A gifted Aboriginal singer who was born blind and brought up in poverty has taken Australia by storm, topping the mainstream music charts and earning plaudits for his "sublime" voice.

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, 38, from Elcho Island in Arnhem Land, northern Australia, has been hailed as one of the brightest talents ever to emerge from the country's indigenous population, with his debut solo album reaching number one in the country's independent music charts and his recent concerts selling out. Critics have heaped praise on the singer and described his voice as having "transcendental beauty". Sir Elton John, Sting and Björk are among his fans.

Yunupingu's success is all the more remarkable because he speaks only a few words of English, is said to be acutely shy, and most of his songs are sung in his native language of Yolngu. A mixture of traditional songs and new compositions, they reflect his background growing up in one of the most remote but beautiful parts of the continent.

Largely self-taught, he plays drums, keyboards, guitar and didgeridoo, but it is his clarity of voice that has attracted rave reviews. Sydney Morning Herald reviewer Bruce Elder recalled the first time he heard the young singer. "My immediate response was that here, as far as I was concerned, for the first time was an Aboriginal voice of absolutely transcendental beauty," he said. Iain Shedden, music critic of The Australian newspaper, said there was "an incredible aura" around Yunupingu, while another music critic, Lou Novachek, described his voice as "sublime".

Yunupingu's songs are attracting people who do not normally listen to Aboriginal music and he received standing ovations after two recent performances at the Sydney Opera House.

The singer's friend Michael Hohnen, who produced his album, acts as Yunupingu's translator. He said it would be wrong to call the singer an overnight success since he had played for many years with the well-known Yothu Yindi band before forming his own Saltwater Band and then striking out on his own.

Hohnen said his friend was different to other Aboriginal singers because he has no political agenda. Aborigines in Australia remain a disadvantaged minority with high levels of ill-health, unemployment and poverty. "Gurrumul's not an activist or a social commentator," said Hohnen. "He just says it's his role to tell these stories about his culture."

Yunupingu, who has never learned Braille and does not have a guide dog or use a stick, has told interviewers he has little use for money. Following the Aboriginal tradition of sharing wealth, he said any money he makes goes to his mother and aunts still living on Elcho Island, some 350 miles from Darwin.

source: TheGuardian