And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
From: "Andre P. Cramblit" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
via the FN list
1999 Native American Music Awards
Show great promise
By Kevin F. Peniska
Today staff
NEW YORK ? Following her vision and dream of recognition for Native
American recording artists, Ellen Bello and dedicated co-workers are
putting down a firm foundation for the future of the Native American Music
Awards
The NAMA made its historic debut May 24, 1998, sponsored by the
Mashantucket Pequot at its Foxwoods Resort Casino and Hotel in
Connecticut. Spinoff from that successful debut includes publicity on the
History Channel, the 1998 NAMA video and the NAMA Winners Tour
Production Assistant Gil Silverbird, an Apache/Navajo, and Event Director
Sky Hunter, a Chirichua Apache, along with Bello, made a promise to
themselves immediately following the first NAMA ceremonies
"Because it was successful, we knew we needed to stay together," Bello
said. "We keep a good balance of working together, there is great
harmony and love here. We promised ourselves to keep it all together for
the artists, and we will." Wayne Newton was host of the first,
sold-out show attended by more than 1,500 people. Well-known performer,
songwriter and poet John Trudell received the NAMA Living Legend
Award. The awards were broadcast live nationally on more than 100
radio stations via satellite Pacifica and American Indian Radio On
Satellite
The show featured more than 12 live performances and honored such artists
as Robbie Robertson and Rita Coolidge, both of whom received Lifetime
Achievement Awards. Establishing the NAMA Hall of Fame, first annual
inductees included the late artists, Buddy Red Bow, Oglala Lakota,
and Jimi Hendrix, of Cherokee descent
Cherokee rapper Litefoot, R. Carlos Nakai, Joanne Shenandoah, and Robert
Mirabal were among those receiving awards. Categories covered
Indian recordings from traditional to contemporary. Well-known presenters
included actors Wes Studi and Floyd Westerman, actress Catherine
Bach, comedy duo Williams and Ree, Bill Miller, Richie Havens, Miss Indian
World and others
Bello says that her dream was simple: "To provide a forum for Indian
artists to showcase their music and talents." With assistance from
Paul Harris of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, her dream reached fruition
last year. The future only looks brighter
"It's not about me, it's about all these artists," Bello proclaims. "It is
becoming a network with the radio stations, record companies and
the press. We are all becoming a source of information for each other and
building this whole new market. Indian music can be and is showing
signs of being its own self-sustaining market." Following the
successful 1998 debut of the NAMA, the organization formed the Native
American Music Association. This was done to preserve the
traditional Indian music some people feel is being forgotten or lost
"Aside from the NAMAs honoring the contemporary Indian music, we want to
make sure we will continue to acknowledge the traditional," Bello
said
She is excited to announce that more than 140 national Indian music
recordings were released in 1998 and all qualify for category
nomination during the 1999 NAMAs set for November. Although Bello says that
the bigger music companies are not yet sold on Indian music, she
believes that attitude is changing
"It's only going to get bigger and it's only going to grow," Bello said
with determination. "The amount of Native American music releases
has increased two-fold since last year. At a time when the mainstream music
industry faces new mergers and challenges, it is both extremely
encouraging and exciting to be able to embrace and support the tremendous
growth of a burgeoning and self-sustaining contemporary Native
American music market." The second annual NAMA show is being
planned for November to coincide with National Native American Heritage
Month. With several sites expressing interest, negotiations are
underway on location.The intent of the Native American Music
Association is to move the show around and make it more accessible to the
general public
Nominees will be announced on May 1. The national ballot will be featured
in print in national magazines and newspapers so everyone has a
chance to vote for favorite artists. The award winning NAMA web site,
www.nativeamericanmusic.com, features on-line voting and music from
leading nominees. Last year the web site received more than 5,000 hits per
month from web surfers around the world. That number already shows
strong signs of doubling, according to Bello
A new national voter telephone line procedure will allow voters to cast
their ballot at the touch of a button. People can listen to their
favorite artists before voting
In June, the NAMA Winners Tour will be launched at performing arts and
civic centers across the country. This tour will feature award
winners R. Carlos Nakai (Best Male Artist), Walela (Debut Group of the
Year), John Trudell (Living Legend), and Joanne Shenandoah (Best
Female Artist). Tour dates are tentatively scheduled for June 27, at Denver
or Boulder, June 29, Albuquerque, N.M., July 1, Scottsdale, Ariz.,
July 2, Tucson and July 3, San Manuel, Calif
A big factor in keeping the Native American Music Association and the
Native American Music Awards growing in the future will be funds
raised through joint ventures between NAMA and recording artists. A
two-hour home video, an edited version of the awards ceremony, will
soon be available to the general public. A portion of proceeds from the
sale will benefit the non-profit organization. Anyone interested in
obtaining a copy of the video can call (212) 228-8300, or write: NAMA 928
Broadway, Suite 405, New York, N.Y
"In June, the NAMA is planning to release a national NAMA Winners CD, which
will further assist our fund-raising efforts for the Native
American Music Association, and hopefully will help us with our continued
ability to promote the Native American Music Awards and the
participating artists," Bello said
Television and cable broadcasting doors have opened wide for NAMA exposure
as A&E's History Channel will air a one-hour version of the video
sometime this spring. Other broadcast plans include Seminole Broadcast
Network in Florida and Metro Arts/Channel 13 in New York City
The �99 awards show promises to be even bigger than last and will feature
some special surprises including a "Thorpe Award," to be presented
by the late Jim Thorpe's granddaughter
Bello said Bill Miller, Indigenous, Mary Youngblood, Primeaux and Mike have
confirmed their interest in performing. Presenters could include
Hattie Kauffman (CBS), Manny Malhotra (NY Rangers), Miss Indian World, Rita
Coolidge, Sheldon Souray (NJ Devils), Wes Studi, Williams and Ree,
Chuck Norris, John Tesh, Billy Ray Cyrus, Hal Ketchum, Van Halen, Lou
Diamond Phillips, Richie Havens and others
Though the effort being put out by Bello, Silverbird, and Hunter remains
up-beat and positive, Bello admits going through trying times
"It's just like anything else, you have good days and bad days, but
progress is being made, not only for the organization, but for the
artists. It�s grown incredibly. I believe that the NAMA is helping all the
artists in some way, and that's what keeps me motivated."
Bello believes Indian music is on the verge of becoming a self-sustaining
market where it will be inter-dependent with mainstream music
"What we have here is something really special, everybody's individual
contributions and beliefs empowers us all," Bello concluded.
--
Andr� Cramblit, Operations Director
[Image]
Northern California Indian Development Council NCIDC is a non-profit
organization founded in 1976 to meet the social, educational, and economic
development needs of American Indian communities and for the conservation
and preservation of cultural, historic, and traditional resources and
sites. NCIDC operates a fine Arts Gallery and Gift Boutique featuring the
best of American Indian Artist's and their work, with emphasis placed on
the work of the Tribes of N.W. California.
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Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit)
Unenh onhwa' Awayaton
http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/
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