Native American Music Awards Honor Grand Ronde Tribal Member Jan Michael "Looking Wolf" Reibach Was Thrilled to Compete Though He Did Not Win
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MARCH 1, 2005 Smoke Signals Native American Music Awards Honor Grand Ronde Tribal Member Jan Michael "Looking Wolf" Reibach was thrilled to compete though he did not win. By Ron Karten night was Tribal mem- "I felt pretty good about it," said "Native music not only survives," ber Jan Michael "Look- Kennedy. "I said, "Wow,' we're nomi- said Jimmy Lee Young. "It grows and ing Wolf Reibach, nom- nated. Even though we didn't win, Fm it thrives!" inated his first time out just going to keep doing what I'm do- I le accepted the 2005 Native Ameri- for a NAMMY in the ing." can Music Award (NAMMY) for best BluesJazz category. "It is an honor to be recognized by Single ofthe Year: One Voice One Cry. On his excitement the Native American Music Awards "It starts with the Creator," said level before the show, and I am so thankful to everyone for Litefoot, who took home the NAMMY Reibach rated it at, their support," wrote Reibach. "Also, for Artist of the Year. "I was told I "Way!" Afterwards, I appreciate the guitar tracks by would never do anything for my people when the award went to Vernon Kennedy and Michael "Stand- with rap," he added, now vindicated. Cecil Gray & Red Dawn ing Elk" Reibach. Their talents con- After the NAMMYs, Litefoot was to Blues Band for their CD, tributed greatly to the CD's success." start on a 40-stat- e, Indian Harmony, Standout performances between tour in support of his album, Native Reibach started looking awards came from Li'l Dre (Navajo), American Me. ahead to this year's a ld rapper from Shiprock, "See you on the Reservation," he said. work. Arizona and ventriloquist, Buddy Big This year's venue, the Seminole "My new CD, entitled Mountain, who brought his dummies, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Fort A New Day, is now be- like Awesome Fox, back a bunch of Lauderdale on the southern Florida ing released nationally," times, once giving his dummy the op- coast, hosted some 800 at $ 100 a ticket, he said afterwards in an portunity to belt out Frank Sinatra's including performers, fans and press email. "It is Native flute My Way, and later, performing an un- to honor Indian Country's top musical with contemporary ac- believable throw-your-voi- rendition stars. companiment such as ofGeoff Mack's and John Grenell's, I've The range included blue grass, rap gentle guitar, drums Been Everywhere, Man. and symphony; the talent swung from and classical piano. Windtalkers and Smoke Signals music to ventriloquism to comedy. Later this year, High movie star Adam Beach (Saulteaux Crystal Gayle and her sister, Peggy .Q Spirits a label out of from Manitoba, Canada) and singer Sue (both Cherokee), performed Sacred Arizona will be releas- Jana (Lumbee) emceed the event. Ground, a newly written piece, for the i ing a CD I recorded for Beach kept up a buzz about Jana's first time that evening. Rita Coolidge Recording Artist Jan Michael "Looking Wolf " them as well. The nom- appeal; Jana's replies were smiling, (Cherokee), already recipient ofa Na- Reibach posed before the awards ceremony with his inations this past year but not exactly encouraging. tive American Music Awards' (NAMA) Native flute in front of the Seminole's Classic guitar sign. have brought attention "I met so many nationally known re- Lifetime Achievement award, and Rap- and a certain expectation cording artists and producers. Many of per Buggin Malone (Oneida and from the Native music them asked questions about our Tribe," Potawatomi) presented. Micki Free Trick bassist John Brant, who joined industry. This is an exciting time. I said Reibach. "It felt good to be there." (Comanche, Cherokee), who won this him when he performed in Grand am looking forward to see where the It blew my mind," said Kennedy. year's best PopRock Recording, told the Ronde in 2002. Tieken arrived with music takes us now." "All these Native artists gathering in audience, "We're gonna rock tonight," one ofhis twin sons, Trenton, who has He attended the awards ceremony one place. It was very interesting. Art- and then brought the house down with formed a band with his brother, Trevin, with Vernon Kennedy (Burns-Paiute- ), ists, singers, drummers." a medley ofgreats at the evening's end. called TiekenTwins, and already, the also a member ofReibach's band that Sponsor Mitchell Cypress, Chair- Free (See Smoke Signals, 121502) young pair have put out their first CD last year put together Native Blues, man of the Seminole Tribe ofFlorida, played with band members, Dennis by the same name. this year's competing CD, produced by had one word for the night's event: Tieken on drums and former Cheap In Grand Ronde, the highlight of the Cedarfeather Productions. "Fabulous," he said. Elder To Elder Cwt Tribal mzn&ex , t Tribal Elder Kathryn and facilities technician Jeff Larsen Harrison (left) tells cut the grass near tlieVeterans'Me-- - v. -- 'A.. i - ' M. about her life and morial during the unseasonably . explains the history of warm weather in February. the Grand Ronde Tribe to a group from the Oregon Retired Educators Association. The event was Thurs- day, February 3 in Tigard at the King City Town Hall. r m w Photos by Marty George i- f' X ... j ' i --j i . rl ; '. - f j t f - , , V; I ir I iiimiiiiirM I r".