Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
| Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu | |
|---|---|
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu in November 2012
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| Background information | |
| Born |
22 January 1971 Galiwin'ku, Elcho Island, Australia |
| Genres | Folk/World |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, drums, keyboards, didgeridoo |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Labels | Skinnyfish Music |
| Associated acts |
Yothu Yindi Saltwater Band |
| Website | www |
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (born 22 January 1971) is an Indigenous Australian musician who sings in Yolŋu languages and English.
He was born in Galiwin'ku, Elcho Island, off the coast of Arnhem Land, northern Australia about 69.5 kilometres from Darwin. He is from the Gumatj clan of the Yolngu and his mother is from the Galpu nation. He was born blind, has never learned Braille and does not have a guide dog or use a white cane. Yunupingu is said to be acutely shy.
He plays the drums, keyboards, guitar (a right-hand-strung guitar played left-handed) and didgeridoo, but it is the clarity of his singing voice that has attracted rave reviews. He sings stories of his land in both languages (Gälpu, Gumatj or Djambarrpuynu, all Yolŋu languages) and English. Formerly with Yothu Yindi, he is now with Saltwater Band.
In 2008 Yunupingu was nominated for four ARIA Awards, winning the awards for Best World Music Album and Best Independent Release. 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)".
His first solo album, Gurrumul, debuted at No. 69 on the ARIA Charts and No. 1 on the independent chart.Gurrumul peaked at No. 3 on the ARIA Charts. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu's friend Michael Hohnen produced the album and acts as his translator. Critics have heaped praise on the singer, describing his voice as having "transcendental beauty". Elton John, Sting and Björk are among his fans. When asked what he would do with any money he made, he suggested it would go to his mother and aunts, following the Aboriginal tradition of sharing wealth.
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