Frank Yamma facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Frank Yamma
Yamma performing in October 2013
Background information
Born	1969/1970 (age 54–55) Northern Territory, Australia
Genres	Folk, acoustic
Instruments	Guitar, vocals
Years active	1996–present
Labels	Wantok Musik

Frank Yamma is a talented Aboriginal singer and songwriter. He comes from Central Australia. Frank Yamma is a Pitjantjatjara man. He can speak five different languages. He sings his songs in both Pitjantjatjara and English. His father, Isaac Yamma, was also a famous artist. Isaac Yamma was one of the first to sing Western-style songs in traditional languages.

Frank Yamma started singing with his father and brothers. Later, he formed his own band called Piranpa. He has traveled all over Australia and to other countries. He has performed at big music events like WOMAD. He often plays his music by himself.

Frank Yamma's Early Life

Frank Yamma was born in 1970. His father, Isaac Yamma, was a very important Indigenous songwriter. Isaac Yamma was known for singing Western-style songs in traditional languages. He also started the first national Indigenous radio network.

Frank Yamma grew up in the camps near Alice Springs. He never had formal music lessons. But he knew from a young age that he wanted to play music like his father. He started playing around age seven. By the time he was 10, he already had his own band.

He is an initiated Pitjantjatjara man. This means he has gone through important cultural ceremonies. He speaks five languages and sings in two: Pitjantjatjara and English.

Frank Yamma's Music Career

Frank Yamma played in many bands for years. He played with his father and his three brothers, Hector, Paul, and Peter. While making music, he also worked other jobs. He was a stockman (someone who works with livestock). He also helped build houses and did other odd jobs.

His music career really took off in 1997. He was invited to play at the Australia Day celebrations. After that, he began touring across Australia and around the world. He played at many large festivals. Frank Yamma became known for trying different music styles. These included blues, lullabies, reggae, and rock music.

In 1998, he released an album called Inma Wiru. This was an ambient dance music album. He worked with a German producer named Zeus B. Held on this project.

He formed a band called Piranpa. The name Piranpa comes from a Pitjantjatjara word. It means "skinny white lizards." This was because all the other band members were whitefellas. In 1999, Frank Yamma and Piranpa released the album Playing with Fire. A song from this album, "Everybody's Talking," was even on the official soundtrack for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

In 2005, he wrote and performed the song "Pitjantjara." This song was for the film The Alice.

His album Countryman came out in 2010. It was praised by critics and gained international attention. This led to many tours both in Australia and overseas. In 2014, he released another highly praised album called Uncle.

In February 2020, Frank Yamma released his first vinyl album, Tjukurpa: The Story. This album was very popular in Australia and other countries. It received a five-star review from the British music magazine Songlines. It was also nominated for an ARIA Award for Best Blues and Roots Album. At the same time, a collection of songs called The Kulila Project was released digitally. This album featured his long-time friends and collaborators.

Touring and Festivals

In 2001, Frank Yamma went on a solo tour in the United States. He performed in cities like San Francisco, Virginia, Washington, New York, and Santa Fe.

For the 2003 Message Sticks Festival, he wrote and performed 11 songs. He played these songs at the Sydney Opera House Studio Theatre. He performed with an electronic music group called Wicked Beat Sound System.

He has toured Europe three times. He played at WOMAD and the 2012 Cultural Olympiad in the UK. He also performed at the New Hebridean Festival in Scotland. Other European festivals include Festival Bled in Slovenia and Colours of Ostrava in the Czech Republic.

Frank Yamma has also toured Canada at least twice. In 2014, he played at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Calgary Folk Music Festival, and Winnipeg Folk Festival. He shared the stage with famous artists like Buffy Saint Marie and The Mekons. He also opened for Joan Baez. In August 2016, he performed at several other Canadian festivals. These included the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival in Lunenberg, Nova Scotia. He also played at Manitoba Aboriginal Music Week in Winnipeg.

Other festivals where he has performed include:

• Livid
• WOMAD in the UK
• WOMADelaide in Adelaide (in 2010 and 2021)
• Moomba
• The Yeperenye Festival (2001)
• Sydney Festival
• Byron Bay Bluesfest
• Adelaide Guitar Festival On the Road (2022)
• Adelaide Fringe (2024)

Awards and Recognition

Frank Yamma has received several awards for his music.

• 1999: His album Playing with Fire won Album of the Year at the Deadly Awards 1999.
• 2005: He won Best Original Song Composed for a Feature Film. This was with David Bridie at the APRA Music Awards of 2005. The song was "Pitjantjara" from the film The Alice.
• 2014: He represented Australia at WOMEX. This is a big international music event.

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (AIR Awards) celebrate independent music in Australia.

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards honor composers and songwriters in Australia.

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards celebrate the Australian music industry.

Deadly Awards

The Deadly Awards celebrated achievements by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Frank Yamma's Personal Life

Frank Yamma has lived in Adelaide for many years.

Frank Yamma's Discography

Studio Albums

Remix Albums

Compilation Albums