Seaman Dan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Seaman Dan
Seaman Dan
Background information
Birth name	Henry Gibson Dan
Born	(1929-08-25)25 August 1929 Thursday Island, Torres Strait Islands, Queensland, Australia
Origin	Torres Strait Islander
Died	30 December 2020 (aged 91) Edmonton, Queensland, Australia
Genres	Folk Jazz Hula
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Years active	1990s–2016
Labels	Hot Records Steady Steady Music

Henry Gibson Dan (born August 25, 1929 – died December 30, 2020), known as Seaman Dan, was an amazing singer and songwriter. He was a Torres Strait Islander from Australia.

Seaman Dan became famous for his music both in Australia and around the world. He released his first recording in 2000. His album Perfect Pearl won a big award called the ARIA Award for Best World Music Album in 2004. He won this award again in 2009 for his album Sailing Home.

He performed at many festivals and events. These included the National Folk Festival and the Darwin Festival. He also played at the National Museum of Australia.

Early Life and Adventures

Seaman Dan was born in 1929 on Thursday Island. This island is part of the Torres Strait Islands Region in far-north Queensland, Australia. His family had roots from many different places. His great-grandfather was a sailor from Jamaica. His great-grandmother was a chief's daughter from New Caledonia. Another grandfather came from the island of Niue in Polynesia.

When he was younger, in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, Seaman Dan had many interesting jobs. He worked as a boat captain and a pearl diver. He collected pearls and shells across northern Australia. He also worked finding minerals and even as a taxi driver.

Seaman Dan's Music Journey

Seaman Dan's singing style was shaped by his family and friends. He also learned from talented musicians he met during his working life at sea. His music was a cool mix of sounds from Australia, Melanesia, North America, Africa, and Polynesia. He was especially known for the "hula" style from Thursday Island.

For many years, he was a regular performer at hotels on Thursday Island. He was also a community musician for decades. In 2005, he received the Red Ochre Award from the Australia Council for the Arts. This award celebrates Indigenous Australian artists who have made a huge difference in arts and culture. The Council said he was a "charismatic and consummate performer." They noted how he mixed traditional Torres Strait Islander songs with jazz, hula, and blues.

In 2013, he was honored with a Hall of Fame Award. This was at the National Indigenous Music Awards in Darwin. Seaman Dan semi-retired in 2004 when he was 85 years old. In 2019, he received the Grant McLennan Lifetime Achievement Award. This was at the Queensland Music Awards. Seaman Dan passed away on December 30, 2020, at the age of 91.

Seaman Dan's Albums

Seaman Dan released many albums during his career. Here are some of them:

Studio Albums

Compilation Albums

Awards and Recognitions

Seaman Dan received several important awards for his music and his contributions to Australian culture.

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are Australia's biggest music awards. They celebrate the best music and artists in Australia each year. Seaman Dan won two ARIA awards and was nominated four times.

Australia Council for the Arts

The Australia Council for the Arts helps fund and advise on arts in Australia. Since 1993, they have given out the Red Ochre Award. This award goes to an amazing Indigenous Australian artist for their lifetime achievements.

National Indigenous Music Awards

The National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA) celebrate great music from the Northern Territory. They also recognize dedication and new ideas in the music industry. These awards started in 2004.

Queensland Music Awards

The Queensland Music Awards celebrate the best new and established artists from Queensland, Australia. They started in 2006.