08/09/2024
John Paterson Fleet-fingered Warumpi Band guitarist, songwriter and co-founder Sammy Butcher will be honoured for his significant contribution to the performing arts on Saturday in Darwin, when he is inducted into the National Indigenous Music Awards hall of fame.
With this accolade, his companions will include pioneering musicians such as Archie Roach, Gurrumul, Kev Carmody and Jimmy Little – but unfortunately, Butcher will be entering the hall of fame in absentia.
The Papunya elder recently suffered his sixth stroke, which has left him paralysed on his left side and non-verbal at a hospital in Alice Springs, aged 62.
In 2018, two years after his first stroke that affected his ability to play guitar, Butcher told The Australian: “I’m not going to dwell on what happened to me because I’m strong, and the people that I know of, my friends – they are the medication.”
On his behalf, a small group of family members will accept the honour on Saturday, including his sister Suzina McDonald, his sons Jason and Jeremiah, grandson Jesse, and his sister-in-law and manager Lisa Watts.
The Warumpi Band, formed in Papunya in 1980 with George Burarrwanga, Neil Murray and Sammy’s brother Gordon, had a sound that ranged from soulful country to hard-driving rock ‘n’ roll, with Sammy’s distinctive lead guitar lines sparkling in classic songs such as Blackfella/Whitefella, My Island Home and Stompin’ Ground.
Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett, who toured with the Warumpis in 1986, said of Butcher: “Love him. He is a respected leader in his community, and a beacon of goodwill willing to walk both ways without rancour – rare, and a very handy guitarist as well.”
Earlier this week Darwin Festival saw two performances of Big Name, No Blankets, a stage musical charting the band’s story. Co-created by Sammy and co-directed by his daughter Anyupa Butcher with Rachael Maza, the musical had its Sydney Festival premiere in January, and will next play at Brisbane Festival on September 20-21.
His NIMAs hall of fame induction was meant to be a surprise covertly organised to coincide with the musical’s NT debut, but the stroke forced a change of plans.
“When he went into hospital, I had to break the secret because I knew he wouldn’t make it – and he just cried,” Watts said.
“I think the tears he’s been shedding are around the love and the recognition he’s been feeling.” she said.
“At the end of the day, music will never die; it will keep on going, and keep on connecting people together. That’s a legacy they started off for the Indigenous contemporary music movement.”
That movement continues apace today. Lead nominees at the 20th annual NIMAs at Darwin Amphitheatre on Saturday night include The Kid Laroi and Barkaa, as well as Christine Anu for Waku, the title track of her recently released ninth album.
The newest NIMAs hall of fame inductee, meanwhile, will be among those watching the live broadcast on NITV, feeling the love from afar.
