Floyd Red Crow Westerman (1936-2007)-Activitist, Actor, Singer, Musician and Grandfather to an entire community - We will all miss you. Thanks for being a friend
If you didn't know Floyd check out his page to learn about just a few of his accomplishments.
http://www.myspace.com/floydredcrowwesterman
Ulali
features Pura Fé
(Tuscarora),
Soni
(Mayan, Apache,
Yaqui), and
Jennifer
(Tuscarora.) In 1987, Ulali created an exciting new A Capella sound
blending their strong traditional roots with their contemporary musical
sensibilities. When they later released their solo album
MAHK JCHI ,
they redefined Native American Music. Ulali..s sound encompasses an array
of indigenous music including southeast choral singing (pre-blues and
gospel) and pre-Colombian (before the borders) music.
These
ladies created an album that seamlessly combined both traditional and
contemporary Native American music that has appealed to fans across
cultural boundaries. They have built a devoted national and international
following attracted to their potent vocal chemistry, unusual harmonies and
politically charged songs. This past year they have spent time adding
additional performers to the group. The amazingly gifted
Ataahua Papa ,
a Maori from New Zealand has been performing with the group on a fairly
regular basis. This has enabled the three original group members to
pursue other solo and collaborative opportunities while maintaining the
bonds of the original group.
Ulali has
traveled extensively throughout the U.S., Canada, and abroad performing at
venues like Woodstock 94, the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, the 1997
Smithsonian..s Folkways 50th Anniversary Gala at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy
Center, Lincoln Center, the 1998 WOMAD Festival in Seattle, the 1998 New
Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the 1999 World Festival of Sacred Music
at the Hollywood Bowl, Red Solstice 2000 in Montréal, the Britt Festival
2000 in Oregon, V Day 2001 at Madison Square Garden, the 2001 New Orleans
Jazz & Heritage Festival, the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City and a wide
range of other venues and benefit performances. They have performed
abroad in Brazil, Corsica, Fiji, Germany, Italy, Japan, Morocco, New
Caledonia and Portugal. In 2004 they performed at the Kennedy Center and
the National Mall for the opening of the new Smithsonian National Museum
of the American Indian.
Ulali continues to gain broader mainstream recognition. At the end of 2002 you could hear them on the release of the "Grammy " nominated " 1 Giant Leap." In 2003 ULALI was one of three featured artists on New York..s nationally televised arts forum "Egg the Arts." In August 2004 they were featured on the Sundance Channel Series "Keeping Time: New Music from America..s Roots I" series.
Ulali travels throughout Indian country (U.S., Canada, Central & South America,) singing for the people, exchanging songs, and maintaining strong ties. They often perform at POW Wows and can often be heard on Native radio stations throughout the U.S. and Canada. They were each awarded the "Eagle Spirit Award" at the 25th Annual American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco, CA in 2000. In addition they were each, one of several winners, of the "Native American Women..s Recognition Award" (NAWRE) presented by the Friends of Ganondagon. During their week long Artist Residency in and around Greensboro, North Carolina in September 2002, they were presented the Key to the City.
he group performed with the Indigo Girls during their 1997 Shaming of the Sun tour and added their distinct voice to the Indigo Girls recording "Shaming the Sun." Ulali also contributed to the Indigo Girls benefit-recording, "Honor the Earth" and participated in the national tour of the same name.Ulali was featured on the sound track of the Miramax film "Smoke Signals." They performed at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival in support of "Smoke Signals" which won the "Audience Choice Award" and "Filmmaker..s Trophy." Ulali recorded on the sound tract for the Turner documentary series "The Native Americans." Two of their songs, "Mahk Jchi" and "Ancestor Song" were featured on Robbie Robertson..s album, "Robbie Robertson and the Red Road Ensemble." Their video "Follow Your Hearts Desire" won "Best Music Video" at The American Indian Film Institute Awards.
Ulali has aired on National Public Radio several times and made their national television debut when they performed with Robertson as featured guests on the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno." After performing at the Todos un Cantos del Mundo in May 2000, Ulali was featured on the " Jô Soares Show, " a nationally televised talk show in Brazil. In 2002, they were also featured on Japan television while on tour with the South American Indigenous group Sisay.
The group has been on several compilations that have been nominated for Juno Awards (the Canadian Grammy awards.) Ulali participated in the Aboriginal Women..s Voices Project and helped to develop songs for it..s recording "Hearts of the Nations." They were featured on the Smithsonian..s Folkways compilation "Heartbeat," and can be heard on dozens of albums, documentaries, and movies. In addition, Ulali contributed the music to Native story teller, Dovie Thomason..s, "Lessons from the Animal People," which won the American Library Association..s 1997 "Editor..s Choice Award" and the "Notable Recording Award."
Ulali has shared the bill with Buffy Saint Marie, Floyd Westerman, the American Indian Dance Theatre, Sting, Richie Havens, the B-52..s, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Miriam Makeba and the Neville Brothers.