I can remember when the band Yothu Yindi first hit the airwaves in Australia many long years ago. The sound of the didgeridoo accompanying the Indigenous singers captivated me. The lead singer was a young man by the name of Gurrumul. Today I want to honour his memory and his music.
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was an Indigenous Australian musician. Didgeridoo, drums, keyboards, a right hand guitar played upside down left-handed were his instruments. But above all else he was known for the clarity of his singing voice. He sang stories of his land in Yolŋu languages such as Gälpu, Gumatj or Djambarrpuynu, and also in English. Solo artist and band member, he was the most commercially successful Aboriginal Australian musician.
He died young – aged 46 – of liver and kidney disease in July 2017. Nine months after his death in April of 2018, his fourth album – Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow – was released. It was four years in the making and has become the first in an Australian Indigenous language to top the music charts in Australia.
“He’s singing about himself, how he was brought to the world and he’s covered with rainbow,” she said.
“Djarri is a rainbow. He is presenting that message to the world — telling the world that he is yothu djarrimir: ‘I am a rainbow child, and I am covered with rainbow.'”
A self-taught multi-instrumentalist from Galiwin’ku on Elcho Island just off the Arnhem Land coast, he was blind from birth. He played the guitar upside down with his left hand. He had no use for picks. He simply kept his fingernails long.
Gurrumul became well known here in Australia and overseas, giving guest performances (eg Queen Elizabeth II and Barack Obama) and singing duets with other famous artists (eg Sting, Missy Higgins).
My impression of him was that of a humble man who seemed uncomfortable to be in the limelight.
Raili Tanska
‘What listeners to Gurrumul’s voice and music hear is not simply ‘beauty’ but something that is the sound of life itself being honoured.”
soulgifts - Telling Tales 
Reblogged this on Opher's World and commented:
Great stuff.
Thanks Opher 🙂
Every time I hear Gurrumul’s voice, my heart trembles, I’ve tears in my eyes, my skin tingles with goose-bumps, my lips smile in harmony, and my thoughts fly upon my angels wings.
Sounds that really stir your heart and soul Ivor 🙂
Really beautiful peaceful sound. Thank you for sharing.
🙂
That duet was fantastic, thanks for sharing 🌹
He was greatly revered. The sad thing is so many of our indigenous people die young from treatable and preventable conditions.
I know, it’s almost as if there is a trade off for their greatness, if that makes sense!
Know what you mean.
That’s why we are older 😉
What a fascinating person!
He was 🙂
Oh, I must get his albums! Beautiful.
🙂
He had such a beautiful voice. Very soulful. And that second video was just gorgeous. SO enjoyed this!
Thanks, Calen. Researching his history was so interesting.
Who was the gal who sang with him? She had a marvelous voice as well.
That’s Delta Goodrem, an Aussie singer. She’s been one of the coaches on The Voice here for many years. Currently she’s involved in filming . of Olivia Newton-John’s life story. She acts Olivia.
That’s pretty cool!
A beautiful man with a beautiful voice. It’s tragic that he died so young.
Yes it is, to both. Our indigenous friends get a hard deal in so many ways 😦
But things are finally beginning to improve… maybe too little too late.
Never too late for change, Jane.
My mum used to say, “It’s no use crying over spilt milk.”
Yes, I have heard that one too