Representative Albums: "Genghis Blues", "Echoes of Tuva
Representative Songs: "Shamanic Prayer for Richard Feynman", "Medley of Throat-Singing Styles Accompanied by Doshpuluur", "Dymzhuktaar
Biography
The legendary Tuvan throat-singer Kongar-ol Ondar emerged in 1985 as the founder of the Tuva Ensemble, quickly establishing himself as one of the world's foremost practitioners of the sygyt throat-singing style. Upon winning top honors at UNESCO's 1992 International Festival of Throat-Singing, Ondar rose to international renown, subsequently recording with Western artists including Frank Zappa, Mickey Hart and the Kronos Quartet. The solo effort Genghis Blues followed in 1995, trailed by Echoes of Tuva a year later; in 1999, Ondar resurfaced with Back Tuva Future, a collection of progressive worldbeat featuring appearances by Willie Nelson, Randy Scruggs and even the late physicist/Tuva aficionado Richard Feynman. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
Kongar-ool Ondar (Коңар-өл Ондар) is a master Tuvanthroat singer and a member of the Tuvan Parliament (Great Khural). Ondar was born in 1962 near the Khemchik River in western Tuva. Considered a living treasure by the Republic of Tuva, Ondar is granted a stipend and an apartment for the musical skills he possesses. Jovial and personable, Ondar is probably the best-known face of Хөөмей (khoomei) throat singing to Westerners, appearing often in interviews for CNN and other networks.
In the Central Asian tradition of self-fulfilling child naming, Kongar-ool literally translates to "Loud Boy".
Ondar is also known outside Tuva for inviting Americanblues 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.