Artist page
**Jimmy Little** Born on March 1, 1937, at the Cummeragunja Mission on the Murray River in New South Wales, Australia, Jimmy Little was a pioneering Australian Indigenous musician. He passed away on April 2, 2012, at his home in Dubbo, NSW. In 1963, he made history with his song "Royal Telephone," which became the first track by an Australian Indigenous performer to reach the top of the pop music charts, a significant achievement during a time when Aboriginal Australians were not recognized as Australian citizens. Little also had a top 10 single titled "Baby Blue." Later in his career, he was managed by Graham "Buzz" Bidstrup. Throughout his life, Little received numerous accolades, including the Best Contemporary Album at the ARIAs in 1999 for "Messenger," the same year he was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. He was honored as Aboriginal of the Year in 1989 and named NSW Senior Australian of the Year in 2002. In 2004, he received the Australia Council's Red Ochre Award and was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his contributions to Indigenous health and education programs. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate from Sydney University for his impact on Aboriginal culture and recognized as a National Living Treasure. In 2006, after undergoing a kidney transplant, Little established The Jimmy Little Foundation, which aims to improve the life expectancy of Indigenous Australians in regional
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