Greetings friends and welcome to my newly updated and designed website. I hope you find it easier to navigate and more attractive to visit. I appreciate your comments. My calendar is in the process of being populated to check back often as I may be coming to your town soon. Invitations and ideas of where to perform are always welcome!
Yesterday I performed at the New Mexico Cowboy Days here in Las Cruces at the huge Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum. This is probably my sixth or seventh year playing there. I honestly haven't kept count and I only began playing the Native Flute in 2004. I always joke with friends and audience that I'm the "Honorary Indian" at this fest. I try to only play the Native flute there to offer the listeners a contrast to the many talented musicians doing Country, Cowboy, Folk etc. Usually this is the windiest time of the year hear and over the years I've seen vendor's tents and even hay bales, yes hay bales move in the wind. Try playing a flute in that kind of wind. Right.... So I've often packed my guitar as well just in case.
In 2011 I had to cancel my Saturday performance at 1:00 because my partner had just passed away from pancreatic cancer only hours before. I did, however, show up the next day to perform, much to the shock of the people there. But, I said getting back to work is the only thing I know how to do. That was a particularly emotional set I must say.
Yesterday one of the vendors in the Pavilion where I perform was a Native. I don't know which tribe but probably Pueblo. I immediately went to his booth and paid respect. He asked if I was playing country too? I said, oh no brother, Native flutes. His eyes lit up. Two things happened that were especially meaningful. Of course I was also glad to see some of my usual followers and new ones. An elder man and his wife were also sitting there in the very cold wind. I mean brrrr. This man couldn't sit still when I played faster songs and stood up behind his wife massaging here back and dancing in place. After my set he came up to me to introduce himself and said he is also from Apache ancestry, Mescalero in his case. I was honored and thanked him for listening. He was very moved at my music and just stood there grasping my hand, eyes wet from either the wind or emotions. The vendor, who was with his wife and daughter was standing waiting to talk to me as well and there was the usual line of people wanting to talk. (A friend told me he and his wife were holding hands and swaying through my set. Native people always move I have noticed.) So finally he just breaks in and hands me a Hawk feather with the quill wrapped in soft Deer hide. I was so honored and bowed to him. Giving the gift of a feather in Native cultures is huge honor
"Feathers mean a lot to Native American Tribes. A feather isn’t just something that falls out of a bird, it means much more. The feather symbolizes trust, honor, strength, wisdom, power, freedom and many more things. To be given one of these is to be hand picked out of the rest of the men in the tribe - it’s like getting a gift from a high official.
And, it just so happens the Hawk is one of my totem animals. I was so moved. Just such an honor from another Native to show me that level of respect. One of the songs on Strong Medicine is titled "Hawk Medicine on I-10." See each morning I do what I call "create my day" a technique I learned from Dr. Joe Dispenza in the movie "What the bleep do we know?" Each morning after I meditate and pray I create my day and ask for a sign that indeed the observer is paying attention to any one of the things I created mentally. Yesterday, feeling not so confident or relevant as a musician, I asked for a sign that my music matters and is meaningful and touches people. These, among others, were the signs I asked for and received. So very special. Here is a video of Dr. Dispenza doing the process. http://youtu.be/G5nqMjPJhlA (not the actual feather)
Also of note my 2013 CD "Strong Medicine" has received an award nominee from Zone Music Reporter for "Best Native American Album." ZMR is the organization that tracks radio airplay of albums in the "New Age' market. This award is bestowed and voted on by actual broadcast professionals, radio programmers, music directors and music writers. It is very very meaningful. Strong Medicine has done very well on the New Age charts and on Sirius Soundscapes. This ZMR nomination isn't a popularity contest or something I beg listeners to vote on it's a recognition from your own industry saying you did something special that we enjoy programming. It helps that heavy hitters, who also hire some big name promoters, are also nominated for this award including R. Carlos Nakai, Scott August, Ann Licater. If I win it will mean so much and especially for all the sacrifice and transmuting I went through to get Strong Medicine written, recorded and released. Also some validation to all of you who supported my Kickstarter campaign. Thank you!!!! The awards are in May. Please wish me well and visualize me posting about winning the award. I love your support.
OK I'm off to perform today at 2PM at the New Mexico Cowboy Days. I'm the Indian.
Peace friends,
RG