Tenth Annual Native American Music Awards Winners Announced

Niagara Falls (New York), USA – On Saturday October 4, 2008 the Tenth Annual Native American Music Awards (N.A.M.A.) was held at the Seneca Niagara Hotel & Casino in Niagara Falls, New York and awarded over 35 artists in a four hour event with 12 onstage presentations and special Hall of Fame inductions and performances that had the packed crowd dancing on their feet. The growing success of the Awards show is now setting industry standards for professional Native American musicians who want to achieve greater acceptance and exposure from mainstream audiences.

Taking two honors each was; the New Mexico-based Reggae group, Native Roots and the Arizona-based punk rock/Alter Native band, Blackfire. Native Roots’ recording, Celebrate won for Best World Music Recording and earned them Group of the Year. Native Roots gave a high-energy live performance with their messages of pride, Unity, and respect among all nations. Blackfire, is comprised of two brothers and a sister with a style that encompasses traditional Native American music with rock that bears sociopolitical and human rights messages. Blackfire’s (Silence) Is A Weapon won Record of the Year and their producer Ed Stasium (Ramones) took the Native Heart award.

On hand to receive their awards were: Janelle Turtle for Best Native American Church Recording with New Beginning. Janelle is the first female to receive this award, and the great great great granddaughter of Dog Woman who was the first woman to run meetings among the Cheyenne people; Jan Michael Looking Wolf, winner of Flutist of the Year with his recording, Unity, gave one of the most poignant and genuine speeches that embraced his friend JJ Kent and the recent loss of Kent’s wife; the Cherokee National Youth Choir who took Best Gospel Inspirational Recording and performed traditional Cherokee songs in the Cherokee language. The Choir came into existence from the vision of Principal Chief Chad Smith.

Other Award recipients in attendance included; Nicole for Best Female Artist, Edmund Bull for Best Male Artist who also performed an acoustic song from his album, Follow Your Dreams. After facing one of his toughest personal years with the loss of both parents and best friend, Golana received a nod for Best Instrumental Recording for Mirror Lake. Taking Artist of the Year was multiple award-winner Jim Boyd, with Blues To Bluegrass. This was Boyd’s eleventh release which explored many genres – from rock and bluegrass to blues and folk, and was the first recording since the tragic loss of his son, Jim Boyd, Jr..

Carroll Medicine Crow (Best New Age Recording), Jimmy Wolf (Best Blues Recording), Tracy Bone (Best Country Recording), Cheryl Bear (Debut Artist of the Year), Red Hawk (Best Historical Recording) Adrian Brown, Tim Sampson producers for Still No Good, Dago Braves (Rap Hip Hop), NightShield (Song Single of the Year), Ken Quiet Hawk (Spoken Word Recording), and Brule & AIRO (Long Form Video) were also on hand to receive their awards.

Special guests included; Buddy Big Mountain, Lifetime Achievement Recipient Johnny Curtis, the great great grandson of Geronimo, Houston Geronimo and Lance White Magpie, a direct descendant of Crazy Horse.

Capping the evening’s ceremonies was a collaborative performance between Joanne Shenandoah and Corn Bred who performed a unique version of “At Last” with two traditionally dressed dancers dancing a romantic slow dance. Internationally renowned and multi-million record selling band members; Rickey Medlocke of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Janice Marie of Taste of Honey, Pat Vegas of Redone & Felipe Rose of the Village People all gave compelling performances following their inductions into the N.A.M.A. Hall of Fame. Rose performed a medley featuring his award-winning, “We’re Still Here” and “Trail of Tears”. Pat Vegas performed “Come And Get Your Love” and was then joined by Janice-Marie Johnson for “Boogie Oogie Oogie.” Show closer Rickey Medlocke performed a five song medley that included “Gimmie Back My Bullets”, “Train Train” and “Highway Song.” N.A.M.A. honored these legendary performers and songwriters who have been leading forces in mainstream music and in the Native American community.

A post-show VIP party followed the Award ceremonies and featured some impressive and memorable collaborations and jams including; “Rumble” by the late Link Wray’s grandson, Chris Webb, and Jimmy Wolf, as well as a chilling performance of “Proud Mary” by Tracy Bone, Cheryl Bear and Digging Roots’ Shoshana Keech.

10th ANNUAL NATIVE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jim Boyd
Blues To Bluegrass

BEST BLUES RECORDING
Deep Downtown
Jimmy Wolf

BEST COMPILATION RECORDING
Old Style Round Dance Songs
Various

BEST COUNTRY RECORDING
No Lies
Tracy Bone

DEBUT ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Cheryl Bear
Good Road

DEBUT GROUP OF THE YEAR
Injunuity
Unconquered

BEST FEMALE ARTIST
Nicole
Deep Dreams

BEST FOLK RECORDING
Where The Green Grass Grows
The Crow Girls

FLUTIST OF THE YEAR
Jan Michael Looking Wolf
Unity

BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL RECORDING
Precious Memories
Cherokee National Youth Choir

GROUP OF THE YEAR
Native Roots
Celebrate

BEST HISTORICAL RECORDING
Chief Seattle Speaks 1854
Red Hawk

BEST INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING
Mirror Lake
Golana

BEST MALE ARTIST
Edmund Bull
Follow Your Dreams

BEST NATIVE AMERICAN CHURCH RECORDING
New Beginning
Janelle Turtle

BEST NEW AGE RECORDING
Homeland Security
Carroll Medicine Crow

BEST POP RECORDING
Phoenix
Fara Palmer

BEST POW WOW RECORDING
Hear the Beat
Blackfoot Confederacy

BEST PRODUCER
Adrian Brown, Tim Sampson, Jonathon Joss, Charles Button
Still No Good

BEST RAP HIP HOP RECORDING
Native American Hustle
Dago Braves

RECORD OF THE YEAR
(Silence) Is A Weapon
Blackfire

BEST ROCK RECORDING
Sun and the Earth
Stevie Salas

SONG/SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Broken Dreams
Nightshield

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Star Nayea
Silenced My Tongue

BEST SPOKEN WORD RECORDING
The Story Tellers
Ken Quiet Hawk

BEST TRADITIONAL RECORDING
Traditional Navajo Shoe Songs
Gilbert Begay Sr

BEST SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO
The Enlightened Time
Jana

BEST LONG FORM MUSIC VIDEO
Live At Mt Rushmore
Brule’ & AIRO

BEST WORLD MUSIC RECORDING
Celebrate
Native Roots

NATIVE HEART
Ed Stasium
(Silence) Is A Weapon