An award winning Indigenous Australian artist, blind from birth, Gurrumul, is today's Eazy Entertainment's Artist of the Week. Born in 1970 with a name of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu off the coast of Arnhem Land, Northern Australia about 580 kilometers from Darwin. He is also called Gudjuk or Geoffrey. His mother is from Galpu nation and Gurrumul is from Gumatj clan of the Yolngu.
Though Gurrumul was born blind, but it never stopped Gurrumul from shining as a multi-talented musician. Aside from having an amazing voice, he also plays drums, keyboards, guitars, and didgeridoo. He is a former member of Yothu Yindi and currently with Saltwater Band. Gurrumul speaks only a few words of English and his beautiful voice will never leave you as he sings the songs of his Gumatj country.
Gurrumul was nominated for four ARIA awards in 2008, and won the Best World Music Album and Best Independent Release. He also won 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, he was named as "Best New Independent Artist". His song, "Gurrumul History (I Was Born Blind)", was featured on the British TV Show on the same year. During the Jägermeister Australian Independent Record (AIR) Awards, held at Melbourne's Corner Hotel in 2009, his album "Gurrumul" won 'Best Independent Release' and 'Best Independent Blues/Roots Release' and he was awarded again in 2011 by the same award giving body.
In 2012 Gurrumul was one of the contributing vocalists on Gary Barlow's commemorative single 'Sing' for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, which features artists from across the Commonwealth. He performed 'Sing' live at the Diamond Jubilee Concert on Monday 4th of June 2012 together with many of the song's contributing artists. In 2013, Gurrumul joined Delta Goodrem for a special performance of Bayini on The Voice Australia.
Music critics have heaped praise on Gurrumul, describing his voice as having "transcendental beauty." Even Sting, Bjork and Elton John are one of his million fans around the globe. When Gurrumul was asked as to what he will do with the money he makes, he humbly said that the money goes to his mother and aunts, following the Aboriginal tradition of sharing wealth.
Sources: Wikipedia, Gurrumul Official Website, Facebook
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