Douglas Multa Tjupurrula is a senior Luritja man from Ikuntji (Haasts Bluff) in western Central Australia. His country is the desert spinifex and sandhill country west of the MacDonnell Ranges. Tjupurrula is descended from some of the last people to live at Puritjarra rock-shelter. Active on the pastoral frontier in the 1890s, the Multas were notorious for cattle-spearing, and later worked as stockmen. His grandfather was one of the cattle-bosses at Haasts Bluff in the 1940s who travelled the country with camels in the 1940s and 1950s.
In his younger days, Tjupurrula was a back-up guitarist in the Warumpi Band. Now he is a member of a gospel band, while his son is in a band called Sunshine Reggae. Tjupurrula is an active member of the Ikuntji Community Council.
Australian Writing and Rock Music affiliation: guitar.