Musicians

Ruby Hunter

Origin
Ngarrindjeri/Kukatha/Pitjantjatjara, Murray River near Berri, South Australia
Genre/styles
Folk
About Ruby

Ruby Hunter was a Djab Wurrung and Bundjalung woman. Her long life partner was Archie Roach.

She starred in Rachel Perkin's movie "One Night, The Moon".

Ruby Hunter passed away on 17 February 2010.

Ruby Hunter: Nukkan Ya Ruby at Sydney Festival 2010
Nukkan Ya Ruby (See Ya Later Ruby) was a tribute to Ruby Hunter at Sydney Festival's opening night on 8 January 2010 with an impressive line-up of stars including her partner Archie Roach, Dave Arden, Paul Kelly, Emma Donovan, Uncle Jimmy Little, Tiddas, Dan Sultan, Radical Son and more.

Ruby Hunter was a great Ngarrindjeri woman, a great songwriter and performer, someone who played an absolutely critical role in Indigenous music and performing in Australia.

— Peter Garret, Federal Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts

Discography

Album formats explained

Album formats

  • 10": 10 inch vinyl records were played at 45 or 33 1/3 rounds per minute (rpm). The former could hold 9, the latter 12 minutes of music per side.
  • 7": 7 inch records (often referred to as 45s) were played at 45 rpm or 33 1/3 rpm, with about 4:30 or 6 minutes of music per side.
  • LP: Long play, is a vinyl record played at ​33 1⁄3 rpm with a 12 or 10-inch diameter.
  • EP: Extended play, are vinyl records that allowed two or even three songs on each side.

Thoughts Within

Released
1994
Tracks
  1. Kurongk Boy, Kurongk Girl
  2. So Close, So Near
  3. Sister Yappa
  4. Let My Children Be
  5. Who's To Blame
  6. Proud, Proud Woman
  7. A Change is Gonna come
  8. Aunty Sissy
  9. Woman's Business
  10. Kutjeri Lady
  11. Wet Heart, No Tears
  12. I've Been Waiting
  13. Modern Day Girl
Notes

This is Ruby Hunter's first solo album and the first solo album release by an Aboriginal woman in Australia.


Feeling Good

Released
January 2000
Tracks
  1. I Am A Woman
  2. It's Okay
  3. In The Right Way
  4. Ain't No Time
  5. Ngarrindjeri Woman
  6. Aurukun Moonlight
  7. Take It Easy
  8. Something Special
  9. Wise Ways
  10. True Lovers
  11. Why Won't You Believe Me
  12. Welcome To All People

Ruby (Ruby's Story)

Released
2005
Tracks
  1. A Child Was Born Tonight
  2. Ngarrindjeri Woman
  3. Nopun kurongk (Go to the River)
  4. Held Up To The Moon (In My Grandfather's Hands)
  5. Wash My Soul In The River's Flow
  6. Daisy Chains, String Games And Knuckle Bones
  7. Took The Children Away
  8. Coolamon Baby
  9. Little by Little
  10. Down City Streets
  11. Old So & So
  12. Kura Tungar
Notes

Ruby Hunter with Archie Roach (music and lyrics), Paul Grabowsky (director, arrangement and additional music) and the Australian Art Orchestra.


Find Ruby Hunter albums & CDs

Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through any album links.

Go exploring!

Use the Aboriginal music timeline to view albums over time.

References

View article sources (0)

[1] 'Festival First Night', Sydney Festival programme, 2 January 2010, p.9

Cite this page

Korff, J 2020, Ruby Hunter, <https://www.creativespirits.info/resources/music/ruby-hunter>, retrieved 19 March 2024

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