Emotions ran high at the ARIA Awards on Wednesday night as the late Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu and his final album were recognised with four awards.
The NT musician and his album Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) won best independent release, best world music album and best cover art.
His daughter Jasmine Yunupingu took the stage to accept the best male artist award on his behalf.
"He was a special person to everyone he met, all he wanted was for people to like his music and our Yolngu songs and stories," Ms Yunupingu said.
"On behalf of my father, I would like to thank all the Yolngu tribes."
The night’s host Keith Urban also took a moment to acknowledge Gurrumul.
Johnno and Jasmine Yunupingu accept the ARIA for Best Male Artist on behalf of Gurrumul. Source: AAP
"As musicians, it is our job to make people feel, whether it be with a lyric, a chord, or even a single note played on an upside-down guitar," Mr Urban said.
"Gurrumul could make you feel, across cultures, across languages and across thousands of years of history even singing in a dialect only spoken by a couple of hundred people.
"The legacy he leaves behind has become a rich part of Australian musical history and we now honour that legacy with thanks to his Elders."
Gurrumul’s longtime musical collaborator Michael Hohnen lead a tribute performance of the song Wulminda accompanied by Ms Yunupingu and musicians Jessica Mauboy, Briggs and Courtney Barnett.
A guitar was placed on stage under a spotlight as the crowd held a moment of silence in respect.
The 46-year-old singer died last year following a battle with kidney and liver disease.
Ms Yunupingu said she was pleased that her father's legacy had been recognised.
"I am really proud of receiving my father's awards tonight," she told NITV.
Gold Coast singer-songwriter Amy Shark was the night’s big winner, taking home four awards including best female artist and album of the year for her record, Love Monster.
Indigenous musicians making their presence felt at the ceremony included Dan Sultan and Mojo Juju – who said she was pleased to be among the nominees.
"It's nice to have that recognition from the broader industry," she told NITV.
"To have that acknowledgement from the industry, it's nice, it's nice."
