Seaman Dan (2005)

Henry 'Seaman' Dan, known universally as Seaman Dan is a Torres Strait Islander singer/songwriter with a national and international reputation whose music is a mixture of blues, hula, slow-jazz and pearling songs, reflecting the many cultures and traditions of the Torres Strait.

Seaman's first recording, Follow the Sun was released in 2000 and he continues to write songs about life, love and work in tropical Australia and performs at concerts, festivals, community events and cultural programs in schools and museums around the country.

In 2004, Seaman received an ARIA award for Best World Music Album for Perfect Pearl, Citizen of the Year: Australia Day Awards in 2005 and various grants from the Australia Council for the Arts from 2000 to 2006.

In 2005, Seaman was awarded the Australia Council Red Ochre award. This award pays tribute to an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artist who throughout their lifetime, has made an outstanding contribution to the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts, at both national and international levels.

The presentation of the Red Ochre Award was held in at the Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane in December 2005. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board chairperson, Dr Chris Sarra hosted the presentation ceremony and Senator Santo Santoro presented Seaman with the 2005 Red Ochre Award.