Kongar-ol Ondar (Tuvan: ????? ??????-???, March 29, 1962 – July 25, 2013) was a master Tuvan throat singer and a member of the Great Khural of Tuva. Ondar was born near the Khemchik River in western Tuva. Considered a living treasure by the Republic of Tuva, Ondar was granted a stipend and an apartment for the musical skills he possessed. Jovial and personable, Ondar is probably the best-known face of khöömei (Tuvan: ??????) throat singing to Westerners, appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman and in interviews for CNN and other networks.In the Central Asian tradition of self-fulfilling child naming, Kongar-ol literally translates to "loud boy."Ondar is also known outside Tuva for inviting American blues musician Paul Pena to Tuva. Pena, who had learned throat singing before coming to Tuva, was the subject of the documentary Genghis Blues in which Ondar was also featured.In 1992, Ondar won an international throat-singing contest, which brought invitations to perform in Europe and the United States. In 1993, he performed at Frank Zappa's eclectic "garden party/soiree" gathering in his last days.He also appears on the Béla Fleck and the Flecktones albums Outbound, album/DVD Live at the Quick, and Jingle All the Way. He released one album on Warner Bros. Records titled Back Tuva Future.He died after emergency surgery for a brain hemorrhage in Kyzyl on July 25, 2013. He was 51 years old.
He began singing professionally as a young man, and also taught Russian.
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He performed throughout Europe and the United States, including the Kennedy Center in Washington DC and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. He also appeared or recorded with Frank Zappa, Willie Nelson, and banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck.
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He is known as the Master singer of Tuvan throat and a member of the Great Khural of Tuva.
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest
2002
writer: "Ondar's Medley"
Coil
2001
writer: "Kargyraa Rap"
End of Days
1999
writer: "Little Yurt on the Prairie"
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Late Show with David Letterman
1999
TV Series
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Genghis Blues
1999
Documentary
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Live at the Quick
2002
Video documentary
Himself - Tuvan throat singer (as Ondar)
Genghis Blues
1999
Documentary
Known for movies
End of Days (1999) as Soundtrack
The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest (2002) as Soundtrack
Genghis Blues (1999) as Actor
Live at the Quick (2002) as Himself - Tuvan throat singer
$11 Million
