"He was special in so many ways, in Western and Yolngu worlds," his niece, Miriam Yirrininba Dhurrkay, tells me. But the basic incompatibility of this shy, private man with the hype and spotlight of the music industry were . He is making it easier for the world to understand. To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald or The Age. 'I like singing about the story properly, singing all the right names of land, and ancestors, because I have to give out the right story. 1. Skinnyfish lost a lot of money on that tour, but their relationship with the artist held and four years later, they were recording again. This portrait of Gumatj man and musician Gurrumul is a large monotone painting. His chin and neck fade into dark greys and blacks. A rare and moving visual of how life and death is honoured in Yolngucommunity. He recently won two coveted ARIA Awards among others and was named NT Australian of the Year for 2008. With a voice that captured the heart of millions across the world, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was an enigmatic talent. The 12 songs that make up Djarimirri all relate to specific totems and aspects of Yolngu culture, including Waak (Crow), Ngarrpiya (Octopus), Gapu (Freshwater), Baru (Saltwater Crocodile), Marrayarr (Flag). [33] He released his third studio album, The Gospel Album, on 31 July 2015. Gurrumuls not an activist or a social commentator, said Hohnen. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the, Let me know when this portraits on display. The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. People forget he was in Yothu Yindi and Saltwater. He was born blind. "This last record is testament to him transcending genre and transcending what's expected of an Indigenous artist," he says. The album was announced on 6 August 2021 and was released on 10 September 2021 on digital platforms, CD, deluxe CD+DVD and vinyl. His songs covered themes of identity, spirit, connection with the land and its elements across multiple Yolngu languages as well as English. A member of the Gumatj clan of the Yolngu people, despite being a world traveler, he lived there throughout his life. He found purpose and meaning through songs inspired by his community and country in North East Arnhem Land. Asked to comment, Northern Territory Health Minister John Elferink arrogantly dismissed the accusation, rejected calls for an investigation and then provocatively accused Skinnyfish Music of staging a publicity stunt to promote a new album by the singer. The Helpmann Awards is an awards show, celebrating live entertainment and performing arts in Australia, presented by industry group Live Performance Australia since 2001. His first solo album, Gurrumul, debuted at #21 on the ARIA Charts and #1 on the independent chart. Gurrumul is front facing, his head tilts down until his right. Light appears to catch on his protruding bottom lip. It is one of the strongest examples of the worlds oldest continuous culture, and Gurrumul, a Yunupingu from the Gumatj clan, held increasingly important responsibilities. The oldest of four, he was born blind and never learned to read Braille. Gurrumul (born Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu) was a Gumatj man from Galiwin'ku on Elcho Island in the Northern Territory. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); It could be that you are wondering whether you are in the right place. ominis gaunt why is he blind. Sir Elton John, Sting and Bjrk are among his fans. Blind from birth, he played the guitar upside down with his left hand. Many examples of Gurrumuls remarkable work are available on YouTube. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (1970-2017), a Gumatj man from north-east Arnhem Land, was born blind but learned to play guitar, keyboard, drums and didgeridoo as a child. He plays drums, keyboards, guitar (a right hand-strung guitar left-handed) and didgeridoo, but it is the clarity of his singing voice that has attracted rave reviews. Preceding the release of Williams' documentary by two weeks (the film opens on April 25), Djarimirri stands as the singer's final gift to the world, one last reminder that his rise to fame was more than deserved. In touching and heartbreaking sequences Gurrumul learns of loved ones passing away, and we see the funeral ceremonies that he travels back home for. Our ProgramsFAQCurrent AppealsTerms & ConditionsPrivacy Policy, Established 2013A Company Limited by GuaranteeCharity ABN 25163166283Public Benevolent Institution (PBI)Endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR)Charity Street Address: L1 66 Smith St Darwin 0800. Click the link to confirm your email address. These Yolngu songs, some thought to be more than 4000 years old, were traditionally backed by the yidaki wind instrument in repetitive rhythms, giving the lyrics a foundation on which to build. Your email address will not be published. How do you play C minor pentatonic scale on guitar? The album reached Triple Platinum in Australia and Gurrumuls voice connected with listeners such as Elton John, will.I.am and Sting. It wasn't just Jones Sting, Elton John and Australian musicians Peter Garrett and Paul Kelly all count themselves among the singer's admirers. 46years (19712017)Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu / Age at death. Australias Most Important Voice Rolling Stone Australia. Gurrumul agreed to the film as long as his health was not a part of it; and his uncle, Yunupingu, asked that life in their community be shown with dignity. **Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this content contains images of people who have died. On Gurrumul's left between his hairline and ear lobe, a fine line of side burn arcs in unison with the extended line of his full, high cheekbone in contrast with his fleshy left ear behind it, the lines of which undulate and small irregular soft folds. Formerly with Yothu Yindi, he is now with Saltwater Band. ", Three days later, on July 25, 2017, Gurrumul died in Royal Darwin Hospital. [30][8] In 2012, Yunupingu was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate of Music by the University of Sydney. The wall above a shelf of Skinnyfish CDs is lined with art from the Tiwi Islands and a portrait of Gurrumul. (age35in2009), Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu "It was a strange way to sign off a conversation," he says. [35], Yunupingu died at the Royal Darwin Hospital, Northern Territory, at about 5:00pm on 25 July 2017, aged 46. (age39in2009). His condition had worsened in recent years, to the extent that Skinnyfish had retired the singer from touring in late 2015. Through the film we get a glimpse of just how special and integral the bond between Gurrumul and Hohnen was, with the latter often being known as the spokesperson for the acutely shy performer both on stage and in interviews. Gurrumul has performed for Her Majesty the Queen of England, US President Barack Obama, Prince Charles, Prince William and Kate Middleton, and Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark. Guido Maestri saw Gurrumul perform in Sydney on New Year's Eve 2008 and found it unforgettable. "People forget he was in Yothu Yindi and Saltwater. Formerly a member of Yothu Yindi and Saltwater Band, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, who was blind from birth and passed away last year at age 46, released his first solo album in 2008. But I can play and sing and tell people things through my songs. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present. So I think that two worlds thing, that crunch that happens there, is an amazing bit in the film.. Gurrumul History (I Was Born Blind) Lyrics: I was born blind and I don't know why / God knows why because he love me so / As I grew up, my spirit knew / Then I learnt to read the world of . Gurrumul went home for the funeral and ceremonial sorry business, and to take on the cultural responsibilities that were now his. [8], In 2013, Yunupingu joined Delta Goodrem for a special performance of "Bayini" on The Voice Australia. Famed US jazz composer and arranger Quincy Jones said that the Aboriginal singer-songwriter had one of the most unusual and emotional and musical voices that Ive heard.. The album and the documentary are both a bittersweet final offering from a truly gifted and special artist, whose legacy will live on and continue to touch the lives and imagination of generations to come. Born blind, the reluctant star never gave any interviews and was painfully shy, but his music drew worldwide acclaim, despite the fact that he performed in his Gumatj dialect which is understood by only around 3,000 people. With Manuel Dhurrkay he also fronted Saltwater Band, the group putting out three records in a decade from 1999. Eight hours later he was admitted into intensive care. He was blind. Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a common eye condition, yet many people dont realize they have it. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingus friend Michael Hohnen produced the album and acts as his translator. We try and work in a mainstream music industry but within their [Indigenous] system of how we relate to everyone, Hohnen tells Guardian Australia. By subscribing, you agree to SBSs terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS. If he can do it, why can't we do it, you know?". All of the songs ended up in major keys, a coincidence which to Hohnen's mind gives it a happy vibe. Hohnen, who was the singers guide and spokesman, talks to the Guardian in the Skinnyfish Music offices in suburban Darwin. That killed me, near the end of the film, when his uncle says that he exceeded all our expectations.. ", The Gospel Album (2015).Credit:Courtesy of ABC. Further listening casts new light on what's happening, though. were a close unit, "He was extremely ill.", Williams, who had known the singer for years before beginning work on the documentary, seems a little haunted, as if Gurrumul knew his time had come. Most of the young people I know, they want to continue his legacy, they want to show the world that they can do it. [34], In July 2016, Yunupingu featured on the A.B. The film features two funerals one for each of Gurrumuls parents and perhaps as a final mark of respect, it doesnt go for a third. He was blind from birth and contracted Hepatitis B at the age of three. The extraordinary song was inspired by the cries of native bush fowls. Iconic Aboriginal singer-songwriter Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, whose haunting tenor voice and striking synthesis of indigenous song-cycles, Christian hymns and folk music won him wide international acclaim, died late last month at the Royal Darwin Hospital in Australias Northern Territory. The contrast of light and darkened eyes imbues the portrait with mystery.His nostrils are round against the broad space between his nose and slender upper lip. So by the time he was Gurrumul, he was ready.". We used to think Gurrumul wouldnt go far, would never show his independence, says Yunupingu. In July last year, filmmaker Paul Williams, sound engineer Pip Atherstone-Reid and Michael Hohnen, creative director of Darwin record label Skinnyfish Music, were in an editing room at Windmill studios in Collingwood, Melbourne. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program. The National Indigenous Music Awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians from throughout Australia. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. He was one of only two Australian performers at the Queens Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace. I knew if we could capture that spirit across a whole record, there would be something really special, Hohnen told the Guardian in April 2016. Instead of undergoing minor surgery to rectify the problem, which was associated with liver disease, Gurrumul was left overnight in the Rapid Assessment Unit, where he continued vomiting blood. Although a few of his songs are written and sung in English, he does not speak the language. Tired of touring and its associated pressures, Gurrumul left Yothu Yindi, formed the Saltwater Band in 1996 but eventually decided to go solo, releasing his first album in 2008. Gurrumuls second studio album, Rrakala (2011). Which is better guitar tricks or JamPlay. [38], In November 2020, Decca Records announced they had signed to the rights to Yunupingu's catalogue and future recordings, announcing forthcoming releases, including limited-edition vinyls, a box set and collaborations among a slate of projects. "He wasn't writing a lot of new, contemporary style songs but he probably knew 400 or 500 songs, traditionally.". Elton John, Sting and Bjrk were among his fans. Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention And Consumer Protection Act Of 2005. National Endowment for the Arts. A gifted Aboriginal singer who was born blind and brought up in poverty has taken Australia by storm, topping the mainstream music charts and earning plaudits for his sublime voice. It is made with oil on linen, surrounded by a simple two-centimetre-wide black frame. When he was four years old, he taught himself how to play a toy piano and an accordion. They talk of their surprise and sorrow when they realised Gurrumul was blind, and their fears he would always have to stay close to home. Gurrumul's face centrally occupies the frame, leaving minimal room for background detail, indistinct light grey brushstrokes behind his neck and face. AUSTRALIAN musical great Dr G Yunupingu has died, aged 46, after a long battle with illness, his music label has confirmed. Herein, how did gurrumul go blind? World-renowned indigenous singer Gurrumul has died after a "long battle with illness" aged 46, his management said Wednesday, as Australians hailed his contributions to music. Though affectionately calling each other "wwa", the Gumatj word for 'brother', we can see how their connection was more like family. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified. I made sure to read the lyrics and understand the meaning of each song. Toooften Aboriginal Australians feel their culture is hijacked by another agenda, a balanda (whitefella)agenda, and distorted beyond recognition. In 2014 they finally returned to the US, playing smaller shows with less pressure, but during this tour Gurrumuls father died, just a few years after his mother. [13], In 1989, at the age of 18, Yunupingu joined Yothu Yindi as a multi-instrumentalist and backing vocalist, notably contributing to their 1991 album, Tribal Voice. He cant be found and the tour collapses. About Geoffrey. We Yolngu live by our own unique balance of life,culture and land and we care for our country and our people.. [8] As of 2020, it is estimated that Yunupingu has sold half a million records globally. The exact details of Gurrumuls death are not clear, but according to press reports he had indicated that he did not want to continue with his difficult and debilitating dialysis treatment. And I think Yolngu don't want him forgotten, that's what they said to us. Gurrumul was not an enigma, the film reveals, but rather a man with a strong sense of humour, deep ties to his homelands, and little taste for the limelight as he travelled around Europe, the US and Australia. [25], In November 2009, Yunupingu was named Best New Independent Artist and his album, Gurrumul, Best Independent Release and Best Independent Blues/Roots Release at the Australian Independent Record (AIR) Awards held at Melbourne's Corner Hotel. In less than a decade, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu became Australias biggest-selling Indigenous musician. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu is a blind Aboriginal singer/songwriter and guitarist from the Gumatj clan of the Yolngu people of Australia's North East Arnhem Land. Gurrumul and His fragile but uniquely emotive high tenor voice and aura-like persona elicit feelings of peace and longing in listeners. Three days later, on July 25, 2017, Gurrumul died in Royal Darwin Hospital. The album is an ambitious project which continues Gurrumuls habit of marrying together the two worlds he lived in. There's this ownership of him. Blind from birth and raised in thecommunity of Galiwinku on Elcho Island, Gurrumul was brought up learning the stories and history of his people, through song and dance, the rhythms of life and nature shaping his musical ear and sensibilities. Gurrumul Yunupingu in a still from the documentary about his life by Paul Williams. Which is the best brand for acoustic guitar? It also paints a portrait of the close relationship between the artist and Hohnen. And, for me, his legacy was opening people's hearts to one of the greatest assets of this country.". A new documentary and posthumous album dispel the myths surrounding a beloved Australian Indigenous artist. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu's legacy: why his music didn't stop. The award commenced in 2005. 2018. He found purpose and meaning through songs inspired by his community and country in North East Arnhem Land. The Gurrumul Story is the first compilation album from Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu. '," Williams remembers. Thank you for registering! Hohnen said his friend was different to other Aboriginal singers because he has no political agenda. He left the group in 1995 to live full-time on Elcho Island and later co-founded and co-led the Saltwater Band, which was active from 1999 to 2009. The documentary opens with one of Gurrumuls earliest and only media interviews, a filmed sit-down with the ABCs flagship current affairs show. On his left upper forehead, a circular shape of white untouched canvas indicates the light source. "It's affected Mark and I very personally," he says, referring to his Skinnyfish Music co-founder, Mark Grose. "We wanted to release the album while he was alive so he could live it out on the airwaves around his, community and further afield," says Hohnen. The group was founded in 1985 and headed by his uncle and lead singer, Mandawuy Yunupingu. The album debuted at #1 on the ARIA charts, won multiple ARIA awards and the Australian Music Prize. It was an album four years in the making and was completed by producer and arranger Michael Hohnen. This song has been hailed by critics and millions over th. [7] He had lived with liver and kidney damage for many years due to hepatitis B which he had contracted in childhood. Did Geoffrey Gurrumul have children? I still think that., Gurrumul, the documentary, is released 25 April through Madman. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (22 January 1971 25 July 2017), commonly known as Gurrumul and also referred to since his death as Dr G. Yunupingu,[note 1][5][6][7] was an Aboriginal Australian musician[8] of the Yolu peoples. It is difficult to adequately describe the complex and heart-rending qualities of Gurrumuls voice but his rendition of Wiyathul with the Errki String Quartet at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney in 2008 is an important example of its alluring character. Nea definition National Education Association. GURRUMUL, a documentary. The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. "Michael had this concept of combining the more traditional songs and chanting and yidaki patterns, with this kind of contemporary minimalist orchestral tradition," explains Erkki Veltheim, the Melbourne-based composer and violinist who arranged the album. abbreviation. "Yeah. In fact, the documentary is the closest any journalism has come to explaining the challenge of living in two cultures which both demanded so much from Gurrumul. To Briggs's mind, Gurrumul's popularity was testament to his hard work, his musicality and his talent. Below the thick overhang of eyebrows, Gurrumul's eyes are concealed in shadow. Blind from birth, the proud Yolngu man spoke through his music. To see without seeing? Among those offering tributes to Gurrumul was Midnight Oil lead singer and former Australian education minister Peter Garrett, as well as current Labor Party opposition leader Bill Shorten. [8], In April 2018, Yunupingu's fourth studio album, Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow), was released. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, 38, from Elcho Island in Arnhem Land, northern Australia, has been hailed as one of the brightest talents ever to emerge from the countrys indigenous population, with his debut solo album reaching number one in the countrys independent music charts and his recent concerts selling out. working together Living a traditional Yolngu life, his breakthrough album 'Gurrumul . But initially, Djarimirri isn't an easy listen. The depth of his music, his stage presence, combined with his captivating high tenor voice incited emotion, compassion and a feeling of peacefulness within Australian and international audiences alike. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. When Gurrumul died, the record label pressed pause, in part because in Yolngu culture, when a person dies, their name, image and any music or art is retired for some time. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Aboriginal singer beats poverty and prejudice to top Australian charts. With a voice that captured the heart of millions across the world, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was an enigmatic talent. The Most Beautiful Song Ever Written (Australian Aboriginal), This song is called Wiyathul and its by a blind aboriginal man called Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu. In Yolngu lore the name, image and voice of the recently deceased is retired from all public use. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (19702017), a Gumatj man from north-east Arnhem Land, was born blind but learned to play guitar, keyboard, drums and didgeridoo as a child. With a voice that captured the heart of millions across the world, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was an enigmatic talent. Largely self-taught, he plays drums, keyboards, guitar and didgeridoo, but it is his clarity of voice that has attracted rave reviews. Directed by Paul Williams, Gurrumuls uncle, Djunga Djunga Yunupingu, and aunt, Gurruwiwi are the only narrators of the film, but it also features his parents and friends. . [29] In 2019, Double J's Dan Condon described it as one of "7 great performances from the history of the ARIA Awards. He also forged a successful solo career. For further information please contact NPG Copyright. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Gurrumuls home community of Galiwinku and the surrounding Arnhem Land is Aboriginal territory and a deeply traditional place of multiple clans and tribes. Gurrumul's songs, like his own life, encompass a span of human experience as great as any on. Michael Hohnen The image is made with variously dense, watery and inconsistent brush strokes, creating a allayed three dimensional quality in rich tones of black and gray that construct a voluminous contemplative face. Its an observation wryly made midway through a new documentary on the life and career of the late singer, a blind Gumatj man from Arnhem Land in Australias remote north.One of the most famous Indigenous performers in modern Australian history, he left much behind when he died last year musically, personally and culturally. This was the final okay from Gurrumul, who as a co-producer had been involved in most aspects of the film. Dr G Yunupingu (1970-2017), a man of the Gumatj clan of north-east Arnhem Land, learned to play guitar, keyboard, drums and didgeridoo as a child. Like every other federal Labor MP, both men supported the Liberal-National coalition governments Northern Territory intervention in mid-2007a reactionary social assault launched under the bogus pretext of protecting Aboriginal children from sexual abuse. "It was really only in retrospect, when we looked back, that we said, 'Maybe that was goodbye.' He performed with Yothu Yindi from 1985 to 1992, when he formed the Saltwater Band. Completed early in 2017, the album was slated for release in the middle of last year. Please check your spam folder for the email, if it does not arrive, click this link Emails will be sent by or on behalf of Universal Music Group 2220 Colorado, Sign up to receive email updates and offers from Gurrumul. Gurrumul performs during a media call for the Sydney festival First Night. He sang stories of his land both in Yolu languages such as Gaalpu, Gumatj or Djambarrpuynu, a dialect related to Gumatj, and in English. Throughout his childhood, he was built, given or bought tin cans, sticks, toy keyboards, piano accordions, nylon string guitars, and, later, clap sticks (bilma) and didgeridoos (yidaki). Born blind, his powerfully emotive yet fragile voice has affected the public unlike any other Australian artist. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (22 January 1971 25 July 2017), often known simply as Gurrumul, was an indigenous Australian musician. They all play it. Blind from birth, he found purpose and meaning through songs and music inspired by his community and country on Elcho Island in far North East Arnhem Land. How did gurrumul go blind? How to Choose the Right Guitar String Gauges? The post-pod life looks great on her! His songs covered themes of identity, spirit, connection with the land and its elements across multiple Yolngu languages as well as English. He would just love hearing all of the voices in there and all the memories from his days in different bands, and what people were saying about him, says Michael Hohnen, cofounder of the Skinnyfish music label and Gurrumuls longtime friend and musical partner. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was born blind in 1971 as a member of the Gumatj clan and a speaker of the indigenous Yolu . We just tried to make that record, which had that mood, to try to seep into peoples consciences and hearts and minds without actually having the listener have any responsibility to listen and work out what someones saying.. Instead of his usual "see you later", Gurrumul ended the call by saying goodbye, which he'd not done before. Love Is Blind alum Deepti Vempati took a dip back in the dating pool after her two recent splits, she exclusively tells Life & Style in a video interview, but . Gurrumul was a self-taught instrumentalist, playing guitar, piano, drums, and didgeridoo. In a 2009 interview with him and Hohnen, Yunupingu said that he was generally shy but more comfortable playing music, and went on to say: "I don't have much to say to people when I talk. We underestimated him.. "There are different ways people can go about activism," Hohnen continues. Gurrumul is the highest-selling Indigenous musician in Australian history. He was born blind, In todays world where the media and the music industries are centred around hype and fashion, Gurrumul is a unique celebrity who has stood the test of time, one who could change the way you breathe (Brisbane Courier Mail, 2008) and forever altered the way people from around the world interact with Yolngu culture. If music and guitar has never been part of your interests then this site may change your view and be a music lover. Gurrumul (1971 - 2017) was born blind and grew up, as a member of the Gumatj clan and a speaker of the indigenous Yolngu language, on Elcho Island (Galiwin'ku), off the coast of tropical North . Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu Born Blind Aboriginal Singer, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Gurrumul_Yunupingu, http://www.thearchibaldprize.com.au/winners/archibald, http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/jul/17/australia.culture. He gave his approval for the final version just three days before he died. He just wants to play music.. Born blind, the gifted musician leads a traditional lifestyle on Elcho Island in Arnhem Land and sings in his native Yolngu language, but his fame is spreading the world. [55], The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. did he go blind from his family torturing him or was he born that way i don't remember if they expanded on it or not. However, a very rare exception has been made byGumatj and Glpu clan leaders for this film. Sydney Morning Herald reviewer Bruce Elder recalled the first time he heard the young singer. BAPA. He found purpose and meaning through songs inspired by his community and country in North East Arnhem Land. That's remarkable for a man who was born blind, is extremely shy and doesn't speak much English. It was nominated for Australian Independent Record Labels Association and ARIA awards. Short curly black hair frames his head. His musical success as a member of Yothu Yindi, Saltwater Band and then as a solo artist, is a source of great pride in Elcho Island. He performed "Sing" live at the Diamond Jubilee Concert on 4 June 2012 together with many of the song's contributing artists. [8] On his death he was described as an important figure in fostering racial harmony and as a voice of Indigenous Australians. It then unexpectedly reached No. Gurrumul was born and raised in Galiwinku, a small community of about 2,200 people on remote Elcho Island, which is about 560 kilometres, or a two-hour flight, northeast of Darwin, the Northern Territory capital. [31] In December 2013, Yunupingu released a live album, titled His Life and Music, which was recorded in the Sydney Opera House and released through ABC Music. Hohnen, a classically trained bass player and co-founder of Skinnyfish Music, was among the first to recognise the unique qualities of Gurrumuls voice. "I believe he chose to not go on dialysis, to not stay on it. , carries the legacy of this celebrated and important voice, and offers a rare insight into the life of the shy musician beyond the stage and the spotlight. "Dialysis was not something that he enjoyed," Hohnen says.
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