Isaac Yamma

Australian musician

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
Isaac Yama outside Ininti Store, Uluru, NT, Australia. 1983
Background information
Born1940
Kaltukatjara, Northern Territory, Australia
DiedJanuary 1990
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrumentsvocals, acoustic guitar
Years active1960–1989
LabelsCAAMA Records

Discography change

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 change

  • 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.