The Australian Music Vault at Arts Centre Melbourne has unveiled a new display celebrating the achievements of Sammy Butcher, co-founder of the iconic Warumpi Band and this year’s National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA) Hall of Fame inductee. The display showcases key moments from Butcher’s 40-year career through historical photographs and album covers, highlighting his significant contributions to Australian music.
Butcher, a proud Pitjantjatjara/Luritja/Warlpiri man from Papunya, Northern Territory, helped shape the landscape of Indigenous music in Australia. The Warumpi Band, which he co-founded in the late 1970s, became a pioneering force in Aboriginal rock music, known for their song ‘Jailanguru Pakarnu (Out From Jail)’, the first rock song in an Aboriginal language. Other notable tracks of theirs include Blackfella/Whitefella and My Island Home.
In addition to his work with Warumpi Band, Butcher’s influence extends to the younger generation, particularly through his efforts in teaching and mentoring young musicians in Papunya, where he has lived since 2000. The display at the Australian Music Vault honours his lifelong dedication to music and his enduring impact on the Australian music scene.
This display can be seen freely at The Australian Music Vault located at Arts Centre Melbourne.
