Prince was a natural didgeridoo player

Australian artist and didgeridoo player Stan Yarramunua remembers teaching Prince how to play the didgeridoo, marvelling at how easily he picked it up.

Few people know the Purple Rain hitmaker Prince was a naturally gifted didgeridoo player.

Acclaimed indigenous artist and didgeridoo player Stan Yarramunua remembers Prince fondly and still marvels at the late musician's talent.

The duo met after Prince's make-up artist visited Yarramunua's Melbourne art gallery in 2003.

Like a true fan, Yarramunua asked if he could give Prince a gift.

Just a few hours later he was teaching Prince to play the digeridoo.

"He is a very gifted man," Yarramunua told AAP on Thursday.

"He plays the trumpet and all sorts of stuff so I just showed him what to do with his lips and he did that part straight up."

That led to the two performing on stage together at popular but tiny Melbourne jazz venue Bennett's Lane.

Prince isn't the only mega star he's jammed with.

Stevie Wonder enlisted his services after receiving a hand-painted Yarramunua didgeridoo.

"When I made him one and gave it to him, he put it straight to his mouth," he said.

"He could play it really well because he got a gift from somebody else from Australia before he met me."

Yarramunua was soon off to Sydney to join his Australian tour in 2008.

"I was playing the didg and he was playing Superstitious," he said with a smile.

He has also customised art for the likes of Snoop Dogg, AC/DC and Eminem.

Yarramunua will now be the musical guest for the Emirates Marquee at the Melbourne Cup carnival.

He will play the didgeridoo alongside contemporary dancers in a special performance overlooking Flemington Racecourse.

"I feel pretty proud to be here," he said.

"It's an opportunity to represent my culture to Australia and the world."

He will be performing during the carnival starting on Derby Day on Saturday.


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Source: AAP


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Prince was a natural didgeridoo player | SBS News