Namjilyn Norovbanzad ( mn, Намжилын Норовбанзад); (10 December 1931–2002) was a

Mongolia Mongolia; Mongolian script: , , ; lit. "Mongol Nation" or "State of Mongolia" () is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. It covers an area of , with a population of just 3.3 million, ...

n singer of the traditional

long song The long song ( mn, , ''Urtyn duu'') is one of the central elements of the traditional music of Mongolia. This genre is called "Long song" not only because the songs are long, but also because each syllable of text is extended for a long duration ...

. Born in Ulaan Oovo in the southern

Dundgovi Dundgovi or Dundgobi ( mn, Дундговь, ''Middle Gobi'') is one of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia. It is located in the south of the country, approximately south of Ulaanbaatar. Its capital is Mandalgovi. Dundgovi is the second leas ...

province of Mongolia, Norovbanzad grew up in a family of herders. Her father was Damdin and her other was Namjil. She started her working career as a typist at the provincial court in 1952. After winning several local and provincial singing competitions she moved to the capital city

Ulaanbaatar Ulaanbaatar (; mn, Улаанбаатар, , "Red Hero"), previously anglicized as Ulan Bator, is the capital and most populous city of Mongolia. It is the coldest capital city in the world, on average. The municipality is located in north ce ...

to pursue her singing career full-time. Norovbanzad was awarded Ardiyn jujigchin (“People’s Artist”) merit by the Government of Mongolia in 1969 and was voted the Singer of the Century by the people in 2000. In 1957 she won a gold medal of the

World Festival of Youth and Students The World Festival of Youth and Students is an international event organized by the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) and the International Union of Students after 1947. History The festival has been held regularly since 1947 as an eve ...

held in Moscow with 34,000 participants, and the

Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize The is an award established by the city of Fukuoka and the Fukuoka City International Foundation (formerly The Yokatopia Foundation) to honor the outstanding work of individuals or organizations in preserving or creating Asian culture. There are ...

in the category "Arts and Culture" in 1993.

Phonography

* ''Urtiin Duu'',

Rough Trade Records Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London, England. It was formed in 1976 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove. Having successfully promoted and sold records by punk rock and early post-pun ...

1996 20th-century Mongolian women singers People's Artists of Mongolia 2002 deaths 1931 births {{Mongolia-singer-stub