He was one of only two Australian performers at the Queens Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace. Born blind, his powerfully emotive yet fragile voice has affected the public unlike any other Australian artist. [8][28] At the ARIA Music Awards of 2011, he won Best World Music Album and performed "Warwu" featuring Missy Higgins on piano. Gurrumul performs during a media call for the Sydney festival First Night. With such a big, bright personality, heis a very much loved and honoured member of his community. There is no cultural or social context for Gurrumul to understand or translate Every Breath You Take into Yolngu Matha to say nothing of the glaring irony of asking him to sing the line Ill be watching you. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (Albums & songs) - Creative Spirits He sits in the centre of the studio in front of a computer screen and two large speakers and flicks through the songs, which were recorded in Sydney and bring western classical elements to traditional Yolngu music. In 2008, Gurrumul first gained international attention when his self-titled first solo album debuted at #1 on the independent music charts and peaked at #3 on the ARIA charts. Gurrumul's legacy and his estate remain in limbo - Crikey A true testament to his legacy, the Gurrumul documentary released in 2018 has been screened internationally and won the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Award (AACTA) for best documentary, showing a deep worldwide appreciation for his story and songs. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. [32] "Bayini" became the first track by an indigenous musician to reach the top five of the Australian charts. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu Biography, Songs, & Albums | AllMusic Gurrumul's face centrally occupies the frame, leaving minimal room for background detail, indistinct light grey brushstrokes behind his neck and face. His third release, The Gospel Album (2015), cemented what those close to him had known for years that this unassuming Indigenous Australian, who was born blind and taught himself to play a guitar held upside down, wasn't an angelic-voiced flash in the pan. Required fields are marked *. "It would just not have been right to put it out. The money he made was largely shared with his family, following the Aboriginal tradition of sharing wealth. Critics have heaped praise on the singer and described his voice as having transcendental beauty. Hohnen was on the phone with Gurrumul, his longtime friend and musical partner, and the biggest star at Skinnyfish, which he co-owns. 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. Earnings from his music sales went to his parentsDaisy Gurruwiwi and Terry Yunupinguand their extended family, his daughter Jasmine and her mother, and were also used to establish a charitable foundation for indigenous youth. He is also said to be very shy, and does not normally speak during performances. Sir Elton John, Sting and Bjrk are among his fans. He was born blind, has never learned Braille and does not have a guide dog or use a white cane. 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. So I think that two worlds thing, that crunch that happens there, is an amazing bit in the film.. Australias Most Important Voice Rolling Stone Australia. About Gurrumul - Gurrumul Yunupingu Foundation Away from cameras and the stage, we are alsogiven a glimpse of the sense of humour and cheekiness that Gurrumul maintained throughout his life and career. Honhen points out the cello mimicking rhythms of the yidaki, and says the Yolngu who came to the studio would immediately recognise and know the corresponding dance. working together 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. Geoffrey Gurrumul YunupinguHis Life and Music 2013 Australian. 'Gurrumul' Review | Berlin 2018 - The Hollywood Reporter For those unfamiliar, or vaguely familiar with his work, it's an even greater treat: they will be entertained, enthralled, perhaps in some small way changed. [8], In 2013, Yunupingu joined Delta Goodrem for a special performance of "Bayini" on The Voice Australia. Best. Gurrumuls uncle, Mandawuy Yunupingu, died from kidney disease in June 2013, aged 56. The CD simply titled Gurrumul quickly achieved triple platinum sales status in Australia and sold half a million copies worldwide. While this rise might have seemed meteoric, Gurrumul paid his dues in a slow build that began with culture-bridging group Yothu Yindi in the late 1980s. Which famous people has gurrumul performed for. Toooften Aboriginal Australians feel their culture is hijacked by another agenda, a balanda (whitefella)agenda, and distorted beyond recognition. 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. AUSTRALIAN musical great Dr G Yunupingu has died, aged 46, after a long battle with illness, his music label has confirmed. [8] Yunupingu's friend Michael Hohnen produced the album and was his translator, collaborator and confidant. [33] He released his third studio album, The Gospel Album, on 31 July 2015. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [8] He was the most commercially successful Aboriginal Australian musician at the time of his death. I was introduced to Gurrumul by Michael Hohnen, his bass player, record producer and close friend, who explained to him about the Archibald and why I wanted to paint him. Maestri did lots of sketches and studied Gurrumuls face intently. [35], Yunupingu died at the Royal Darwin Hospital, Northern Territory, at about 5:00pm on 25 July 2017, aged 46. With a voice that captured the heart of millions across the world, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was an enigmatic talent. 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. Gurrumul Yunupingu album is first in Indigenous language to top In 2008 Yunupingu was nominated for four ARIA awards, winning the awards for Best World Music Album and Best Independent Release. 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. Its a heartbreaking moment in the film. Hohnen and Gurrumul laugh as announcers and TV hosts mispronounce his name, and cackle as Guy Maestri wins the Archibald prize for his portrait of Gurrumul and reads aloud a message from the singer: I didnt win this money, so please dont call me asking for some of it.. Born blind, the Indigenous Australian singer/songwriter Gurrumul grew up as a member of the Gumatj clan on Elcho Island, off the coast of tropical North East Arnhem land in Australias Northern Territory. 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. Ted Gondarra, Elcho Island resident stated that the final wish for the film, which was given approval by Gurrumul only a few days before he passed away, was that it would be a source of continued pride for the community. "One world is Balanda, the other world is Yolngu," as Gurrumul describes it. The documentary opens with one of Gurrumuls earliest and only media interviews, a filmed sit-down with the ABCs flagship current affairs show. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons. Deeply embedded in the documentary project, he brought the camera crew along to his fathers funeral. Gurrumul would go on to perform for Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth II, among others. ", A note released with the advance stream of Djarimirri addresses these questions. When Labor was elected, Garrett and Shorten became government ministers, and were actively involved in extending these measures, ensuring that unemployment, poverty and lack of basic health and education services remain endemic among ordinary Aborigines. "This last record is testament to him transcending genre and transcending what's expected of an Indigenous artist," he says. Formerly with Yothu Yindi, he is now with Saltwater Band. The journey that we took with him was almost the opposite. The album was announced on 6 August 2021 and was released on 10 September 2021 on digital platforms, CD, deluxe CD+DVD and vinyl. He pauses and sighs. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. He doesnt want to be photographed or talk to anyone. 'Gurrumul' Review | Berlin 2018 - The Hollywood Reporter The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. He sings stories of his land in both languages (Glpu, Gumatj or Djambarrpuynu, all Yolu Matha) and English. To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald or The Age. abbreviation. "Bayini" by Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (Rrawun D Maymuru), Michael Hohnen and Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu for, Ted Howard, Robin Mai & Matthew Cunliffe for, Helpmann Award for Best Australian Contemporary Concert, "Gathu Mawula" (featuring Blue King Brown), Label: Dramatico / Skinnyfish Music (0063), Label: Universal / Skinnyfish Music (3764720), Formats: CD, LP, CD + DVD, streaming, digital download, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 01:35. "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. The singers friend Michael Hohnen, who produced his album, acts as Yunupingus translator. A press release from Skinnyfish Music, Gurrumuls record label, described the 46-year-old as one of the most important figures in Australian music history. Numerous tributes have been made by musicians and others across the country and internationally. Your email address will not be published. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Aboriginal singer beats poverty and prejudice to top Australian charts. In April 2018, Gurrumuls posthumously released fourth studio album, Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow). (age35in2009), Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu [27], He was again awarded the Australian Independent Record (AIR) Award for Best Independent Blues and Roots Album in 2011 for his album Rrakala. We know it happens right around Australia We need to have that discussion about how we can improve care for indigenous Australians so they receive the same level of care as non-indigenous Australians, Lawton said. 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. Aged only 46, hed succumbed to organ failure relating to the hepatitis B hed contracted in childhood. 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 sang about Gumatj stories in Yolngu, but his song 'Gurrumul History' was in English, to spread his story. Gurrumul and 1 on the independent chart. He performed with Yothu Yindi from 1985 to 1992, when he formed the Saltwater Band. The cover of Gurrumul's posthumous album, Djarimirri (2018).Credit:Courtesy of ABC. On multiple screens in front of them were edits of Williams's documentary, Gurrumul. However, a very rare exception has been made byGumatj and Glpu clan leaders for this film. How do you play C minor pentatonic scale on guitar? Maestri worked on the painting for a month, listening to Gurrumul's music as he built up the image layer upon layer. 3 on the ARIA Charts. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - History (I Was Born Blind) - YouTube 0:00 / 3:47 Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - History (I Was Born Blind) DramaticoMusic 67.2K subscribers 309K views 13. father If he can do it, why can't we do it, you know?". Blind from birth, the proud Yolngu man spoke through his music. "Gurrumul" redirects here. That killed me, near the end of the film, when his uncle says that he exceeded all our expectations.. I always said he balanced the two worlds better than most people. Hohnen said his friend was different to other Aboriginal singers because he has no political agenda. He gave his approval for the final version just three days before he died. 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.. [10], The first of four sons born to Ganyinurra (Daisy), of the Gumal clan, and Nyambi "Terry" Yunupingu, a Gumatj clansman,[11] Yunupingu was born blind in Galiwin'ku, Elcho Island, in 1971,[12] situated off the coast of Arnhem Land in northern Australia, about 530 kilometres (330mi) east of Darwin. Word had been going around all day and the rumours were true people really were moved to tears. Believing that this inspiring, amazing man would be an ideal subject for a portrait, Maestri managed to track Gurrumul down in Darwin with the help of a friend in the music industry only to discover that he was flying to New York the following weekend. The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. Him and Michael, they've delivered this gift of music. We try and work in a mainstream music industry but within their [Indigenous] system of how we relate to everyone, Hohnen tells Guardian Australia. They talk of their. As of 2020, it is estimated that Yunupingu has sold half a million records globally. LipiScan is a non-invasive procedure that helps our doctors see and analyze the health of your Meibomian glands. What is gurrumul most famous song? - Tonyajoy.com beyond the stage [34], In July 2016, Yunupingu featured on the A.B. Gift of the artist 2011. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people. Blind from birth and raised in the community of Galiwin'ku on Elcho Island, Gurrumul was brought up learning the stories and history of his people, through song and dance, the rhythms of life . The purity of the singer's voice tops it off. 1 on the iTunes Australia roots music chart in April 2008. "There's anger, abuse, there's hurt, there are quite sinister ways, destructive ways. He was one of only two Australian performers at the Queens Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace. The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. Gurrumul - Movies on Google Play When Gurrumul arrives home after long periods away from touring and recording, we see a great deal of affection upon his return. Gurrumul Yunupingu in a still from the documentary about his life by Paul Williams. 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.