Aussie rocker and legendary songwriter Brian Cadd has been honoured with an Order of Australia.

71-year old Cadd has been making music for five decades and has won his fair share of awards.

But the ARIA Hall of Fame inductee tells Chris Smith this award is particularly special.

“It’s an amazingly different kind of honour.

“This is from the people of Australia so it’s a much broader honour.”

Although music has been crucial to Cadd’s life, his career very nearly ended before it even began.

At 18, Cadd’s father told him he had a year to make it in music.

“He said, you’ve got one year and if nothing happens in one year you’re going to go and either be a surveyor or join the public service.

“Fortunately for me, I had a hit in that year.”

Click PLAY below to hear from Brian Cadd AM

Cadd is performing alongside some phenomenal Australian talent as part of the APIA Good Times Tour