- Alan Dargin
Alan Dargin (13 July 1967–24 February 2008) was a
didgeridoo player from Wee Waa,New South Wales ,Australia . He started learning the instrument at age five, being taught by his grandfather. His signature instrument was over a hundred years old and was made from anextinct species ofeucalyptus known as the Bloodwood tree.He performed on the streets of
Sydney , through to performances in front ofFrancois Mitterand and with many symphonies around the world, including theVienna Philharmonic and theLondon Symphony Orchestra atRoyal Albert Hall , as well as many other locations in the United States, Japan, and Europe.As an actor, he also had roles, including a featured part in "
Fringe Dwellers ", but he was probably best known for his cross-dressing role in "".He has contributed to albums by many famous artists such as
Jimmy Page andRobert Plant , Jimmy Barnes,Tommy Emmanuel , Wallace Buchanan (Jamiroquai),Yothu Yindi , and Don Burrows, and filmed a documentary aboutCape York withJacques Cousteau .His last recording, "MRD", contains tracks that feature collaborations with legendary musicians such as
Tommy Emmanuel ,James Morrison , and many other virtuosos duetting with didgeridoo on instruments as varied as guitar, steel drums, keyboard, Chinese flute, trumpet, electric bass, and voice. The album is due to be released in April 2008.Dargin held a degree in science from the
University of Toronto .He suffered a
cerebral hemorrhage and died at Saint Vincents Hospital, Darlinghurst in Sydney just before sunrise on Sunday, 24 February 2008. [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23277019-12377,00.html]A memorial service for Dargin was held at
Circular Quay , Sydney at 7 a.m. on Thursday, 28 February 2008, commencing with a traditional Aboriginal smoking ceremony that progressed along Circular Quay toFirst Fleet Park . Hundreds attended and tribute after tribute was given to this "Rock and Roll didjeridu" legend. [ [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23294235-2702,00.html Singing home soul of the didgeridoo | The Australian ] ]Partial discography
*MRD (to be released April 2008)
*DidgeriDuo (withGary Thomas , 2001)
*Cross + Hatch (with Michael Atherton, 1998)
*Two Stories in One (withReconciliation , 1994)
*Bloodwood: The Art of the Didjeridu (with Michael Atherton, 1993)References
External links
*imdb name|id=0201201
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