===1998-2004: formation of Banana Oil & Melbourne Ska Orchestra===
{{main|Bomba (band)|Melbourne Ska Orchestra}}
In 1998, Bomba formed a jazz band called Banana Oil, with Andy Baylor on guitar, Tim Neal on keyboards and David Williamson on saxophone. They released an album, ''Guavo Lampo''. At the [[APRA Music Awards of 1998]] Banana Oil members, Bomba (as Nicholas Caruana), Chris Tabone and Trevor Wraight, won Most Performed Jazz Work for their composition, "My Family".<ref name="APRA 1998">{{cite web | archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20090928021200/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/21044/20090928-1212/www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards/History/1998Winners.html | url = http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards/History/1998Winners.html | title = 1998 Winners | publisher = [[Australasian Performing Right Association]] (APRA) &#124; Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS) | archive-date = 28 September 2009 | year = 1998 | access-date = 7 January 2015 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The group were also nominated in the same category for "Baylorology" by Baylor and "Neal Shuffle" by Neal.<ref name="1998Nom">{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110308005035/http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards/Nominations/Nominations1998.aspx | url = http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards/Nominations/Nominations1998.aspx | title = Nominations – 1998 | publisher = Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) &#124; Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS) | archive-date = 8 March 2011 | access-date = 4 August 2018 }}</ref>
In 1999 Bomba formed the band [[Bomba (band)|Bomba]] as a reggae-funk group with himself on guitar, percussion and lead vocals; Simon Bourke on keyboards; Phil Bywater on alto and tenor saxophones and clarinet; Paul Coyle on trumpet and trombone; Barry Deenick on bass guitar and vocals; George Servanis on drums, percussion and vocals; and [[Mal Webb]] on trombone and vocals. In 2003 his brother, Michael, replaced Bourke on keyboards. By 2006 the group had released four albums, ''Population'' (April 2000), ''Solar Plexus'' (February 2002), ''Learn to Breathe'' (March 2005) and ''Bomba Vs. Laroz'' (September 2006).
In March 2003 Bomba founded the [[Melbourne Ska Orchestra]] with an ensemble of between 27 and 32 musicians.<ref name="Ross">{{cite web | url = http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/music/ska-orchestra-notches-up-10-years-of-skanking-fun-20130307-2foae.html | title = Ska orchestra notches up 10 years of skanking fun | publisher = [[Fairfax Media]] | last = Ross | first = Annabel | work = [[The Age]] | date = 8 March 2013 | access-date = 9 January 2015 }}</ref><ref name="Pascuzzi">{{cite web | url = http://www.mediasearch.com.au/music/festival/rocksteady2010.html | archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20100403131300/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/63544/20100404-0013/www.mediasearch.com.au/music/festival/rocksteady2010.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 3 April 2010 | title = RockSteady: The Roots of Reggae Concert | publisher = Mediasearch | last = Pascuzzi | first = Carmine | date = 1 May 2009 | access-date = 9 January 2015 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> His "idea was to get as many horn players as possible on stage at the same time playing ska skank, the accented upbeat that is typical of ska, the genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s."<ref name="Ross"/> In November that year Bomba joined [[John Butler (musician)|John Butler]] (his brother-in-law),<ref name="Leahey"/> together with [[Shannon Birchall]] on upright bass, as part of the [[John Butler Trio]] to record that group's third studio album, ''[[Sunrise Over Sea]]''. In March 2004, after the release of the album, he resumed his association with Bomba and with Melbourne Ska Orchestra.
===2005-present: Solo work & Bustamento===
In 2005 Bomba and [[Joe Camilleri]] released ''Limestone'', an album of covers and original music. In 2007 he recorded an album of Maltese songs, ''Nicol Caruana'', with his father, Nicol. This was followed in 2008 with ''Jah in the Moment'', which he then toured with a trio around Australia. In 2009 he released, ''Planet Juice'', his first solo album, on which he played drums, guitar, [[ukulele]] and [[marimba]].
[[File:2008 Warbuton water catchments rally DSC 9425.jpg|thumb|right|Nicky Bomba at a rally in [[Warburton, Victoria]], 2008]]
By July 2009 he had re-joined John Butler Trio, now with Byron Luiters on bass guitar alongside Butler. They recorded the group's fifth studio album, ''[[April Uprising (album)|April Uprising]]'' (March 2010).<ref name="Leahey">{{cite web | first = Andrew | last = Leahey | title = ''April Uprising'' – John Butler Trio | url = {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1730145|pure_url=yes}} | publisher = [[AllMusic]] | access-date = 7 January 2015 }}</ref> Bomba and Butler co-wrote the track, "Take Me".<ref name="Leahey"/> The trio's sixth album, ''[[Flesh & Blood (John Butler Trio album)|Flesh & Blood]]'', was released in February 2014.<ref name="McCabe">{{cite news | title = The John Butler Trio tell other people's stories on ''Flesh and Blood'' | url = http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/the-john-butler-trio-tell-other-peoples-stories-on-flesh-and-blood/story-e6frfn09-1226820698927 | access-date = 7 January 2015 | newspaper = [[News Corp Australia]] |date = 7 February 2014 | first = Kathy | last = McCabe }}</ref> On 31 August 2013, Butler announced that Bomba had left John Butler Trio.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151619531335838&set=a.380065665837.159576.6265405837&type=1 | title = John Butler Trio – Facebook | last1 = Butler | first1 = John | author-link1 = John Butler (musician) | publisher = John Butler Trio | date = 31 August 2013 | access-date = 31 August 2013 }}</ref> Bomba appears on ten of its eleven tracks and co-wrote material with Butler and Luiters.<ref name="McCabe"/>
During 2012 Bomba focussed on a side-project, Bustamento, to perform [[mento]] music with a line-up of Bomba band members, Michael, Coyle, Deenick and Servanis, and new collaborators, Lennox Jordan on [[steelpan]]s and Peter Mitchell on saxophone.<ref name="Blackley">{{cite web | url = http://www.beat.com.au/music/nicky-bomba-s-bustamento-intrepid-adventures-lost-riddim-islands | title = Nicky Bomba's Bustamento : ''Intrepid Adventures to the Lost Riddim Islands'' | publisher = Furst Media | last = Blackley | first = Graham | work = Beat Magazine | date = June 2012 | access-date = 7 January 2015 }}</ref> They recorded ''Intrepid Adventures to the Lost Riddim Islands'' over a week-end and released it on 14 May 2012; they followed with a tour in June and July.<ref name="Vitamin">{{cite web | url = https://www.vitamin.net.au/albumdefault.asp?ai=536 | title = ''Intrepid Adventures to the Lost Riddim Islands'' by Nicky Bomba's Bustamento | publisher = Vitamin Records | date = May 2012 | access-date = 7 January 2015 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150109042313/https://www.vitamin.net.au/albumdefault.asp?ai=536 | archive-date = 9 January 2015 | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="ABC RN">{{cite web | url = http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/dailyplanet/2012-06-11/4040208 | title = Nicky Bomba's Bustamento | work = Daily Planet – [[Radio National]] | publisher = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] (ABC) | date = 11 June 2012 | access-date = 7 January 2015 }}</ref>
Bustamento issued their second album, ''Intercontinental Journey 7'', on 28 November 2014.<ref name="Busta 2">{{cite web | url = http://www.abcmusic.com.au/news/bustamento-release-new-album-%E2%80%98intercontinental-journal-7%E2%80%99-november-28 | title = Bustamento to release new album ''Intercontinental Journal 7'' on November 28 | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) | work = ABC Music | access-date = 9 January 2015 }}</ref> Lukas Murphy of ''Issuu'' magazine felt the album was "to be taken with a healthy dose of carefreeness" as exemplified by lyrics where "nonsense is rarely utilised in such a juxtapositional way, matched with both expertise and musical frivolity."<ref name="Murphy">{{ cite news | work = Issuu: The Music | title = Album / EP Reviews: Bustamento ''Intercontinental Journey 7'' | issue = 66 | publisher = Street Press Australia Pty Ltd | url = http://issuu.com/spa_magazines/docs/themusic_vic_066 | last = Murphy | first = Lukas | page = 28 | date = 26 November 2014 | access-date = 9 January 2015 }}</ref> From September 2014 Bomba worked with Melbourne Ska Orchestra to provide a musical accompaniment to the fireworks display for Melbourne's New Year's Eve celebrations.<ref name="Eliezer">{{cite web | url = http://www.beat.com.au/music/nicky-bomba-soundtracks-melbourne-s-nye-spectacular-countdown | title = Nicky Bomba Soundtracks Melbourne's NYE Spectacular Countdown | work = Beat Magazine | publisher = Furst Media | last = Eliezer| first = Christie | date = 31 December 2014 | access-date = 6 January 2015 }}</ref>
In October 2021, Bomba released ''Food and Shelter''. All the songs on the album relate to the theme of food and shelter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nickybomba.com/releases-2/food-shelter/|title=Food & Shelter|website=Nicky Bomba|access-date=27 October 2022}}</ref>
==Personal life==
Bomba's sister, Danielle Caruana, performs as [[Danielle Caruana|Mama Kin]], and is married to John Butler. His brother Michael Caruana also plays in Mama Kin and Bomba.
==Discography==
===Albums===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
! scope="col" style="width:11em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:17em;"| Details
|-
! scope="row"| ''Limestone'' <br> (with Joe Camilleri)
|
* Released: 2005
* Label: Transmitter (TRFIG-LIME124)
* Format: CD
|-
! scope="row"| ''Drums and Lions'' <br> (with Dereb Desalegn)
|
* Released: 2005
* Label: Transmitter (TRDER7002)
* Format: CD
|-
! scope="row"| ''Jah In the Moment''
|
* Released: July 2008
* Label: Transmitter (TRNB777)
* Format: CD, digital
|-
! scope="row"| ''Planet Juice''
|
* Released: May 2009
* Label: Bomba Music / [[Mushroom Records|Mushroom]]
* Format: CD, digital
|-
! scope="row"| ''Intrepid Adventures to the Lost Riddim Islands'' <br>(as Nicky Bomba's Bustamento)
|
* Released: May 2012
* Label: Vitamin (TRNB779)
* Format: CD, digital, LP
|-
! scope="row"| ''Intercontinental Journal 7'' <br>(as Bustamento)
|
* Released: November 2014
* Label: Four/ ABC
* Format: CD, digital
|-
! scope="row"| ''Food and Shelter''
|
* Released: October 2021
* Label: Four Four Music (FOUR0001)
* Format: CD, digital
|}
==Awards and nominations==
===ARIA Music Awards===
The [[ARIA Music Awards]] is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of [[Australian music]]. They commenced in 1987.
{{awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| [[ARIA Music Awards of 2012|2012]]
| ''Intrepid Adventures to the Lost Riddim Island''
| [[ARIA Award for Best World Music Album|Best World Music Album]]
| {{nom}}
| <ref name="World">ARIA Award previous winners. {{cite web|url=https://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/award/best-world-music-album?view=list#|title=ARIA Awards – Winners by Award – Best World Music Album |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA)|access-date=12 November 2020}}</ref>
|-
{{end}}
===Music Victoria Awards===
The [[Music Victoria Awards]] are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006.
{{awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| [[2022 Music Victoria Awards|2022]]
| Nicky Bomba
| Best Reggae and Dancehall Work
| {{nom}}
| <ref name="2022industrynom">{{cite web|url= https://www.musicvictoria.com.au/music-victoria-awards-2022-nominees-for-industry-voted-categories-announced/|title= Music Victoria Awards 2022 Nominees for Industry-Voted Categories Announced|website=Music Victoria|date=27 October 2022|access-date=29 October 2022}}</ref><ref name="2022MVAwins">{{cite web|url=https://scenestr.com.au/music/music-victoria-awards-2022-winners-20221213|title=Music Victoria Awards 2022 Winners|website=Scenestr|date=13 December 2022|access-date=15 December 2022}}</ref>
|-
{{end}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.nickybomba.com}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bomba, Nicky}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:APRA Award winners]]
[[Category:Australian drummers]]
[[Category:Australian male drummers]]
[[Category:Australian male singers]]
[[Category:Maltese emigrants to Australia]]