Challenge To Northern Singers

[Lakota Wiyan]

This is waaay old school, but I know someone is going to know the answer to this question:

Does anyone know the song Heart Butte Special (aka Heart Beat Special)? Do you know the story behind the song and who brought this song about ( like which drum and which singer?)

This is the first song I learned how to Wicaglata thanks to Candy LeBeau, and I just love it...I'm teaching my little girl how to wicaglata, and my son is learning it on his hand drum...I just want to tell them some of the history behind it.

I'd appreciate any information you can give me!

[coupcounter49]

heart butte song !!!!!

i believe that song was first sung by the Porcupine Singers in the early 70's I'm not certain if Sieffert Y B or Francis M composed it? I was fortunate enough to sing this song with these respected individuals.

[Lakota Wiyan]

i believe that song was first sung by the Porcupine Singers in the early 70's I'm not certain if Sieffert Y B or Francis M composed it? I was fortunate enough to sing this song with these respected individuals.

Now, thats what I thought at first, but I ask Melvin and Severt Jr., but they said it was a drum group up north of here, but they couldn't remember which one. I think it was a drum from N. Dakota, and there is a place in ND called Heart Butte, so I just wonder.....I also wonder why this is such a well known song and yet I can't get to the origins about it.

What I really want to know is what the intention of the song was originally. I just love singing this song....it has good memories for me! Thanks for you answer though, I'm glad to hear you sang with Porcupine Singers before....they are my relatives!

[billyjoejimbob]

I heard it on Porcupine, Running Child and I think Rocky Boy also.

Heart Butte is the favorite of the lesser known ndns in the Northeast. They would always ask "Do you know Heart Butte?" And all the drums would get together and sing it. It would drive them nuts.

[Lakota Wiyan]

LOL I know I run my uncles ragged asking them to sing that song! Sons of The Oglalas were good for that song as well, and it seems that the older guys are the ones who like to sing it the most.
Two years ago at the He Sapa Wacipi here in Rapid City, during this song, a Whistle Carrier came up and blew his whistle, but he did it when the drum trailed off and the women were singing. There were about 15 of us women singing, and we almost drowned out the singers when they were singing...well, we were singing so high that noone heard the whistle!!! After the song, when we found out about it, all of us ladies got our cash together and gave it to the whistle blower.

[Grizball]

The Heart Butte Special. This song was sung by the Heart Butte Singers of the Blackfeet Nation in Montana. This song was my Grampa's song. Fred Marceau is the name. The Porcupine singers claimed that he gave it to them and this is why they included it on an album of theirs. This is not true. They simply took liberties with the song. That was wrong. My Grampa never did give this song away. I'm not saying the Porcupine singers had no right to sing it. I'm saying they had no right to make that claim.

The Heart Butte Singers were a renowned group in their time. If you know of anybody who was on the powwow trails back then, they'll be a testament to that fact. They won more often than not, 1st place. World Championship singers is what they were. They never made the powwow that crowned the world champion. If they did, rest assured, they would have been crowned.

[billyjoejimbob]

Wow, it only took 1 year and 2 months to get an answer to that question.

thanks, grizball.

[n8v_singer 4_life]

No WAY!!

The "Heart Butte Special" actually came from Heart Butte??? Who da thunk it???!!!!! Ayyyeee!!
Yeah, use to sing and hear this song all the time back in the day. Maybe a new group can take it and do some revising and bring it back.... Never know........great song in it's day.
Laterzzzz