Royalties from Djarimirri will flow, in part, into the Gurrumul Yunupingu Foundation, which has a vision statement that speaks of creating "greater opportunities for remote Indigenous young people to realise their full potential and contribute to culturally vibrant and sustainable communities". Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - History (I Was Born Blind) He says the Queen remembered Gurrumul from their last meeting, saying: "Yes, I've met this man before." But Hohnen says Gurrumul was more excited at the chance to meet American music legend Stevie Wonder. If interested in music and guitars, then you are in the right place and will learn a lot. Gurrumul (born Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu) was a Gumatj man from Galiwin'ku on Elcho Island in the Northern Territory. Gurrumul became the highest selling Aboriginal musician in Australian history and sang in Britain, Europe and the US, including a sold-out concert at New Yorks Carnegie Hall. He played a number of instruments and contributed backing vocals to four of the band's six albums, most notably its breakthrough 1991 release, Tribal Voice. With a voice that captured the heart of millions across the world, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was an enigmatic talent. He was born on Elcho Island, off the coast of Arnhem Land, Northern Australia about 350 miles from Darwin. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). On 25 July 2017, Australia mourned the loss of one of its music greats. Guido Maestri saw Gurrumul perform in Sydney on New Year's Eve 2008 and found it unforgettable. Aged only 46, he'd succumbed to organ failure relating to the hepatitis B he'd contracted in childhood. His second album, Rrakala (2011), made some small inroads into the American market, a notoriously difficult proposition. He was one of only two Australian performers at the Queens Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. 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. All of the songs ended up in major keys, a coincidence which to Hohnen's mind gives it a happy vibe. Gurrumul shot to prominence in 2008 with the release of his debut album Gurrumul, which was nominated for four ARIAs and won two. Gurrumul History (I Was Born Blind) - YouTube ", The Gospel Album (2015).Credit:Courtesy of ABC. It relies heavily on repetition, and Yolngu songs are traditionally quite short, so Gurrumul's vocal contributions are fleeting. 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. He found purpose and meaning through songs inspired by his community and country in North East Arnhem Land. Cut off at the forehead, his peaked hairline just appears that the top. We have sent a confirmation email to {USEREMAIL}. It was a professional partnership which helped to bring Gurrumul's unique interpretation of the 'manikay' (the songlines of his people) to life. ominis gaunt why is he blind : r/hogwartslegacyJKR Gurrumul History (I Was Born Blind) - Genius 1 on the iTunes Australia roots music chart in April 2008. I think thats the only way you move forward. Toooften Aboriginal Australians feel their culture is hijacked by another agenda, a balanda (whitefella)agenda, and distorted beyond recognition. 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.. 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 Australia's Northern Territory. 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). 1. But the European tour is a success and they sign with a US promoter, promising unlimited opportunities. The CD simply titled Gurrumul quickly achieved triple platinum sales status in Australia and sold half a million copies worldwide. In 2008 Yunupingu was nominated for four ARIA awards, winning the awards for Best World Music Album and Best Independent Release. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (22 January 1971 - 25 July 2017), commonly known as Gurrumul and also referred to since his death as Dr G. Yunupingu, was an Aboriginal Australian musician of the Yolu peoples. "[37] The album won four ARIA Music Awards at the 2018 ceremony; his daughter Jasmin accepted the award for Best Male Artist on his behalf. Although, spending a lot of time with his family, they said to us, even at his funeral, that no one's stopped listening to his music. Legendary American music producer Quincy Jones praised the singer for "one of the most unusual and emotional and musical voices that I've ever heard". The purity of the singer's voice tops it off. "One world is Balanda, the other world is Yolngu," as Gurrumul describes it. [32] "Bayini" became the first track by an indigenous musician to reach the top five of the Australian charts. being brought to life through the fusion of Gurrumul's voice and guidance in traditional song being fused with the work ofcomposer Erkki Veltheim and the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Sydney Symphony Orchestra. The breakup of indigenous communities continued and the regressive attacks on social welfare recipients used in the Northern Territory were expanded to selected non-indigenous communities across Australia (see: The Aboriginal intervention in Australia: Four years on). Thank you for registering! Critics have heaped praise on the singer and described his voice as having transcendental beauty. Gurrumul is the personification of a cross-over artist, likewise, the filmmust cross back and forth between his Yolngu and the broader whitefella worlds." The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. "[29], In 2012, Yunupingu was one of the contributing vocalists on Gary Barlow's commemorative single "Sing" for Queen Elizabeth II's diamond jubilee celebrations, which features artists from across the Commonwealth. His fragile but uniquely emotive high tenor voice and aura-like persona elicit feelings of peace and longing in listeners. Living a traditional Yolngu life, his breakthrough album 'Gurrumul . 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. [8] He was the most commercially successful Aboriginal Australian musician at the time of his death. He also won three Deadlys, winning for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for Gurrumul and Single of the Year for Gurrumul History (I 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. 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.. Aged only 46, hed succumbed to organ failure relating to the hepatitis B hed contracted in childhood. Gurrumul's face centrally occupies the frame, leaving minimal room for background detail, indistinct light grey brushstrokes behind his neck and face. 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. To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald or The Age. It is a deteriorating, awkwardly silent affair that ends with Hohnen lowering his head to the desk in front of him. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, National Portrait Gallery Blind from birth, he played the guitar upside down with his left hand. [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. Deeply embedded in the documentary project, he brought the camera crew along to his fathers funeral. Central to Gurrumul's career was Michael Hohnen, a musician and producer who established SkinnyFish Records and was the first to encourage the shy singer to step out from the Saltwater Band to develop his own unique style of playing and performing. "It was a strange way to sign off a conversation," he says. [33] He released his third studio album, The Gospel Album, on 31 July 2015. [19][20] He did not generally give interviews, instead relying on Hohnen to speak for him, following a Yolu custom that dictated that Yunupingu's role was only to sing, while his elders spoke publicly. Gurrumuls songs speak of identity, spirit, connection with the land, the elements and the ancestral beings to whom he is related. Gurrumul - Movies on Google Play Audio description written by Meredith Hughes and voiced by Rory Walker, Guido Maestri as well as on it. Interviews and feature reports from NITV. He was born blind. Maestri worked on the painting for a month, listening to Gurrumul's music as he built up the image layer upon layer. Were working to restore it. "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. In less than a decade, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu became Australias biggest-selling Indigenous musician. He just says its his role to tell these stories about his culture.. "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. JustMyTwoCopper. The album debuted at #1 on the ARIA charts, won multiple ARIA awards and the Australian Music Prize. 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.. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. "Ive assumed our audience knows next to nothing about Australian Indigenous culture generally, less about the Yolngu culture of North East ArnhemLand, and nothing about Gurrumuls Gumatj Clan Nation. He performed "Sing" live at the Diamond Jubilee Concert on 4 June 2012 together with many of the song's contributing artists. Three days later, on July 25, 2017, Gurrumul died in Royal Darwin Hospital. His first solo album, Gurrumul, debuted at #21 on the ARIA Charts and #1 on the independent chart. "There are different ways people can go about activism," Hohnen continues. He just wants to play music.. 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. Gurrumul History (I Was Born Blind) Gurrumul | Last.fm The world wants to know more about him. "Gurrumul had hundreds of songs in his head," says Hohnen. ", Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society, "2009 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners", "Gurrumul Is The 2022 NIMA Hall Of Fame Inductee", Video of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu performing, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Geoffrey_Gurrumul_Yunupingu&oldid=1141636930, CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown, Articles with dead external links from August 2012, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English, Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. 1 in the mainstream iTunes charts.Gurrumul peaked at #4 on the ARIA Charts. I think it's more that they're really proud. Gurrumul went home for the funeral and ceremonial sorry business, and to take on the cultural responsibilities that were now his. That was the key. In touching and heartbreaking sequences Gurrumul learns of loved ones passing away, and we see the funeral ceremonies that he travels back home for. A year later he began to play a guitar; despite being a left-hander, he played a right-handed guitar, holding it upside down, which he would continue to do throughout his career. Following a long battle with illness, Gurrumul passed away in 2017 at Royal Darwin Hospital at the age of 46. Gurrumul was raised on Elcho Island, off the coast of North East Arnhem Land, as a member of the Gumatj clan. 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. [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. His condition had worsened in recent years, to the extent that Skinnyfish had retired the singer from touring in late 2015. Singer-songwriter Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu will release his eponymous solo debut album Gurrumul via Dramatico Entertainment on June 15. Formerly with Yothu Yindi, he is now with Saltwater Band. Most of his songs are sung in Galpu, Gumatj or Djambarrpuyngu, which are all languages of the Yolngu people of northeastern Arnhem Land. The portrait won the Archibald Prize for 2009. His condition had worsened in recent years, to the extent that Skinnyfish had retired the singer from touring in late 2015. .mw-parser-output .awards-table td:last-child{text-align:center}, The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters". 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. It also paints a portrait of the close relationship between the artist and Hohnen. He was born on Elcho Island, off the coast of Arnhem Land, Northern Australia about 350 miles from Darwin. Even in his death, he's transcended genres and cultural barriers. 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. 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. Gurrumul was raised on Elcho Island, off the coast of North East Arnhem Land, as a member of the Gumatj clan. How did gurrumul go blind? Blind from birth, the proud Yolngu man spoke through his music. He had no use for picks, instead he simply kept his fingernails long. 1 on the independent chart. Gurrumuls home community of Galiwinku and the surrounding Arnhem Land is Aboriginal territory and a deeply traditional place of multiple clans and tribes. Gurrumuls death at such an early age is another tragic confirmation of the huge social gapin health as well as employment, education, housing and other basic indicesbetween indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (22 January 1971 25 July 2017), often known simply as Gurrumul, was an indigenous Australian musician. 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. That's remarkable for a man who was born blind, is extremely shy and doesn't speak much English. [27], He was again awarded the Australian Independent Record (AIR) Award for Best Independent Blues and Roots Album in 2011 for his album Rrakala. Gurrumul has won 9 awards from 21 nominations.[59]. Djarimirri is essentially, an album that sets ancient Yolngu chants against an orchestral background to make them more palatable to the Western ear. About Gurrumul - Gurrumul Yunupingu Foundation A new documentary and posthumous album dispel the myths surrounding a beloved Australian Indigenous artist. [63] Note: 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was deliberate, Hohnen says. 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. The trick with Djarimirri was in replicating this on Western instruments while leaving them recognisable to Yolngu people. A multi-instrumentalist, he played drums, keyboards, guitar (a right-hand-strung guitar played left-handed) and didgeridoo, but it was the clarity of his singing voice that attracted rave reviews. The concert was co-presented by music producer Quincy Jones, who has called Gurrumul "unbelievable". For once, the Balanda world is struggling with its incorporation into Yolngu, rather than the other way round. He gave his approval for the final version just three days before he died. Half a million copies of Gurrumul have been sold worldwide. 46years (19712017)Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu / Age at death. The only treatment is several hours of dialysis three times per week, or a kidney transplant. To Briggs's mind, Gurrumul's popularity was testament to his hard work, his musicality and his talent. Gurrumul performed for HRH Queen Elizabeth II, past-US President Barack Obama, Crown Prince Frederick and Princess Mary of Denmark, in addition to being one of only two Australian performers at the Queens Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace, confirming this multi ARIA award-winning musicians place as an international star who had transcended cultural boundaries while staying true to his culture. 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. [8], In April 2018, Yunupingu's fourth studio album, Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow), was released. Gurrumul first came to the worlds attention when his self-titled debut album Gurrumul was released to international acclaim in 2008. 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. [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.