CQUniversity Bundaberg academic Dr Karl Neuenfeldt has worked with Henry 'Seaman' Dan to publish a book entitled Steady Steady - The Life and Music of Seaman Dan...

Due to his academic interest in the music and culture of the Torres Strait, Associate Professor Neuenfeldt helped to discover Seaman's unique musical talents and has helped him become a popular touring and recording artist, even though he did not start recording unil the age of 70.

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Dr Neuenfeldt has been involved with Seaman for more than a decade as a music producer, song-writer, studio session musician, researcher and performer. Karl has produced more than 30 CDs of Australian Indigenous music in collaboration with northern Queensland Indigenous communities and artists. He has written extensively on music-based topics including the didjeridu and Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal Music.

Born on Thursday Island in 1929, Seaman has a lifetime of experiences and adventure to draw upon and his voice has become richer the more he has recorded. Over the past decade he has released five albums, showcasing traditional music from the Torres Strait, as well as those revealing his love of hula, blues and jazz.

Seaman has toured and performed across Australia and also in Japan and Hawaii. He has been awarded two ARIA awards for World Music as well as the prestigious Red Ochre Award.

Although officially retired, at 83 Seaman is still singing in great form. He's a charming and lively musician and raconteur and still performs weekly on Thursday Island - affectionately known as TI, and also on Horn Island where he lives.

Steady, Steady: The life and music of Seaman Dan is his extraordinary biography published by Aboriginal Studies Press. It includes many wonderful photographs of the world he grew up in and the people and places he encountered. It also includes a free CD of some of Seaman Dan's favourite songs and features new recordings of four of his signature songs.

The book will be available at all good book stores and also via online ordering sites including Booktopia, Bookworld and Amazon.

Seaman Dan with Associate Professor Karl Neuenfeldt from CQUniversity