A Legacy That Lives On
For Gurrumul’s family, when they turn on his music and hear him sing, he’s still here — his voice clear and high, soaring over the land like clouds. As his brother-in-law Don Wininba puts it, “his music is still alive.” He can still feel him, like he’s there with the family, listening to his music. His music is always coming from a background where he sings about the nature — how nature changes, and how seasons change. They do miss him a lot.
Nearly a decade since his death, the blind musical maestro from remote Elcho Island in the Northern Territory is set to be posthumously inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame on June 11. In doing so, he’ll become one of just a small handful of Australian performers to be inducted into the hall of fame twice, after joining with his former band Yothu Yindi back in 2012. Other double inductees include Jimmy Barnes (also inducted separately with Cold Chisel) and Ross Wilson (also in the ARIA Hall of Fame with band Daddy Cool).
In a statement, ARIA said Gurrumul’s “angelic voice connected with fans across the globe.” His songs speak of identity, spirit, connection with the land, the elements, and the ancestral beings to whom he is related. It’s a remarkable achievement for a performer who spoke limited English and was born without sight, and it’s a milestone that has filled his family with pride and reflection.
“We are really proud of Gurrumul, to get the hall of fame,” said Mr Wininba. “It’s really special to the family, to all Gumatj family,” said Mr Wininba.
Getting Into People’s Hearts and Minds
Gurrumul’s close friend and musical collaborator Michael Hohnen said the ARIA Hall of Fame was a “great acknowledgment and I also think it’s really good for the family.” They didn’t want his legacy to fade, Mr Hohnen said. That’s one of the reasons they released his name [to be written and spoken] so soon after his passing.
During his brief but meteoric solo career, Gurrumul travelled the world, won fans from Elton John to Quincy Jones, performed with Sting, and his debut sold over half a million copies. He loved the mainstream, and he loved connecting with people. So it was about connecting with people, but not following what everyone else in the music industry does. They tried to do something that was getting into people’s hearts and minds and connecting, but also doing it in a fresh way, that was different.
Gurrumul’s path was cut short by illness, which tragically saw him pass away aged 46 in 2017. The tragedy for all of us, I think, is that the health and the sickness limited him from being able to do a lot more, Mr Hohnen said. They did a lot, and he did a lot with Yothu Yindi and with Saltwater Band in a limited amount of time, but you do wonder what else could’ve happened had his health been a lot stronger.
Mr Wininba and family members will travel to Sydney for the posthumous induction in June, and will bring a stage show to the Carriageworks venue encompassing his culture and song. Five artists will also be inducted alongside Gurrumul on the night; Spiderbait, Jenny Morris, Kate Ceberano, Vika and Linda, and The Living End.
