Kevin Locke

Artist Profiles: Kevin Locke

Born in Southern California, Kevin moved north with his family at the age of five and later settled in South Dakota on the Standing Rock Reservation. It was from his mother, Patricia Locke, his uncle Abraham End-of-Horn, mentor Joe Rock Boy, and many other elders and relatives that Kevin received training in the values, traditions and language of his Lakota Sioux culture which he shared with the world.

It is incredible to see the beauty of the people on this earth, the vast richness of humankind. All people have the same impulses spirits and goals.”- Kevin Locke

Considered the world’s pre-eminent Lakota traditional-style flute player and hoop dancer, Tokeya Inajin (Kevin Locke) was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1990. His life’s work was both a bridge and a balance of the traditional and the modern. He was a recognized authority on his native culture tradition and language, and had a Master’s of Arts degree from the University of South Dakota in Educational Administration.

Kevin Locke

A popular lecturer and storyteller working to ensure his cultural heritage survives and prospers. Locke traveled to 45 countries from Canada to China from Australia to Africa to Europe sharing his vision of balance joy and diversity through music and dance. As he explained, “through my music and dance, I wish to give voice to the beauty of the land and to help define the role of the human spirit in relationship to the immensity of this infinite hoop of life.”

His belief in the unity of humankind was reflected in his dancing. Kevin used 28 hoops to tell a story depicting such things as flowers, butterflies, stars, the sun, and an eagle. The hoops represent unity, while the colors of the hoops -black, red, yellow, and white – represent the four directions, four seasons, four winds, and the four races of humankind. Towards the end of the dance, all 28 hoops are interlocked in a spherical shape, as fragile as the balance he works for in human affairs.

Kevin Locke

Locke was both an artist and educator. As a world citizen striving to forge bonds of harmony, his contributions to both professions were unique.

His special joy was working with children on the reservations to ensure the survival and growth of indigenous culture. His goal was to empower today’s youth in culture and “raise awareness of the Oneness we share as human beings.”

Since 1982, Kevin recorded twelve albums of both music and story-telling, including; “Earth Gift” which was awarded Record of the Year in 2009 and “The First Flute” which was won Best Traditional Recording” in 2000 by the Native American Music Awards.

“Earth Gift” was a breakthrough recording and produced by two-time Grammy winner Tom Wasinger. It featured traditional Lakota songs played on flute by Kevin and arranged in a vibrant contemporary world music setting.

“First Flute” was recorded outdoors at Sitting Bull’s camp on Standing Rock Lakota Reservation.

Kevin’s live performances usually consisted of flute playing and singing Lakota songs, as well as demonstrations of the Sioux hoop dance, using 28 wooden hoops. Of his performances, Locke said, “I see myself strictly as a preservationist. I base my repertoire on the old songs. I try to show younger people what was there, and maybe some of the younger people will pick up from there and compose new music.

Locke served as cultural ambassador for the United States Information Service since 1980, was a delegate to the 1992 Earth Summit in Brazil, and was a featured performer and speaker at the 1996 United Nations Habitat II Conference in Turkey.

Kevin Locke died on October 1, 2022.

Discography:

Flash of the Mirror

Dream Catcher (Earthbeat 1993)

Keepers of the Dream (Earthbeat 1995)

Love Songs of the Lakota (1995)

Open Circle (Makoche Records 1996)

First Flute (Makoche Records 1999)

Midnight Strong Heart (Red Feather 2003)

Earth Gift (2008)

Wind of the North (Red Feather 2008)

Preserving the Heritage Insights & Songs (2011)

Author: Angel Romero

Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
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