Dirty Linen Review of Shenandoah & Bucher's BTSG

Joanne Shenandoah & Michael Bucher’s Bitter Tears Sacred Ground CD (Hondo Mesa Records, HMR007 2008) received an excellent review in Dirty Linen (#142, July/August 2009, on newsstands June 9). Here are some highlights:

“…the music they present here is about America and its people through history... the songs and the musicians’ interpretations of them speak eloquently enough on their own…songs are equally well chosen, all part of a narrative that is both indirect and direct, inviting thought about the lives of Native peoples through all their range of circumstances and emotion.”

“Shenandoah and Bucher are both gifted writers and singers who make their points while remaining in service to the music, the idea, and their connection to the listener.”

Corn-Bred CD cover inspiration

Inspiration for the CD Cover of the all Native-American blues band Corn-Bred's NAMMY award winning CD:



image of the Wampum Belt courtesy of Iroquois Indian Museum

Native Music Awards

Nomination forms are now available for two prestigious music awards: 2009 Indian Summer Music Awards (ISMA) and
the 11th Native American Music Awards (NAMA)

The Indian Summer Music Awards seek to honor the best American Indian music that has been commercially released between the period of March 2, 2008 and March 1, 2009. The ISMA Awards will be presented during the Indian Summer Festival held September 11-13 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with the award s ceremony on Saturday, September 12, 2009.

The Native American Music Awards nomination submissions can only be made by active and registered Advisory Board members. "The Nammys" Awards program is “devoted to bringing indigenous music to the world’s consciousness.” NY TIMES. Eligible recordings for Nomination consideration must have been released between January 1, 2008 thru January 31, 2009. Nomination submission forms & recordings must be mailed to the Awards office by March 31, 2009.

Michael Bucher's DIRTY WATER video

Here is Michael Bucher’s DIRTY WATER music video. It was co-produced by Karla R. LaRive, founder of PK Productions, LLC, an indigenous music management and media company and Christopher Crosby of musicscreenPROductions. This video was a finalist for a 2007 Native American Music Award for Best Short Form Video.

Michael Bucher (pronounced Busher), a Cherokee singer-songwriter who was taught the stories, language and legends of his people, sings about the desecration of sacred sites, Cherokee legends and the sometimes seemingly Invisible Indian.

Michael recently released Bitter Tears – Sacred Ground, a new CD with Joanne Shenandoah on Hondo Mesa Records.

Michael Bucher DIRTY WATER

The Making of Bitter Tears - Sacred Ground

Bitter Tears Sacred Ground from Tuan Quoc Le on Vimeo.

Hondo Mesa Records presents "Bitter Tears Sacred Ground," an album honoring Johnny Cash, Floyd Red Crow Westerman and Peter LaFarge and featuring Joanne Shenandoah and Michael Bucher.

You can buy the album here: hondomesarecords.com/

Produced by Dennis Kinsey
Directed by David Coryell
Edited by Tuan Le

I Don't Play By The Rules

I Don’t Play By The Rules
Gary Small & The Coyote Bros.

The long awaited new rockin' blues recording from the three bad boys of Sheridan Wyoming is here. As you can see by the cover, it has plenty of attitude!!!

Gary Small & The Coyote Bros. signed a deal with Hondo Mesa Records, an independent music label based in Syracuse, N.Y. The Native American band released their third studio album, I Don’t Play by the Rules, at the WYO Theater in Sheridan, WY, on Nov. 22, 2008.

Originally from Wyoming, Gary Small & The Coyote Bros. received the honor of “Best Rock Recording of the Year” at the 2007 Native American Music Awards (NAMMY’s). Their two previous albums have included Crazy Woman Mountain and Blues from the Coyote, and they have performed with music legends such as Chubby Checker.

Before forming the band, Gary Small had a successful solo career, where he collaborated with other Native American performers such as Rita Coolidge, Indigenous, Chrystal Gale, and Keith Secola. Small also won the “Songwriter of the Year” award at the 2002 NAMMY’s.

Gary Small & The Coyote Bros. is the third artist to sign with Hondo Mesa Records this year.

For more information about Gary Small & The Coyote Bros., please visit their website. To purchase their CD visit the Hondo Mesa Records store.

Joanne Shenandoah and National Anthem

Former Assistant Secretary of the Interior Ada Deer (Menominee Nation) Proposes Joanne Shenandoah Sing the US National Anthem at Obama's Inauguration

At a meeting of Native leaders November 3 on Oneida Nation territory in Green Bay, Wisconsin former Assistant Secretary of the Interior Ada Deer (Menominee Nation) proposed that Joanne Shenandoah sing the US National Anthem at the US Capitol prior to President-elect Barack Obama's taking of the oath of office. This idea was seconded by the leaders of the Oneida Nation. To support this growing movement contact the following members of the National Inaugural Committee in Washington, DC:

US Senator Dianne Feinstein: 202-224-3841 or fax: 202-224-3954
US Senator Harry Reid: 202-224-3542 or fax: 202-224-7327
US Rep. Nancy Pelosi: 202-225-4965

Also supporting Joanne is NY Senator Charles Schumer. Contact him at 202-224-6542 or fax: 202-228-3027. NY Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton may also help. Her number is: 202-224-4451 or fax: 202-228-0282.
Ms. Shenandoah will be performing with her band at the official Native American Inaugural Ball on the evening of January 20th.

___________________________________________________________________________
The Ndakinna Education Center
23 Middle Grove Road
Greenfield Center, New York 12833
(518) 583-9958
www.ndcenter.org

Christiane Pagé and Redbone

Hondo Mesa Records recording artist, Christiane Pagé, was caught hanging with Redbone at the 10th Annual Native American Music Awards (NAMA). Redbone was inducted in the NAMA Hall of Fame that night. Redbone played two of their biggest hits for an appreciative (and dancing) crowd -- "The Witch Queen of New Orleans" and "Come and Get Your Love." The band included Robert Zapata on drums and Karl Carrasco on keyboards.

Photo of Corn-Bred at NAMA

This photo from Indian Country Today, by Shannon Burns, was taken at last year's Native American Music Awards (NAMA). Corn-Bred's Hondo Mesa Records release won "Best Blues Recording of the Year." The boys are looking good. They didn't have a new release for this year's NAMA, however they are heading back into the studio. Expect to see them at next year's NAMA.

Corn-Bred NAMMY photo

The Native American Music Awards recently posted the official photographs of the 2007 award winners. Check out the NAMA website and click on the "Photo" for the shot of Corn-Bred holding the NAMMY! Corn-Bred won for best blues recording of the year.

Gary Small and The Coyote Bros. photo

Hello Music Fans,
Here is another shot of Gary Small and Jobe Jennings, rocking the Seneca Niagara Casino, minutes after winning the Nammy Award for "Best Rock Recording of the Year."
Check out their website and award winning CD when you get a chance.
Regards,
Dennis

Native American Rock & Roll

One of the great pleasures of attending the Native American Music Awards show last week, was meeting the nominees and seeing the excellent performances of scheduled bands. One band caught my attention immediately. Gary Small and the Coyote Bros. rocked the house. Five minutes after accepting their Nammy Award for "Best Rock Recording of the Year," they had all 2500 audience members bopin' and rockin' to their music. Keep an eye on these guys. They are going places.

Here's a shot of them on the Nammy Stage:


Image courtesy of CoyoteBros.net