When it comes to country music, there's a reason why Slim Dusty is known as "The King".
His tireless touring, prolific songwriting and ballads about life in the bush have earned him a spot in the hearts of many Australians.
More than 20 years since his death, his legacy has drawn together a group of musicians from outback Queensland to celebrate the relationship he shared with Indigenous communities.
Slim Dusty toured and performed for small Indigenous communities during his music career spanning more than six decades. (Supplied)
"He's a very important figure because he actually lived here — he's a true-blue Aussie," aspiring singer Edna Cheethem said.
The 21-year-old Gungalidda, Waanyi and Lardil woman has travelled from Mount Isa to take part in the one-night concert "Looking Forward Looking Back" in Townsville this weekend.
Ms Cheethem is one of 40 First Nations artists who will be performing renditions of Slim Dusty's greatest hits, based on the legend that every Indigenous artist learns to play the guitar through one of his songs.
Ms Cheethem has travelled from Mount Isa to take part in the one-night concert in Townsville. (Supplied: Regional Arts Services Network)
It's the culmination of a 12-month development program by the Regional Arts Service Network NQ, which gives emerging artists in remote areas such as Cooktown, Doomadgee and Normanton the chance to work with mentors to create and write their own music.
Ms Cheetham said the program had helped her bring her original ideas to the stage.
"Kids or even adults don't have the opportunity to learn certain things or get into stuff like playing the guitar," Ms Cheethem said.
"It's been inspiring … a lot of outback people love country, especially Slim Dusty."
During his more than 60-year professional career, he toured and performed across regional and remote Australian towns, including stops in small Indigenous communities.
More than 40 musicians have come together to pay tribute to the music of Slim Dusty in Townsville. (ABC News: Baz Ruddick)
"When you live in a small town you feel like there is nothing there but when you hear someone really famous sing about it, it's like they actually care about us," she said.
"He sings song about little areas like Hughenden — he wrote Lights On The Hill, and The Min Min Lights [about] Boulia ... tiny towns that people wouldn't know unless they heard these songs."
Tales from the Dreamtime
Waanyi man Perry Bell travelled almost 900 kilometres from the small community of Doomadgee for the performance.
He said writing and performing original songs inspired by the Dreamtime had put him on a "high" as a musician.
He hopes to work with young musicians to help another generation tell their stories through song.
Mr Bell will be performing his original songs inspired by Dreamtime stories. (ABC News: Baz Ruddick)
"That's why I sing the songs I sing, about the Dreamtime stories … it's from my old people," Mr Bell said.
"Our children — they'll be listening to the songs that I am singing and they'll probably start as well."
The 54-year-old has been playing guitar since he was 15, but it wasn't until seven years ago that he picked up the pen and put lyrics to his music after improving his reading and writing skills.
"Writing my own songs, finding the words, at least I am doing it," he said.
While he was never lucky enough to see Slim Dusty perform live, he remembers growing up with his dad playing his music.
"That is why I learnt to play the guitar — listening to songs like that from old Slim Dusty and different band members," he said.
Mr Bell hopes he will make his small community of Doomagee proud by performing his music. (ABC News: Baz Ruddick)
A lasting impact
ARIA nominee and award-winning Indigenous musician Emma Donovan,, as well as singer-songwriter Jem Cassar-Daley will also be performing as part of the concert.
Ms Cassar-Daley said Slim's tours to remote towns made him a revered figure.
"There's a rainbow over the rock. And the sun has started shinin'." (Supplied: The Slim Dusty Centre)
"He always got young Indigenous kids up as well to play music. I think it's just so special to see the connection that he made," she said.
"You can see in this room how all of us know such an array of his music … it's made such an impact."
She said learning songs for the concert cemented appreciation for not only Slim Dusty but his wife, manager and partner in song writing, Joy McKean.
Ms Donovan said she had been impressed by the talent in the songwriting from the emerging artists who took part in the workshops.
Jem Cassar-Daley and Emma Donovan are teaming up to pay tribute to Slim Dusty. (ABC News: Baz Ruddick)
"In the middle of all our rehearsals, we're running upstairs and working with some of the youth and hearing what they want to write about," she said.
It's something that's pretty special because when I was a young girl, I wrote a lot myself and it was always personal.
"This is a space for these young kids to come here and feel comfortable to do that and they've got so much support. "
It's expected the performance, which is part of the annual North Australia Festival of Art, will draw crowds of up to 2,000 people.