Nation’s ‘greatest voice’ Yunupingu dies

Dr G Yunupingu, the blind indigenous singer whose debut album in his native Yolngu language went triple platinum, has died in a Darwin hospital. He was 46.

Dr Yunupingu died at Royal Darwin Hospital on Tuesday, his record label Skinnyfish Music and publicist said in a brief statement on Facebook. In line with Indigenous tradition the full name and images of the late artist are not being published.

It is understood the singer had been receiving dialysis and had been ill for some time. His family are expected to be offered a state funeral.

Dr Yunupingu’s soulful and emotive voice came to the fore in 2008 with the release of his debut album, which peaked at No.3 on the ARIA charts and went triple platinum.

He was described by music critic Bruce Elder as possessing “the greatest voice this continent has ever recorded”.

The highest selling Indigenous artist in history, Dr G Yunupingu won a swag of ARIA Awards, performed across the globe for audiences including Queen Elizabeth II and Barack Obama and released the first Indigenous language single to reach the top five.