Ruby Charlotte Margaret Hunter (31 October 1955 – 17 February 2010) was an Australian singer and songwriter. She was a member of the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal nationality, and often performed with her partner, Archie Roach, whom she met at the age of 16, while both were homeless teenagers. Born on the banks of the Murray River in South Australia, Hunter was forcibly taken from her family at the age of eight as part of the Stolen Generation.Hunter first performed in public in 1988 during a festival at Sydney's Bondi Pavilion in Sydney, where she performed "Proud, Proud Woman," the first song she had written. In 2010, she wrote the autobiographical Down City Streets, which was performed by her partner Archie Roach on his debut solo album Charcoal Lane. In 1994, Hunter became the first indigenous Australian woman to record a solo album, releasing her debut album Thoughts Within.She received two ARIA Award nominations, for Best Indigenous Release for Thoughts Within in 1995, and Best Blues & Roots Album for Feeling Good in 2000, respectively.Hunter won Deadlys in 2000 for Female Artist of the Year, 2003 for Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music and 2004 for Excellence in Film & Theatrical Score. She made her acting debut in One Night the Moon. With Archie Roach and Paul Grabowsky she wrote and performed the concert "Ruby's Story", which tells her life story through song and spoken word.Hunter was the author of Butcher paper, texta, black board and chalk, a children's song-book which features Aboriginal songs about land, health and life. Many of the songs were written through song writing and music workshops held by Hunter and Archie Roach with children across Cape York, Queensland.In 2005, Hunter was invited by Deborah Conway to take part in the Broad Festival project, with three other Australian female artists, they performed their own and each other's songs. With Hunter and Conway were Sara Storer, Katie Noonan and Clare Bowditch.Ruby Hunter died of a heart attack on 17 February 2010, aged 54. Her partner Archie Roach established "Ruby's Foundation" to continue her legacy. The foundation is dedicated to creating opportunities for Aboriginal people through the promotion, celebration and support of Aboriginal arts and culture.
She was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal in the 2001 Queen's New Years Honours List for her services to to the Indigenous community, particularly through music and film.
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