Biography

The musical, artistic, and storytelling traditions of Australia's aboriginals are preserved through the performances of didgeridoo player and builder Mark Atkins. While he primarily performs as a soloist, Atkins has been an essential member of the Kooriwadjula Ensemble of Contemporary and Traditional Australian Musicians and Ankala, a group he formed with Aboriginal artist Janawirri Yiparrka. Atkins has also performed with Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Atkins represents the union of two diverse cultures, his father was an Irish American and his mother was a member of the Yamijiti, an Aboriginal tribe in western Australia. Since the late '90s, Atkins has resided in Eastern Australia, where he moved to avoid the rigidity imposed by tribal customs. ~ Craig Harris, Rovi