photos by Kimberlie R. Hall

by Sandra Hale Schulman

Hollywood, Florida (NFIC)

Moving back to the East Coast for the first time in seven years, the 7th Annual Nammys, held February 10, featured 80 nominees in 30 awards categories covering all music genres.

Hosts at the venue in the first class Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, were handsome actor Adam Beach (Windtalkers) and beautiful multi-Nammy award winner Jana, who joined a galaxy of music and movie stars and a list of performers and presenters that included Rita and Priscilla Coolidge, Crystal Gayle, KC of KC & The Sunshine Band, Ricky Lynn Gregg, a member of Cheap Trick (Jon Brandt), Skid Row’s Phil Varone, and Saigon Kick’s Matt Kramer.

The show also featured three prominent Floridian contenders – Florida State Commissioner Billy Whitefox (Creek) who won Flutist of the Year for his recording When The Wind Sings; Pensacola’s Rap Hip Hop artist Shadowyze (Creek), who won for his collaboration with the Village People’s Felipe Rose (Lakota) on Red Hawk Woman; and Miami group Tiger Tiger (Miccosukee), who received two nominations in the Rock Pop category and Song/Single of the Year category for their recording, “Peace From The Everglades.” Lee Tiger of Tiger Tiger filled in on bass with The Red Corn Band.

“This year’s nominees featured an eclectic mix of exciting and young artists, from 12-year-old Lil Dre and the Nelly-like Jay Nez, to the more seasoned veterans who are taking their creative abilities to another level. Additionally, most of this year’s recordings are distinctly Native in the sense that you hear the identity through lyrical content or with tribal rhythms and chants,” said Ellen Bello, Founder/CEO of the Native American Music Awards.

The Awards show was held in the Hard Rock’s 800 seat Club Showroom, with a post show VIP Party at the Passion Club with Miami’s DJ Vin Man spinning his version of tribal music.

Highlights of the show included a rare public appearance by the Seminole Stomp Dancers, a great bluesy song from the “Hollywood Indians” of The Red Corn Band, and a lovely country folk tune from Nashville’s Qua Ti Si.

Lil Dre brought out the most beautiful trio of back-up dancers a 12-year-old rapper could muster; while triple threat singer/songwriter/ musician Derek Miller showed why he is becoming a major player in the crossover worlds of rock and blues.

Ventriloquist Buddy Big Mountain and funny men James & Ernie brought some comedic relief with their hysterical segments. Kansas Begaye sparkled in her solo drum and singing perfomance; Crystal Gayle sang a bittersweet ballad with her sister Peggy Sue.

The closing peformance by Grammy and Nammy winner Micki “Bling King” Free brought down the house when Litefoot (who won Artist of the Year) and previous Nammy winner Martha Redbone came out wailing in a free form jam that had jaws dropping all over the place.

Over 150 national music recordings were submitted for nomination consideration for this years’ awards. Nominee submissions were made by the NAMA Advisory and Industry members. Eligible recordings must have been commercially released from April 1, 2003, thru June 30, 2004, and have national distribution.

Winners of the Seventh Annual Native American Music Awards were determined through membership mail-in ballots and a national voting campaign open to the public through a listen and vote system on the Nammy website.

With the Nammys kicking off the annual Seminole PowWow and Tribal fair, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is the newest location for this annual awards show that has been held in front of sold-out audiences in theatres and amphitheaters throughout the southwest, midwest and northeast.

The awards organization also assisted in the creation of a Native music Grammy category in 2001 and continues to maintain the nation’s largest Native American music archive (www.nativeamericanmusic.org).

NAMA winners 2005

Artist of the Year: Litefoot

Group of the Year: Blackfire

Best Blues/Jazz Recording:

Indian Harmony; Cecil Gray

& Red Dawn Blues Band

Best Compilation Recording:

Honoring Singers & Songmakers Vol 2; Northern Cree & Friends

Debut Artist of the Year: Jay Nez

Best Female Artist:

Yolanda Martinez

Flutist of the Year: Billy Whitefox

Gospel/Christian Recording:

It’s Time; Rezawrecktion

Best Historical Recording:

California Pow Wow; Cozad

Best Folk/Country Recording:

Through Indian Eyes, Qua Ti Si

Best Independent Recording:

Walkin’ n Fire; Stan Summers

Best Instrumental Recording:

Parmly’s Dream; Joseph Firecrow & the Billings Symphony

Best Male Artist: Eli Secody

Best New Age Recording:

Star Nations; Douglas Blue Feather

Best Pop/Rock Recording:

Ruff Masters; Micki Free and The 9

Best Pow Wow Recording:

Blackfoot Pow Wow; Black Lodge, Star Society, Mocassin Flats

Best Producer:

Tom Wasinger & Mary Youngblood; Feed The Fire

Song/Single of the Year:

One Voice One Cry; Jimmy Lee Young

Best Rap/Hip Hop Recording:

Red Hawk Woman; Shadowyze

Record of the Year:

Going To The Stick Games; Jim Boyd

Songwriter of the Year: Felipe Rose

Best Spoken Word Recording:

The Way We Are;

Mary Louise Defender Wilson

Best Traditional Recording:

Round Dance Blues; Randy Wood

Best Short or Long Form Video:

Walela Live In Concert

Best World Music Recording:

Nawi; Yarina

Native Heart:

Scott August; Sacred Dreams

Rising Star Award:

Evren Ozan for As Things Could Be

Lil Dre for Day Dreaming

Kansas Begay for Beaty and the Spirit

Native American Music Association

511 Avenue of the Americas Suite 371

New York, NY 10011

212.228.8300; 212.228.8495 www.nativeamericanmusic.com