songs and new compositions, they The singer's friend Michael Hohnen,

A
gifted Aboriginal singer
reflect his background growing up who produced his album, acts as
who was born blind and
in one of the most remote but Yunupingu's translator. He said it
brought up in poverty has
beautiful parts of the continent. would be wrong to call the singer
taken Australia by storm, topping
an overnight success since he had
the mainstream music charts and
Largely self-taught, he plays drums, played for many years with the
earning plaudits for his "sublime"
keyboards, guitar and didgeridoo, well-known Yothu Yindi band
voice.
but it is his clarity of voice that has before forming his own Saltwater
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, 38, attracted rave reviews. Sydney Band and then striking out on
from Elcho Island in Arnhem Land, Morning Herald reviewer Bruce his own.
northern Australia, has been hailed Elder recalled the first time he heard
the young singer. "My immediate Hohnen said his friend was different
as one of the brightest talents ever
response was that here, as far as I to other Aboriginal singers because
to emerge from the country's
was concerned, for the first time was he has no political agenda.
indigenous population, with his
an Aboriginal voice of absolutely Aborigines in Australia remain a
debut solo album reaching number
transcendental beauty," he said. Iain disadvantaged minority with high
one in the country's independent
Shedden, music critic of The levels of ill-health, unemployment
music charts and his recent concerts
Australian newspaper, said there and poverty. "Gurrumul's not an
selling out. Critics have heaped
was "an incredible aura" around activist or a social commentator,"
praise on the singer and described
Yunupingu, while another music said Hohnen. "He just says it's his
his voice as having "transcendental
critic, Lou Novachek, described his role to tell these stories about his
beauty." Sir Elton John, Sting and
voice as "sublime". culture."
Björk are among his fans.

Yunupingu's songs are attracting Yunupingu, who has never learned

Yunupingu's success is all the more
people who do not normally listen Braille and does not have a guide
remarkable because he speaks only
to Aboriginal music and he received dog or use a stick, has told
a few words of English, is said to be
standing ovations after two recent interviewers he has little use for
acutely shy, and most of his songs
performances at the Sydney money. Following the Aboriginal
are sung in his native language of
Opera House. tradition of sharing wealth, he said
Yolngu. A mixture of traditional
any money he makes goes to his
mother and aunts still
living on Elcho Island,
some 350 miles from
Darwin.

source:
TheGuardian