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Native American Mary Youngblood, half
Seminole and half Aleut, is the first woman to professionally record the Native American Flute,
and the first woman to win not just one, but two Grammy Awards for
"Best Native American Music Album".
About her second Grammy Award, Silver Wave Records
said, "...Mary Youngblood has always had the talent to stand out
above the crowd, and with this honor she stakes her claim as the
number one star of Native American music."
Mary's fifth and latest album “Dance with the Wind” won the 2007
Grammy Award for
“Best
Native American Music Album”. In an interview after accepting
her award, Mary told the media that "'Dance With the Wind' was
created during the 2006 winter storms in Northern California.
The storms brought extremely high winds; a tall
oak lost a few good sized limbs and the maples took a thrashing.
Having an incredible affinity to trees, Mary looked at them in her backyard,
and thought it would be hard to be a tree right then. But
as she watched them, she noticed how the trees were almost moving
with purposeful rhythm, and with something that resembled... JOY.
Mary related her own personal stormy times to the dancing trees and
realized she could be like they were. She was not going to
give in to the elements either; she was going to learn to be more
like the trees ... and "Dance With the Wind".
Mary’s fourth album “Feed the Fire” was nominated for the 2005
Grammy “Best Native American Music Album”. Mary’s original melodies
and lyrics spanned a
variety
of musical styles and instruments - her wood flutes, piano, alto
flute and sweet vocals. Special guest appearances by Ian Anderson
(of Jethro Tull), Bill Miller, and Joanne Shenandoah, all
contributed to Mary’s album full of energy, warmth and passion. The
tribute song ‘Feed the Fire’ for her birth parents and dedicated to
her birth mother will melt your heart.
Mary’s third album 'Beneath the Raven Moon', won the
2003 Grammy Award for “Best Native American Music
Album”. Silver Wave records considered
this a poetic concept
album - the title of each track being from
Mary’s thematic poetry reflecting the Human Journey. Mary’s
beautiful voice harmonizing along with her many flutes debuted with
the instrumentation of award winning producer Tom Wasinger. Of
Mary's exemplary flute playing coupled with two of her favorite
American music styles, Classical and Blues, Dirty Linen Magazine
stated, "Mary Youngblood brings a fresh perspective to original
melodies."
Mary’s second album 'Heart of the World' found Mary weaving her
flute melodies with the lush accompaniment
of
guitar, percussion and the exquisite voice of Joanne
Shenandoah. 'Heart of the World' won “Best Native
American Recording” by The Association for Independent Music (INDIE
Award), the New Age Voice (NAV) Award, and the 2000 Native American
Music Awards (NAMMY) for “Best New Age Recording”. The track ‘Cold
Wind’ will blow right into your chest and thump you hard. It is
amazing.
Mary’s debut album 'The Offering' was a solo flute effort recorded
live to DAT in the huge underground chamber of
the Moaning Cavern in California. The
natural
acoustics lent an amazing echo and organic quality to the distinctly
memorable melodies that Mary created with her flutes. The Monterey
County Herald News wrote, "In addition to the haunting sounds of
various handcrafted wooden flutes, the listener can occasionally
hear the drip of water in the cavern, which adds a surreal
you-are-there feeling."
In addition to Mary’s two Grammy Awards and three nominations, she
was the first woman to win 'Flutist of the Year' in both 1999 and
2000. She also won 'Best Female Artist' in 2000 at the Native
American Music Awards (NAMMYS).
Mary started piano lessons at age six, violin at eight, classical
flute and guitar at ten. As an adult, when Mary received her first
wooden Native flute,
she was
driven to pursue the mastery of this instrument so tied to her own
heritage.
Now years later with five unique and accomplished albums under her
belt, Mary owns over 250 hand carved Native American Style flutes in
her collection and uses a wide variety of them throughout every one
of her albums. Each of her flutes is masterfully crafted from
different types of wood, bringing a unique sound and texture to each
song.
When Mary performs, it takes only a moment to acknowledge the
profound spirituality of the sacred Native American flute and its
historical courtship and wooing attributes. Her haunting music is
much more than a song ... it's liquid poetry, a prayer.
Mary Youngblood takes little credit for the intense emotions people
feel when they listen to her music. "I am only a vessel between
Creator and this instrument. As a sculptor would tell you, the clay
has a spirit of its own and decides what it will become; so it is
with the flute. These songs came from those who walked before me."
Mary and her family currently reside in Northern California. |