Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu

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 a Yolŋu Aboriginal Australian musician. A multi-instrumentalist, he played drums, keyboards, guitar (a right-hand-strung guitar played left-handed) and didgeridoo, but is best known for the clarity of his singing voice. He sang stories of his land both in Yolŋu languages, such as Gaalpu, Gumatj, or Djambarrpuynu (related to Gumatj), and in English. He began his career as a member of Yothu Yindi and later Saltwater Band, and his solo career brought him wider acclaim; Yunupingu performed for Queen Elizabeth II, US President Barack Obama, Prince Charles, Prince William and Catherine Middleton, and Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark. He was one of only two Australian performers at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace in 2012. At the 2026 ARIA Music Awards he will be inducted in the ARIA Hall of Fame.

Life and career 1971–1989: Early life The first of four sons born to Ganyinurra (Daisy), of the Gumal clan, and Nyambi "Terry" Yunupingu, a Gumatj clansman, Yunupingu was born blind in Galiwin'ku, Elcho Island, in 1971, situated off the coast of Arnhem Land in northern Australia, about east of Darwin. When he was four years old, he taught himself how to play a toy piano and an accordion. 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. He later sang hymns in the mission choir and also enjoyed Western pop music, particularly Dire Straits, Cliff Richard, and Stevie Wonder. He left school at the age of 12, having attended his local school, Shepherdson College, along with a brief stint at an institute in the Victorian city of Geelong for instruction in Braille, which did not interest him. His first solo album, Gurrumul, was released in 2008, debuting at No. 69 on the ARIA Charts and No. 1 on the independent chart. Gurrumul peaked at No. 3 on the ARIA Charts. The album was certified triple platinum. He did not generally give interviews, instead relying on Hohnen to speak for him, following a Yolŋu custom that dictated that Yunupingu's role was only to sing, while his elders spoke publicly. In a 2009 interview with him and Hohnen, Yunupingu said that he was generally shy but more comfortable playing music, and went on to say: "I don't have much to say to people when I talk. That is for other Yolŋu. But I can play and sing and tell people things through my songs. We have an encyclopedia of stories ready to tell people, if they want to listen."

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)".

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. In 2009 a portrait of Yunupingu by Guy Maestri won Australia's major art prize, the Archibald Prize.

He was again awarded the Australian Independent Record (AIR) Award for Best Independent Blues and Roots Album in 2011 for his album Rrakala. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2011, he won Best World Music Album and performed "Warwu" featuring Missy Higgins on piano. In 2019, Double J's Dan Condon described it as one of "7 great performances from the history of the ARIA Awards." 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. It was nominated for Australian Independent Record Labels Association and ARIA awards. "Bayini" became the first track by an indigenous musician to reach the top five of the Australian charts. He released his third studio album, The Gospel Album, on 31 July 2015. It debuted at number 3 on the ARIA Charts. In October 2015, the album won Gurrumul's third ARIA Award for Best World Music Album.

In July 2016, Yunupingu featured on the A.B. Original track "Take Me Home".

2017–present: Death and posthumous releases and recognition Yunupingu died at the Royal Darwin Hospital, Northern Territory, at about 5:00 pm on 25 July 2017, aged 46. A documentary film titled Gurrumul was also released, which Luke Buckmaster reviewed, stating that "For Gurrumul fans, the film is obviously a must-see. 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." The album won four ARIA Music Awards at the 2018 ceremony; his daughter Jasmin accepted the award for Best Male Artist on his behalf.

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.

In September 2021, Yunupingu's first anthology was released, entitled The Gurrumul Story. In the same year, a species of frog from the Wessel Islands, Northern Territory, was named Uperoleia gurrumuli (Gurrumul's toadlet) in honour of Yunupingu.

On 8 November 2024, an album with the Prague Metropolitan Orchestra, conducted by Jan Chalupecky, titled Banbirrngu - The Orchestral Sessions was released. It features reworkings of some of his songs and features new arrangements by Australian composer Errkki Veltheim.

Gurrumul is set to be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame

Discography

Studio albums Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications AUS BEL (FL) FRA GER NL SWI Gurrumul Released: February 2008 Label: Skinnyfish Music (SFGU080201) Formats: CD, digital download 3 13 60 9 54 10 ARIA: 3× Platinum BPI: Silver Rrakala Released: 15 April 2011 Label: Skinnyfish Music (SFGU110402) Formats: CD, digital download 3 85 — — — 34 ARIA: Platinum The Gospel Album Released: 31 July 2015 Label: Skinnyfish Music (SFGU150803) Formats: CD, digital download 3 — — — — — Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) Released: 13 April 2018 Label: Skinnyfish Music (SFGU180413) Formats: CD, digital download 1 — — — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Live albums Title Details Peak chart positions AUS "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilation albums Title Details Peak chart positions AUS

Awards and nominations AIR Awards The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

himself Best New Independent Album

Best Independent Album Best Independent Blues and Roots Album 2011

Best Independent Album/EP Best Independent Classical Album himself Best Independent Artist

APRA Awards The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters".

ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Gurrumul has won 9 awards from 21 nominations.

Best Independent Release Best World Music Album Best Male Artist Album of the Year Michael Hohnen and Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu for Gurrumul Producer of the Year

Best Independent Release Best World Music Album Best Male Artist Album of the Year Best Cover Art "Gopuru" (directed by Carlo Santone) Best Video

Best Male Artist Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album

Best World Music Album

Album of the Year Best Male Artist Best Independent Release Best World Music Album Best Cover Art Michael Hohnen for Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) Producer of the Year Ted Howard, Robin Mai & Matthew Cunliffe for Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) Engineer of the Year 2025 Banbirrngu - The Orchestral Sessions Best World Music Album 2026 Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu ARIA Hall of Fame

Australian Music Prize The Australian Music Prize (AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. The award commenced in 2005. 2011 Rrakala Australian Music Prize 2018 Djarimirri Australian Music Prize

J Award The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005. 2018 himself Double J Artist of the Year Helpmann Awards The Helpmann Awards is an awards show, celebrating live entertainment and performing arts in Australia, presented by industry group Live Performance Australia since 2001. Note: 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2009 Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu Helpmann Award for Best Australian Contemporary Concert

National Indigenous Music Awards The National Indigenous Music Awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians from throughout Australia. It commenced in 2004. 2005 himself Male Artist of the Year

Album of the Year Cover Art of the Year "Wiyathul" Song of the Year himself Artist of the Year

Cover Art of the Year Gurrumul Geoffrey Yunupingu – "Bapa" DVD/ Film Clip of the Year himself Artist of the Year

Film Clip of the Year himself Artist of the Year

Album of the Year Cover Art of the Year "Mala Rrakala"

Film Clip of the year himself Artist of the year

Cover Art of the Year Song of the Year himself Artist of the year

himself Special Recognition Award himself Artist of the Year "Bayini" (live) - with Delta Goodrem

"A Baru in New York" - with Yolanda Be Cool

himself Artist of the Year Album of the Year His Life and Music (with Sydney Symphony Orchestra) Song of the Year "Marilitja"

Song of the Year Film Clip of the Year himself Artist of the year

Album of the Year Best Cover Art of the Year

Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) Album of the Year "Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow)" Song of the Year himself Artist of the year 2022 Gurrumul Hall of Fame