Congratulations to Native American Music Award Nominees 2008

10th Annual Native American Music Awards Nominees Announced
Blackfire, Blackfoot, Brule & AIRO, The Blessed Blend, The Crow Girls, and The Red Corn Band lead with three nominations each
August 23, 2008 - New York. Nominations for the 10th Annual Native American Music Awards (NAMA) were announced today by The Native American Music Association & Awards, reflecting the combined votes of the NAMA Advisory Board Nominating Committee Membership. This year is a monumental year for the organization which will now have nominated an estimated 1500 artists and honored 300 winners over the past decade.
A new limited edition “NAMMY” will be introduced this year commemorating the organization’s 10th Anniversary year. The 10th Annual Native American Music Awards will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2008 at the Seneca Entertainment Center in the Seneca Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls, NY. Tickets for the 10th Annual Native American Music Awards are on-sale now through all ticketmaster outlets. The Awards show will again be broadcast on MHZ Networks in November to an estimated 30 million cable households.
New up-and-comers were nominated alongside established artists in a diverse array of 30 music categories. Blackfire, Blackfoot, Brule & AIRO, The Blessed Blend, The Crow Girls, and The Red Corn Band lead with three nominations each. Tied with two nominations each are; Blu, Carroll Medicine Crow, Cherokee National Youth Choir, Cheryl Bear, Chief Seattle Speaks, Delbert Blackhorse, Douglas Blue Feather, Dream Scape, Eagle & Hawk, Producer Ed Stasium, Edmund Bull, Fara Palmer, Gilbert Begay Sr, Golana, Injunuity, J.C. Campbell, Jim Boyd, Ken Quiet Hawk, Medicine Dream, Native Roots, Nightshield, Primeaux & Mike, Pura Fe’, R Carlos Nakai, Rain Song, Red Feather Woman, Rezhogs, Robert Mirabal, Sotiw, Star Nayea, Stevie Salas, Tanya Brown, Terri Rivera Piatt & Lancy Goodman, Terry Lee Whetstone, Tiger Tiger, Tracy Bone and Walter Ahhaitty & Friends.
Nominated in the field of Record Of The Year are; Blackfire’s (Silence) Is A Weapon, Northern Cree & Friends’ Calling All Dancers , Thee Express’ Express Yourself, Golana’s Mirror Lake, Brule’ & AIRO’s Live At Mt. Rushmore and Blackfoot’s Train Train.
This year's Song Single Of The Year nominees represent more musical works within the Pop/Folk genres that feature distinctive Native American elements; All Colors Together by RainSong Terry & Darlene Wildman, Broken Dreams by Nightshield, Going To Gathering by The Blessed Blend, Hey Cuzzin’! by Cheryl Bear, Sleep Is The Ocean by The Crow Girls, and Way of the Warrior by Medicine Dream."These nominations throughout all 30 music categories truly reflect a diverse and impressive range of new and established talent from our community," said Awards President Ellen Bello. "We are looking forward to a spectacular Awards celebration running the full spectrum of today’s most popular contemporary and traditional Native American music initiatives.” Special Recognition Awards will also be given to internationally acclaimed artists; Janice Marie Johnson of A Taste of Honey, Pat Vegas & Redbone, Felipe Rose of the Village People and Rickey Medlocke of Blackfoot and Lynyrd Skynyrd.Voting ballots to select the final winner in each category will be mailed to all Advisory Board voting members. Voting ballots are also available to the general public on our websites http://www.votenative.com/ or http://www.nativeamericanmusicawards.com/.
See below for a complete list of official nominees for the 10th Annual Native American Awards: ARTIST OF THE YEAR Carroll Medicine Crow – Homeland Security Delbert Blackhorse – The Four Directions Jim Boyd – Blues To Bluegrass Johnny Whitehorse – Totemic Flute Chants Stevie Salas – The Sun & The EarthTerry Lee Whetstone –
The Best of the Best
BEST BLUES RECORDING Deep Downtown – Jimmy Wolf Goin’ For It – Terry Tsotigh Graywolf Blues Band – Graywolf Blues Band Hold The Rain – Pura Fe’ Levi Platero – Levi Platero & The Plateros Sir Harrison & The Blues Kings – Sir Harrison & The Blues Kings
BEST COMPILATION RECORDING Calling All Dancers – Northern Cree & Friends Heart of the Bitterroot – Various Navajo Christmas – Todi Neesh Zhee Singers Old Style Round Dance Songs – Various
The Best of the Best – Terry Lee Whetstone (2) The Native Hip Hop Hour Volume One – Various
BEST COUNTRY RECORDING Follow Your Dreams – Edmund Bull Mysterys – Qua TiSiNo Lies – Tracy Bone Still No Good – The Red Corn Band Crystal Shawanda – Crystal Shawanda
DEBUT ARTIST OF THE YEAR Blu – Rez Life Cheryl Bear – The Good Road Chucki Begay – Songs From My Heart Ghosthorse – KSA Gilbert Begay Sr – Traditional Navajo Shoe Game Songs Slavior - Slavior
DEBUT GROUP OF THE YEAR 191 N. – 5 Bucks Gas Injunuity – Unconquered Moon Lodge Singers – Cultural Legacy: Fights Alone Pimadiziwin Singers – Save The Last Round Dance For Me The Breeze Band – The Breeze BandThe Crow Girls – Sleep is the Ocean
BEST FEMALE ARTIST Fara Palmer – Phoenix Nicole – Deep Dreams Pura Fe’ – Hold The Rain Radmilla Cody – Precious Friends Star Nayea – Silenced My Tongue Tracy Bone – No Lies (2)BEST FOLK RECORDING Blue Moon – Terri Rivera Piatt & Lancy Goodman Nikawiy Askiy – Sandy Scofield Red Lodge – Danielle Egnew Where The Green Grass Grows – The Crow Girls (2) Wind of the North – Violet Naytovhow Wolfgirl – Arlette
FLUTIST OF THE YEAR Jan Michael Looking Wolf – Unity JJ Kent – I Am Red Moontee Sinquah – Freedom Tim Yett – Creating Sacred SpaceTommy Wildcat – Red Fire People Xavier Quijas Yxayotl – The Color of Morning
BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL RECORDING Heartbeat of the Creator – Kelly Montijo FinkI’ve Come Too Far To Look Back – Thelma Emerson Journeys Through The Mist – The Blessed Blend Precious Memories – Cherokee National Youth ChoirRise Up & Dance – Rain Song: Terry & Darlene Wildman Singing Heavenly & Free – Joe Tohonnie Jr
GROUP OF THE YEAR Blackfire – (Silence) Is A WeaponBrule’ & AIRO – Live At Mt. Rushmore Eagle & Hawk – Red Road Stories Native Roots – Celebrate Primeaux & Mike w/Xavier Quijas Yxayotl – The Color of Morning The Red Corn Band – Still No Good (2)
BEST HISTORICAL RECORDING Chief Seattle Speaks 1854 – Red Hawk Journeys Through The Mist – The Blessed Blend (2) Oklahoma Style – Walter Ahhaitty & Friends Omeigwessi Reel Metis: A Tribute To Walter Flett – Omeigwessi Ensemble Precious Memories – Cherokee National Youth Choir
BEST INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING
Dream Scape: Spirit Maiden – Dream Scape Mirror Lake – Golana Sacred Land – Johnsy G The Whisper Spirit Progression – Larry Redhouse Unconquered – Injunuity York Boats & Legends – Ryan D’Aoust
BEST MALE ARTIST Clinton Denny – Prayers For My Father Edmund Bull – Follow Your Dreams Exitwound: The Native Axeman – After The Storm J.C. Campbell – Lazy James Johnny Mike – My Spirit Soars Ken Quiet Hawk – The Story Tellers
BEST NATIVE AMERICAN CHURCH RECORDINGA Vision of Spiritual Blessing – Merlinda Woody First Light – Cheevers Toppah & Kevin Yazzie Humble Prayers – Denise Becenti Mourning Praise Unto Our Creator – Meewasin Oma New Beginning – Janelle Turtle The Four Directions – Delbert Blackhorse (2)
BEST NEW AGE RECORDINGA Crown of Stars – Blue Feather, Dunlap & Henke Deep Dreams – Nicole (2) Homeland Security – Carroll Medicine Crow (2) Kokyo – Devin Village Stone /KiwamuraPoints of Origin – Anthony Wakeman & Mr Soon Voyagers – R Carlos Nakai, Udi Bar - David, Will Clipman
BEST POP RECORDING Eye of the Tiger – Tiger Tiger In The Blood – Robert MirabalLove Birds – Archie Cavanaugh Phoenix – Fara Palmer The Outsiders – RezhogsTribal Trance – Socie Saltwater
BEST POW WOW RECORDING 5 Bucks Gas – 191 N. (2) Blue Scout – Tha Tribe Hear The Beat – Blackfoot Confederacy Honoring Women Veterans – Zotigh Singers Oklahoma Style – Walter Ahhaitty & FriendsThe Elk Way – Elk Soldier
BEST PRODUCER Adrian Brown, Tim Sampson, Jonathon Joss – Still No GoodDouglas Blue Feather – A Crown Of Stars Ed Stasium – (Silence) Is A Weapon JC Campbell, Tracy Bone, DJ St Germain- Lazy James Kelly Parker – Follow Your Dreams R. Carlos Nakai, Udi Bar- David, Robert Doyle – Voyagers
BEST RAP HIP HOP RECORDING Blest With Skills – Blest One I Am Universal – Buggin Malone Loved & Hated – Nightshield Native American Hustle – Dago Braves Paranormal: The War Within – Maniac The Siouxpernatural Rez Life – Blu (2) RECORD OF THE YEAR (Silence) Is A Weapon – Blackfire Calling All Dancers – Northern Cree & Friends Express Yourself – Thee Express Mirror Lake - GolanaLive At Mt. Rushmore – Brule’ & AIRO Train Train – Blackfoot
BEST ROCK RECORDING (Silence) Is A Weapon – Blackfire Blues To Bluegrass – Jim Boyd Learning To Fly- Medicine Dream The Sun & The Earth – Stevie Salas Train Train – Blackfoot Wanted Alive –
XIT SONG/SINGLE OF THE YEAR All Colors Together – Rain Song Terry & Darlene Wildman Broken Dreams – Nightshield Going To Gathering – The Blessed Blend Hey Cuzzin’! – Cheryl Bear Sleep Is The Ocean – The Crow Girls Way of the Warrior – Medicine Dream
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR Alex E Smith, Cheevers Toppah, Nitanis “Kit” Landry – Harmony NightsDerek Mortland, Michael Joseph – Sketches In Time Lee & Stephen Tiger – Eye of The Tiger Michael Jeans – Leather & Feathers Star Nayea – Silenced My Tongue Vince Fontaine, Lawrence Mullhall – Red Road Stories
BEST SPOKEN WORD RECORDING Artificial Red – Randy Kemp Chief Seattle Speaks 1854 – Red Hawk Distant Drums – Red Feather WomanTales From The Lodge – Debra Morningstar The Story Tellers – Ken Quiet Hawk
BEST TRADITIONAL RECORDING Brand New Day – Tanya Brown My Father’s Fire Dance Songs – Mary SmithPo’li – Clark Tenakhongva Rezmerized – Ryon Polequptena Traditional Navajo Shoe Songs –Gilbert Begay Sr Waiting With The Cellular – Navajo Nation Singers
BEST SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO Brave New World – Robert Mirabal Dirty Water – Michael Bucher Drinking Song – Rezhogs The Enlightened Time – JanaTimes We’ve Had – NDNVision Quest -
AIROBEST LONG FORM MUSIC VIDEO Eye of the Tiger – Tiger TigerLive At Mt Rushmore: Concert For Reconciliation of the Cultures – Brule’ & AIRO Live In Concert – Michael Searching Bear Our Land Our Life- Joanne Shenandoah The 8th Fire – Andy Pickard, Cindy Pickard, Tom Bee Train Train – Blackfoot
BEST WORLD MUSIC RECORDING Celebrate – Native Roots Dream Scape: Spirit Maiden – Dreamscape Going Home – The Gathering Journeys Through The Mist – The Blessed Blend Sketches In Time – Derek Mortland, Michael Joseph Sounds of Beauty – Estun – Bah
NATIVE HEART Ed Stasium – (Silence) Is A Weapon Jeff Ball – Shape of Light Jonny Lipford – Transitions: Out of the Flames & Into The Wind Peter Kater – Sacred Earth: Wind of the North Richard Stepp – The Sacred Journey William Hoshal – A Rumor of the Sun