Isaac Yamma
Isaac Yamma (1940 – January 1990) was a country singer from central Australia. He was one of the earliest musicians in Australia to become well known singing Western-style songs in an indigenous language. Isaac was a Pitjantjatjara man who was born by a waterhole near Docker River. He started his musical career as a member of a band called Areyonga Desert Tigers. He later formed his own band, the Pitjantjatjara Country Band. It was made up of his sons Hector, Frank, Peter and Paul and his cousin Russell Yamma. His song were mostly sung in Pitjantjatjara.
Isaac Yamma | |
|---|---|
 Isaac Yama outside Ininti Store, Uluru, NT, Australia. 1983 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 1940 Kaltukatjara, Northern Territory, Australia |
| Died | January 1990 |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | vocals, acoustic guitar |
| Years active | 1960–1989 |
| Labels | CAAMA Records |
| Associated acts | Frank Yamma Pitjantjatjara Country Band |
Discography
- Albums
- Isaac Yama and the Pitjantjatjara Country Band (1987) - CAAMA
- Isaac Yama and the Pitjantjatjara Country Band No.2 (1987) - CAAMA
- Compilations
- Papal Concert, Alice Springs (1982) - CAAMA
- Desert Songs 1 (1982) - CAAMA
- Desert Songs 2 (1983) - CAAMA
- From the Bush (1990) - CAAMA
- AIDS: How Could I Know (1989) - CAAMA
- 25th Anniversary Compilation 2 (2006) - CAAMA
References
- Walker, Clinton (2000). "Country Man". Buried Country: The Story of Aboriginal Country Music. Pluto Press. pp. 230–243. ISBN 1-86403-152-2.
- Toohey, Paul (1996). "The Story of Isaac". God's Little Acre. Sydney: Duffy & Snellgrove. ISBN 1-875989-09-9.
- Breen, Marcus (1989). Our Place Our Music. Aboriginal Studies Press. ISBN 0-85575-197-5.