Marlene Cummins

about

Marlene Cummins is Australia’s foremost Indigenous female blues writer and performer. Marlene knows the blues from both an Aboriginal and more specifically, an Aboriginal woman’s perspective in this country and her story is one of vulnerability, strength and survival. Born in the southwest town of Cunnamulla, her traditional homelands are Laura up Cape York way on her Father’ side (Guguyelandji), and Keppel Island (Woppaburra) on her Mother’s side. Marlene comes from a large family of ten and grew up around very poor, oppressive conditions. Her father worked for rich landowners in Queensland but the family lived in tin shacks and tents on a fringe camp called Boomerang Alley in the town of Winton, enduring oppressive conditions as Aboriginal people were not citizens until 1968. Marlene would sometimes wander off into the bush unbeknown to her family and find the largest dead log for her “stage” and perform on her own. Growing up amidst the Aboriginal Protection Act of the 1950s, Marlene was raised with a very political ‘grassroots’ upbringing, as her Father Darcy Cummins was a pioneer in fighting racial injustice. OPAL (One People Australia League) was an early Aboriginal organization that Darcy was involved with. He named his band after it, The Opals, and was instrumental in organizing the Opal Dances, a regular place for the Aboriginal community to congregate and be entertained. Just like her father, Marlene likes to use music as a medium to make the world a better

top songs

albums

Koori Woman Blues

▥

Koori Woman Blues [Single]

▥

Marlene Cummins Whichway Up EP

▥

2014-Koori Woman Blues

▥

YABUN "song with a beat"

▥

Making Waves Golden Blak Trax

▥

Making Waves

▥

Women in Blues (Compilation)

▥

Yabun Vol 2

▥

As Preferidas Do Nivas

▥

To Listen, To Sing - Ngarra-Burria: First Peoples Composers

▥

Good Women in Good Blues

similar artists