David Blanasi

Who is David Blanasi?

David Blanasi was an Aboriginal man of the who is recognised for popularising the didgeridoo beyond the shores of Australia. This can be attributed to Blanasi's first television appearance in London in 1967, where he gave didgeridoo playing demonstrations for the popular Rolf Harris Show. Musical collaborations and tours with Rolf Harris followed, in addition to Australian and international outings as part of a traditional dance troupe which variously included Djoli Laiwanga - a talented Aboriginal songman, and David Gulpilil - an Aboriginal dancer and actor. Blanasi is best known for playing his Bambu atop the Sydney Opera House during opening ceremonies.

Blanasi, first came to public attention as one of a number of traditional Aboriginal didgeridoo players and songmen recorded in 1961-62 by a US linguistic researcher Dr. La Mont West. These recordings were released commercially in 1963 on a LP record Arnhem Land Popular Classics.

Blanasi is acknowledged as one of the great master mago players of the 20th century and as a master instrument maker his didgeridoos have become highly collectible. He lived in south-central Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, Australia, in a remote Aboriginal settlement variously known as Beswick also known as Wugularr and nearby Bamyili known as Barunga.