Beginnings?

[Coyot_In_The_House]

Since I can remember I was drawn to Singing.....Since I was a lil chit running around....My Uncle Wayne and older brothers were responsible for my formal introduction (if you will). I was 10 and it was a good 3 year intro....Coffee go getter, chair setter upper, just several responsibilities that go with nuturing a Singer. Oh and I was a trip mind you.....Spoiled lil chit just to be frank....although I was respectful....So tell us...how did you get started? Who laid the groundwork for you? Oh and just to add.....2 words summed it all up for me then.....Badlands Singers.....I'll "expound" l8r, but lets get da ball rolling.....

[stillrezin]

I dont know the exact age but i was a youngin' too.

but i would have to say my dad was the foundation. When my brothers and I was kids and running around the pow wow and we heard our dad singing we would stop and run over there and watch or listen to them, and especially if it was a whistle, we would be right there.

my dad and his frineds was always singign around us. when they would be compsing new songs or trading songs between each other, or practicing that new song. my dad and mom would sing to uss when we was young. and then all the great singers who was around or friends with my dad was all great memories and some funny stories i remember too. LOL>

i guess it would have to be uncles had an impact too. from listening to them sing at ceremonies or pow wows and other events. i would have to say singing was in my blood. we would sing with my dad at home when he would be compsing or just trying to get that new song just right.

a memory that i will always never forget is my brothers and i singing on a bucket with ffy swatters, boy my mom would get pissed LOL> when she got her fly swatters back.

there is alot of contributing factors of i got started singing.

so i suggest that all singers encourage the youngers starting out. you never know, you might be a factor in the singing.

[Coyot_In_The_House]

Listening....

to singers was something that struck me early.....Sort of perch by that 1 horn and camp out with an ice cream or something. Remembering that smell of fry bread and just that powwow smell....I couldn't wait for powwow and all the months of summer when they would set up on the powwow grounds or down at the water or wherever and sing. Folks would drive up and just check out the good music....You can hear it all around da Rez....So I was 10 when my formal intro began....That's when I actually took it seriously and sat down and attempted to sing....LOL....Initially my timing was rugged, but I fell in sink....I was only allowed to sing per say at [email protected] practice.....Aunt Mrytles was da special plce to practice....Its funny how those distinct situations and aromas stick in your head! I just loved listening to Badlands, Porcupine, Ironwood, Chiniki Lake, Fort Kipp, Blackfoot A1 Club, and so on.....I even remember my uncle had an 8 track player in his car! GEEZ!

[Coyot_In_The_House]

Remember n

Emulating singers was my specialty....I would listen to Badlands and give my Chuck impersonation....Red Earth my Wayne impersonation and on down the line.....Although what really pulled it all together for me was meeting these groups and visiting and making friends and relatives...The singers who were down to earth and helpful and just real always satnd out in my mind....They certainly encouraged me to step up to the plate so to speak and swing for the fences, but with ease....If you know what I mean....To eventually travel and sit with some of these singers brought so much of it around....I had some real down to earth chats with Andy White of Whitefish Bay....I truly enjoyed singing with them (from time to time) and enjoying their down to earth vibe....The late Bill Baker left a lasting impression upon me and my bro....To sing with Bill was well comfortable....No strain, just smoothe singing....The list goes on.....Just figured i'd share somethings and try to at least get the proverbial ball rolling.....

[stillrezin]

the thing i will always take with me is: the words of encouragment from the 'legends'. thier advise and taking the time to teach me songs and the meanings behind the drum and songs. what songs are for what occassion and the meaninf of the words and correct sayings.
i understand now after singing on my own, what they was teaching me. i didnt go out there and butcher a song and sing it incorrectly and for something else completely different.
in other words i know what the hell i'm doing. and not maing an azz of myself. sometimes their words come across like they are scolding yu but they are teaching you. well i was young and i'm still learning. i'm still learning from them today. i see thier teachings to this day.

[stillrezin]

does anyone remember the old spare tire bungee corded to the bottom of the 'old bass drums' ?

i remeber 'ironwood' used to do that wayyyyyyyyy back. a memory i have from when i was lil shyt.


LOL>

hey coyot_ are we the only ones with memories here, besides Ntown.

[Coyot_In_The_House]

I guess so?

does anyone remember the tire bungee corded to the 'old bass drums' ?

i remeber 'ironwood' used to do that wayyyyyyyyy back. a memory i have from when i was lil shyt.


LOL>

hey coyot_ are we the only ones with memories here, besides Ntown.

As far as the memories....

I do remember Uncle Dave with the Bass drum and the cords....I just about went to school at Sinte....Wanted to hook up with Ironwood....Good ole songs....Songs you rarely if ever hear these days....I remember Sioux Assiniboine too....Frank is still kicking it (under Dakota Travels I believe) and he's a legend....No doubt...Tell you what too, he's done his homework! Very knowledgable and approachable...Old school at its finest. Assiniboine Jr's were kicking too....Curtis jams out from time to time still....I have recordings of Assiniboine Jr's from way back and they had some cho tunes....How about when Stoney Park ruled the world....Good singing....Geez i'm on a roll....Eyabay will always be one of my favs....In the early 90's they rocked! Blackstone had some good tunes too....On da original tip.....Battle Creek had a wicked sound.....Of course Mandaree....Prolly the smoothest of all time....Fort Kipp made you tap your toes too....Can't leave out ole Johnny Skunk....Red Lake still kicks it on a Band Drum.....I'm on a Mission....

[stillrezin]

there is one thing i didnt learn from the is how to type. but i like typos.

[ntownn8ive]

All right brothas, I been puttin' this off for a lil' while, here goes:

Grew up at powwows, first dancin'. Wasn't until I was the ripe ol' age of 9 before I was sat down at a drum. Still had a lil' girl voice. Yep, it was the uncles, too.

It was a rag tag group of rez and urban brothas, well Native Brothas, that I started out with. "Hit the edge", they'd alwayz say.

So, been singin' since. From my unc's drum, his friends introduced me to the Gros Ventre style singin' when I was about 11. They were a branch of the Hays Singers from Hays, MT. Bobby Talksdifferent and Gordon Lodge, Calvin Gone crew. They taught me the songs and the correct occasions in which these songs were sung. The family songs, and the particular families that these songs could be sang for. A disciplinin', so to speak, in the arts...like Kung Fu!

Steeped in the ol' style, me and my bros went on to learn and love contemp singing. Me and my lil' bro still set up our own drum at the lil'er shindigs, though. Fo' real, we got them ol' bass drums and everything. I have three of them, all 28", and he's got an ol' skool 26". Ol' styo, fo sho.

Crazy, all these years we been singin that ol style, and listen around, I've heard Blackfoot Confederacy, Blacklodge, Northern Cree and Mountain Soul jammin' some of them ol' Hays Singers songs that we grew up singin'. Iss funny! (of course the purdy 'em up and sound a lil' better than a couple of urban ndns sittin' around a bass drum! )

[50cal]

Hays Singers.....I remember them host ing a powwow down in Orange County, CA sometime back like 6 maybe 7 years ago and i got to jam with them the whole powwow....that was cool, got to be bros with calvin and now occasionally see him around.....

I didn't get started till I was like 13...my cousins started this drum after going to his first powwow up in Ft Duchesne, UT when Blacklodge, Blackstone and Northern Cree were host drums...they taught me how to hit (the edge) drum and from there I made sure that I asked all the questions and tried to expand my knowledge of everything dealing with singing....where I got to meet some very influential people who I still learn from....my impression that really stands out though was watching Eagle Whistles host over in Amherst, MA.....nice jamming, sure wish I had a recorder, but I spent my money on brew and recreation...LOL!!!.

[Coyot_In_The_House]

U were @ Zoo Mass!

Hays Singers.....I remember them host ing a powwow down in Orange County, CA sometime back like 6 maybe 7 years ago and i got to jam with them the whole powwow....that was cool, got to be bros with calvin and now occasionally see him around.....

I didn't get started till I was like 13...my cousins started this drum after going to his first powwow up in Ft Duchesne, UT when Blacklodge, Blackstone and Northern Cree were host drums...they taught me how to hit (the edge) drum and from there I made sure that I asked all the questions and tried to expand my knowledge of everything dealing with singing....where I got to meet some very influential people who I still learn from....my impression that really stands out though was watching Eagle Whistles host over in Amherst, MA.....nice jamming, sure wish I had a recorder, but I spent my money on brew and recreation...LOL!!!.

Dat was 1991.....Well it was 1989 too....Both times they rocked! I have some Eagle Whistles from the 80's....Well my bros have em...Thieves! LOL! WUZ UP GRANDMA!!!?