Maroochy Barambah

Maroochy Barambah is an Australian Aboriginal mezzo-soprano singer.

She was born Yvette Isaacs in the 1950s in Cherbourg, Queensland.^[1] She is of the Turrbal-Gubbi Gubbi people and is a member of the Stolen Generations. She considers herself a beneficiary of her removal.^[2] As a tribute to her Aboriginality she took the names Maroochy (meaning "black swan") and Barambah (meaning "source of the western wind").^[3]

Maroochy Barambah rose to fame for her part in the 1989 Sydney Metropolitan Opera production of Black River, an opera about black deaths in custody, and later starring in the 1993 film adaption. She also has appeared in the indigenous musical Bran Nue Dae and in the opera Beach Dreaming (written for and about her by Mark Isaacs).^[1]

She has released two singles, one of which, Aborigine, reached the top 10 on the U.S. Billboard Dance chart.^[4]

Discography

Aborigine (1996) single - Daki Budtcha Records
Mongungi (1994) single - Daki Budtcha Records
Once upon a dreamtime (1997) - Daki Budtcha Records

Appears on

Black River (1997) soundtrack - MusicArtsDance Films

References

^ ^a ^b David Horton, ed. The Encyclopaedia of Aboriginal Australia : Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, society and culture. Aboriginal Studies Press for AIATSIS. ISBN 0855752505.
^ The Australian Strong voices, separate songlines
^ Atkinson, Ann; Linsay Knight, Margaret McPhee. The Dictionary of Performing Arts in Australia: Theatre, film, radio, television. Allen & Unwin. pp. 26. ISBN 1863738983, 9781863738989.
^ Powerhouse Museum Exhibition notes - Bayagul

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Name	Barambah, Maroochy
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