Ondar was born near the Khemchik River in western Tuva, in the village of Iyme. In the Central Asian tradition of self-fulfilling child naming, Kongar-ool literally translates to "loud boy." In 1983 Ondar was drafted into the army, but was discharged due to a neck injury.[1] After this, in the 1980s, he was twice thrown into prison (the first time for fighting and the second for a stabbing), serving several years in Siberia. By 1990 he was touring Europe as a member of the Tuvan State Ensemble "Sayani." In 1992, he won an international throat-singing contest, which brought invitations to perform in Europe and the United States and began his singing career.[2]
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: хөөмей) throat singing to Westerners, appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman, the Oscar-nominated documentary Genghis Blues, and in interviews for CNN and other networks. Ondar was also a teacher and opened a Center for the Development of Tuvan Traditional Arts in Kyzyl.[3]
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.[2] In 1993, he performed at Frank Zappa's eclectic "garden party/soiree" gathering in his last days.[4]
Kongar-ool Borisovich Ondar in his homeland of Tuva
He died after emergency surgery for a brain hemorrhage in Kyzyl on July 25, 2013. He was 51 years old.[7]
References
^Тува-Онлайн 667001, И. А.; Россия; Кызыл, город; Кравченко, улица Щетинкина и. "Kongar-ool Ondar has a son". Tuva-Online (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-01-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
