Community mourns passing of Uncle Vic

The Indigenous entertainment community is mourning the loss of musician Victor Simms, who has passed away aged 78.

Uncle Vic or ‘Bunno’ died of natural causes, his family told the ABC.

The Bidjigal Elder was born in La Perouse Mission in Sydney’s south-east in 1946.

He first began singing professionally aged just 11 at the Manly Jazzorama Music Festival in 1957.

He released his first single Yo-Yo Heart in 1961, aged 15, and debut album The Loner by 1973.

“He was a much loved personality of the South Sydney community … he was a family man, he loved entertainment, loved his people,” Uncle Vic’s son, William, said.

“He was a proud Bidjigal man.”

The Loner was named in The 110 Best Australian Albums and he was honoured with the Deadly Award for Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal Music in 2001.