NINTH ANNUAL NATIVE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS SHOW SET FOR REPEAT SATELLITE BROADCASTS
TO OVER 18 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS ON COLOURS TV SUNDAY, JUNE 1st & JUNE 8th

New York, NY/May 29, 2008 - On Sunday, June 1st, at 2:00PM, the highly esteemed Native American Music Awards will be broadcast in over 18 million households as a featured two-hour televised special on CoLours TV. CoLours TV can be found in all 50 states in the top 100 TV markets through the EchoStar/Dish Network channel 9407 and on local cable affiliates, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A rebroadcast of the Awards program is scheduled for Sunday, June 8th from 2:00 to 4:00PM.

CoLours TV was created by Black Star Communications (BSC), a non-profit corporation organized to operate exclusively for civic, charitable, and educational purposes. The CoLours TV network has set out to be a voice of authority for America’s multicultural community. Today, they are in over 18 million television households which accounts for more than 40 million viewers. CoLours also features an online presence at www.colourstv.org CoLours’ technical information is Satellite Intelsat Americas 13, Transponder 6.

The Ninth Annual Native American Music Awards show was recently held at the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls, New York, and taped in front of a live audience. This two hour broadcast program features award presentations, special guest appearances and live performances in all genres of music by leading artists of Native American heritage from North America. Featured performers include; Lifetime Achievement Award recipients Joanne Shenandoah and Bill Miller, South Dakota’s Brule’ & AIRO (Group of the Year), Buffalo’s own Tonemah (Best Folk Recording), Upstate New York’s Corn Bred (Best Blues Recording) Lumbee pop artist Jana (Best Pop Recording), Gary Small & the Coyote Bros (Best Rock Recording), Drum group Pipestone (Record of the Year), Nightshield with Maniac the Siouxpernatural (Best Rap Recording), the traditional Iroquois Dancers, nominees Digging Roots, and Jan Michael Looking Wolf with renowned Latin music producer, George Noriega. Other special guest presenters include; Beth Wray Webb (Daughter of the late Link Wray), Keith Secola, and Wayquay among others.

Founded a decade ago in May of 1998, the critically acclaimed Native American Music Awards is the country’s leading membership based association consisting of music industry professionals directly involved in the recording and distribution of traditional and contemporary Native American music initiatives.

Support for the Ninth Annual Native American Music Awards’ broadcast was received by the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel, the Seneca Nation of Indians (SNI), the Shokopee Mdewankaton Sioux Community and The Seminole Tribe of Florida. The Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel is a premiere entertainment destination and features the largest hotel in Western New York with breathtaking views of one of the most incredible natural sites in the world, Niagara Falls.



SHERIDAN, WYOMING 4/22/08
GARY SMALL & HIS BAND OF COYOTE'S Teamed Up with Rock & Roll Icon, Chubby Checker on  April 19, 2008 at My Buddy's Place in Sheridan, Wyoming.  Small and his band were originally going to open only, but Chubby's manager organized a crash rehearsal with them just hours before the scheduled show. Gary Small played away while Chubby sang "Lets Do the Twist!!!" Gary and his band would like to thank Z94 FM's Russ Davidson and Cathleen and the whole crew at My Buddies Place as the host venue.

NEW YORK, NY 3/31/08
TENTH ANUAL NATIVE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS
NAMA 10 Submission Deadline is March 31, 2008
Ten Day Grace Period For All Existing Members
All submissions must be made by Current Advisory Board Member
Tenth Annual Awards Show Scheduled for October 4, 2008 at the Seneca Niagara Hotel & Casino


TAOS, NEW MEXICO  2/12/08
OFFICIAL NEWS RELEASE  FROM ROBERT MIRABAL
Media Contact: Andrew Flack, flack@starroadrecords.com; 1-800-362-1273

New Mexico’s Native Son, Robert Mirabal, Wins  GRAMMY for Best Native American Album of the Year  “Johnny Whitehorse Totemic Flute Chants”

TAOS PUEBLO, NM (February 12, 2008) — On Sunday February 10th, The 50th ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS presented its Native American Album of the Year to Robert Mirabal of Taos Pueblo, New Mexico.

The winning album, “Johnny Whitehorse Totemic Flute Chants” on Silver Wave Records, captures a full-fledged Southwest tribal vibe in addition to blending full-on world music influences. The record was co-produced by Mirabal and Larry Mitchell.

Johnny Whitehorse is a character created by Mirabal... an iconic vision of the lone Indian on horseback roaming the desert Southwest. Robert's brother, Patrick Shendo Mirabal, is also featured on the album.

From the liner notes: "All over the world, man has relied on the mystery and power of animals to guide him. Crafted from an array of Native American flutes, keyboards, tribal drums and world music instruments, "Totemic Flute Chants" interprets these animal spirits that have the power to transform lives."

This is Mirabal’s second GRAMMY in three years. In 2006 he won as part of a ensemble recording, “Sacred Ground,” also on Silver Wave Records.

The GRAMMY’S Native American category was initiated in 2000 and category is “for recordings of a more traditional nature, but allowing contemporary recordings containing substantial traditional elements.”

Mirabal's other 2007 release, "In the Blood" has won multiple awards including "Best International Album" at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards.

Robert was also voted "Best Male Artist" of the Year at the 2007 Native American Music Awards where his "Pueblo Christmas" release was nominated for "Record of the Year."

Mirabal's first novel, "Running Alone in Photographs" will be published this Spring.

###

LOS ANGELES, CA 12/13/07
FLOYD RED CROW WESTERMAN JOURNEYS TO THE SPIRIT WORLD

12/13/07 - Renowned musician, activist, and elder, Floyd Red Crow Westerman passed on to the spirit world at 5:00 a.m. PST this morning at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles after an extended illness and complications from Leukemia as reported today by the Native American Times and News From Indian Country.

Floyd Red Crow Westerman participated and performed in the First Annual Native American Music Awards in 1998, was the recipient of NAMA's Living Legend Award in 2002, and was recently awarded Best Country Recording for his recording, "A Tribute To Johnny Cash" at the Ninth Annual Native American Music Awards in October 2007.

With music as his first love, Westerman left his home on the Lake Traverse reservation in South Dakota with a suitcase and an old guitar as a young man. He traveled across the country playing country music and his own original songs and then based himself in Denver.

In 1969, he signed his first recording contract and released his first album, the highly acclaimed, "Custer Died for Your Sins" which captured the Indian movement's pathos and ethos during its formative years. In 1970 he released his second recording, "Indian Country".

As a member of the American Indian Movement, and spokesman for the International Indian Treaty Council, he traveled around the world to improve social conditions for indigenous peoples. In 1982, he reflected those sentiments in his third recording, "This Land Is Your Mother."

In 1996, he attended the first Native American Music Awards and performed with Joanne Shenandoah in a tribute performance for Hall of Fame Inductee, the late Buddy Red Bow.

In 2002 he was awarded the NAMA Living Legend Award at the Fifth Annual Native American Music Awards with Keith Secola accepting on his behalf.

In 2006, he was won Best Country Recording at the Native American Music Awards for his last full length recording, "A Tribute To Johnny Cash"released by Henhouse Studios.

During his music career and before his entrance into many films and television shows, he played and collaborated with a number of notable musicians, including; Willie Nelson, Kris Kristopherson, Buffy St. Marie,  Joni Mitchell, Willie Nelsonm Jackson Browne, Harry Belafonte, and Sting.

Westerman's film and television appearances include the role of the Shaman for Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's "The Doors" and as Ten Bears in "Dances With Wolves" His television roles have included playing Uncle Ray on Walker, Texas Ranger, One Who Waits, on Northern Exposure and multiple appearances as Albert Hosteen on the X-Files.

Westerman's numerous other awards include; a Congressional Certificate of Special Recognition, the Award for Generosity by the Americans for Indian Opportunity, was named Cultural Ambassador by the International Treaty Council, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the City of Los Angeles and Mayor Richard Riordan, FAITA, and the Integrity Award from the Multi-Cultural Motion Picture Association.

The Native American Music Awards has been honored by Floyd Red Crow Westerman's support and contributions over the years and will always be remembered with great fondness, admiration and respect.

The Native American Music Awards & Association 

JOANNE SHENANDOAH AND BILL MILLER
TO RECEIVE SPECIAL HONORS AS
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS
AT NINTH ANNUAL NATIVE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS

New York, NY - Two of the biggest names in the Native American music industry, Joanne Shenandoah and Bill Miller, will be presented with Lifetime Achievement Awards on Saturday, October 6, 2007, at the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls, New York.

As the Native American Music Awards leading award recipient with nine awards, Joanne Shenandoah is also a GRAMMY Award-winning artist with 14 albums to her credit. A Wolf Clan member of the Iroquois Confederacy (Oneida Nation) who currently resides in Syracuse, New York, Joanne began her recording career in the late 1980’s. She has forged forward to become one of the top-selling and most widely recognized Native recording artists today. Her legacy has been highlighted by collaborations with Bruce Cockburn and Neil Young and performances with; Willie Nelson, Buffy Sainte-Marie (Cree), Kris Kristofferson, Floyd Westerman (Dakota), Robbie Robertson (Mohawk), R. Carlos Nakai (Navajo/Ute). Her repertoire has spanned the realms of country, rock, techno, gospel, children's songs and folk as well as her best-known traditional Iroquois social songs. Since emerging as an artist in 1989, she has performed at such high-profile shows at Carnegie Hall, the White House, Kennedy Center, Earth Day on the Mall, Woodstock '94, the Parliament of the Worlds Religions in South Africa and the famous Sagrada Familia, in Barcelona Spain. Her music has been used in many soundtracks to include HBO, PBS, Northern Exposure, Bose Systems, and The Discovery Channel. She has just been featured in the newly released film "The Last Winter" starring Ron Perlman and has a principal role in the Discovery Channel/Think Film release of “First Nations - Hiawatha's Story” (Ayenwentha).

Bill Miller has long been one of the most admired figures in the Native American music arena and beyond. A GRAMMY award-winning recording artist, and six-time NAMA award winner, Bill hails from northern Wisconsin (his tribe is called Mahicanuk which means People From Where The Waters Are Never Still). His Indian name, Fush-Ya Heay Ka, means "bird song". He learned traditional songs at an early age and later began to play folk music and bluegrass as well as the Native American flute, which he came to master. He has written songs with the likes of Nancy Griffith, Peter Rowan and Kim Carnes, and shared the stage with national recording artists such as; Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, the BoDeans, Richie Havens, Arlo Guthrie and Tori Amos who he was the opening act for her “Under The Pink” U.S. and Canadian 200 date tour. His long recording career includes such landmark albums as; Loon Mountain and Moon, Red Road, Reservation Road, Raven In The Snow, Ghost Dance and The Art Of Survival. Over the past three years, Bill has produced two projects, Spirit Rain and Cedar Dream Songs that blend Native American and western folk/blues traditions in something wholly new. Spirit Rain and Cedar Dream Songs bought Bill great recognition and earned him a Grammy Award for Best Native American Recording. Bill has an equally active career as a painter and his work has been shown and sold in prestigious galleries around the country. He is currently working with John Carter Cash for his next recording.

The Native American Music Awards’ (N.A.M.A.) Lifetime Achievement Award is a highly prestigious award presented to an individual whose life has been dedicated to music and who has made outstanding artistic contributions in the music recording field. Recipients of this award will be honored at the Awards ceremony on October 6th. Recipients were nominated and elected by the N.A.M.A. Advisory Board.

Hosted by actor, Steve Reevis, this year’s Awards program will feature a night of musical excellence with over 30 awards presentations and a more than fifteen live music performances including; special performances by Bill Miller, Joanne Shenandoah, and Jan Michael Looking Wolf with George Noriega whose other collaborations include: Phil Ramone, Timbaland, Scott Storch, Robi “Draco” Rosa, Desmond Child, Ricky Martin, Emilio Estefan, Jennifer López, Shakira, Jon Secada, and many more.

The Native American Music Awards has been acclaimed for having “all the professionalism and production values of much larger events like the Grammy Awards and the American Music Awards” (American Federation of Radio Television Artists). The Awards has received wide critical praise from both national and international media such as; USA Today, Associated Press, CNN, Wall Street Journal, Billboard Magazine, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, La Voce Italiana and France's International Herald Tribune.

Nominees were selected by the Awards’ Advisory membership committee and winners are determined through a national voting campaign open to the general public. The Native American Music Awards’ Advisory Board is the country’s largest membership of music professionals directly involved in recording, manufacturing, distributing and promoting Native American music.

A Special Nominee & Media Reception will be held on Friday, October 5th in the Bear's Den at the Seneca Niagara Hotel & Casino at 6:ooPM.


HILLY KRISTAL, FOUNDER  OF CBGBS PASSES AT 75

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

When the first whispers of the "NAMMYS" began, it ran from the Black graffitti walls of CBGB to the Black Hills of South Dakota. Those who know our true origins, know this. And Hilly was one of them. A man who for over 30 years, was entirely committed and deeply devoted to showcasing new and original talent. 

I'm shaken and  deeply saddened by the passing of this incredible gentleman and friend.  Hilly Kristal was like no other.  He was a visionary, a kind, calm and humble man that loved beauty and originality. He paved his own way,  founded his own club, created a home for thousands of musicians. and gave life to one of the world's biggest and most historic music scenes.  He did so with a deep and unrelenting love and passion for it all, and for many of us, we felt part of something so much more just being around him and his club.  When he died, a part of my own music career died, and I imagine so did a part in everyone  in the business who knew him.  It was a sad irony that I was the first to learn that the space CBGB's occupied was being put on the market for lease - My heart sank when I had to tell Hilly.  I know his broke. Money was never his motive. But it was his landlords. I couldn't bear much more beyond that. And apparently neither could he as illness set in.

In retrospect, I'm so glad I was able to help Hilly celebrate CBGBs 20th Anniversary.   It was truly a special and happy time. I'm grateful for the many outings and talks we had.  I'm also glad we campaigned together to have CBGB's designated as a Historic landmark in NYC.  The only mistake was that we didn't own the premise.  Maybe someone out there can buy the building from those greedy landlords and resurrect it as the historic landmark CBGBs should be.    Regardless, this great man should never be forgotten, and I believe amongst all us fans and former patrons, that he will not.  Goodbye Great One. May you ride forever in your Mini Cooper!  I will miss you so dear Hilly.

Ellen Bello
NAMA Founder & CEO

www.cbgb.com

news.google.com/news


The Native American Music Awards and Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel look forward to announcing this year’s nominees and upcoming show details in the coming weeks. For further information, call (212) 228-8300 or visit;

www.senecaniagaracasino.com
www.infoniagara.com
www.city.niagarafalls.on.ca

EIGHTH ANNUAL AWARDS SHOW BROADCAST TO 12 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS ON DISH NETWORK’S COLOURS TV 

The Eighth Annual Native American Music Awards will be broadcast on Dish channel 9407 by Colours Television Network on Saturday, March 31st. Broadcast times are at 12:30PM EST / 9:30AM PST and again at 1:00AM EST / 10:00PM EST. These broadcasts will feature a two hour edited version of the Eighth Annual Native American Music Awards originally taped at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida with over one dozen live music performances, awards presentations, a Hall of Fame tribute to the late Link Wray and a Lifetime Achievement presentation to Tiger Tiger. Special guests include; Little Steven, John Trudell, and Rita Coolidge among others. Colours Television Network (www.ColoursTV.org) is a production of Black Star Communications (BSC). BSC is an African American-owned non-profit corporation formed for civic, charitable and educational purposes reaching over 12,000,000 households. Directed by Andy Anderson, and co-produced by Seminole Broadcasting, post production editing support was also received by the Miccosukee Tribe of Florida, Indigenous Peoples Music, and Foxwoods Media Arts Department.


NAMMY ARTIST NEWS

On Tuesday April 10th at 7:00PM, Yarina and Jana will be giving a very special benefit performance for the children and families of the Ronald McDonald house in uptown Manhattan. The Ronald McDonald House has reinvited the Native American Music Association to present a music show to the children currently residing there with their parents. Our events have been said to offer much healing to these children and their families battling life threatening illnesses. Yarina and Jana participated in a previous event the Association held at the Ronald McDonald House along with Evren Ozan and members of the SilverCloud Singers. Anne Marie Oliver and the staff of the Ronald McDonald house would like to thank the Native American Music Association again for graciously agreeing to perform at The Ronald McDonald House on April 10. She states, "We are so happy and honored to have you." Showtime is at 7:00 PM and will be ending at about 8:30 PM. The Ronald McDonald House is located at 405 East 73rd Street Between 1st and York Avenue New York, NY 10021 Phone 212.639.0100.

Congratulations to Mary Youngblood for winning a Grammy for "Dance To The WInd". This is the second time Mary Youngblood has won a Grammy Award.

QuaTiSi was up for three Grammy categories: Best Female Country Vocal performance for "Your Not The Only Heart In town", Best Female Pop Performance, "Calling The Rain", and Best Folk/Americana Album "Buffalo".

“Beyond Words," with Gentle Thunder, Will Clipman and AmoChip Dabney, were Grammy Nominees in the New Age Category for the 49th annual Awards

Jennifer Kreisberg was nominated for a Genie Award for "Have Hope," the closing credit song for the film “Unnatural and Accidental” in the category of Achievement in Music - Original Song, from the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television which produces the Genie Awards (Canadian Oscars). “Unnatural and Accidental” was written by Marie Clements, Directed by Carl Bessai and features: Tantoo Cardinal, Margo Kane, Carmen Moore, and Michelle Thrush. The Genie Awards will air on City TV in Canada and Bravo in the United States, on February 13, 2007. To hear “Have Hope” visit: www.myspace.com/jenniferkreisberg

Dawn Karima Pettigrew is the host of a public radio talk show, REZERVATIONS WITH DAWN KARIMA, which airs on Native Voice One (www.nv1.org)--its website and station affiliates. If NAMA members are interested in being interviewed by telephone as guests on the show,, having their music reviewed for the "what I like"segment, or used as one of the musical interludes on the broadcast, they should send a complimentary review copy of their cd/dvd and press kit to: REZERVATIONS WITH DAWN KARIMA c/o Native Voice One 2401 12th Street NW Albuquerque,NM 87104

Arigon Starr has just returned from Cedar Rapids, Iowa where she was one of a select few Native performers featured at the annual National Performance Network Conference. She performed an excerpt from "The Red Road" -- which brought the house down! Also adding their wonderful talents were James Luna, Rulan Tangen and Dancing Earth and Wade Fernandez.

Felipe Rose just returned from Italy with the Village People, and received the news, that the video for one of his NAMMYS award winning songs, "Trail of Tears," that was taped live at the Fifth Annual Nammys is on Youtube.com and Myspace

Chris Webb, grandson of the late Link Wray will be holding a tribute for his Grandfather on Jan. 26 at the Birchmere in Alexandria Va. Show starts at 7:00 pm and Chris will be performing with his Grandfather's band The Raymen at 10:00PM.

Jana will have a feature role in a major motion picture entitled, "Raptor Ranch" She is currently filiming in Texas and plays the main character called, Abbey. The movie is has the same Creators as "Jurasic Park" is intended for a Summer release.

Musician and longtime Native music supporter, Richard Iyote has been managing KINI radio station in St. Francis, South Dakota. Richard (Wanbli Gleska Tokahe) welcomes your support and current recordings. You may contact him at: KINI 96.1 FM - P.O. Box 499 - St. Francis, SD 57572 Tel: 605-747-2292 email: kinifm@gwtc.net His band website is http://www.arrowspace-rock.com

Nite Shield's friend Amanda Dunn has been selected for the final 12 contestants to sing with Justin Timberlake at this years Grammy Awards. Amanda is a very talented singer and is featured on Night Shield's new single "That Road" with Buggin Malone on his upcoming 3rd solo album, "Loved & Hated". You can give the song a listen at: www.MySpace.com /NightShizzle. It's all up to the views and voters so Nite Shield asks that you vote for Amanda Dunn and log on to: http://www.music.yahoo.com/mygrammymoment.

N.A.M.A.'s 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Stephen Tiger (pictured above right) of Tiger Tiger passed away on June 27, 2006 just a couple of weeks after receiving his award. He was 57. Services were very moving and family members, including his brother Lee (pictured left), enlightened the crowd with wonderful memories of their life with Stephen.

Prior to the tragic passing of his son, Jim Boyd Jr., Jim Boyd had launched a new project for promoting native entertainment. Jim can be contacted at (509)879-0241 or jimboyd@thunderwolfrecords.com

Special thanks to Blue Dog and Chrystal Hartigan for helping coordinate the Eighth Annual Nammys Post Show VIP party at Club Paradise. Host band Blue Dog did a masterful job with ongoing contributions from Calton Coffie, Douglas Bluefeather, Micki Free, Pura Fe’, Keith Secola, Matt Kramer, formerly of “Saigon Kick” and John Trudell.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2, 2006

AWARDS SHOW TO BE TELEVISED TO AN ESTIMATED 30 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS

Next Broadcast Scheduled for December 28th, 2006

New York - The critically acclaimed Native American Music Awards will be featured in two nationally televised broadcast specials in November on MHZ Networks Worldwide with repeat broadcasts tentatively taking place throughout the year on additional MHZ affiliates, and an international package on DirecTV.

The first special entitled, “Best of the NAMMYS,” is a one hour program featuring performances from Awards shows held from 1999 to 2003 and will air on November 2nd on MHZ at 8:00PM EST. The second program is a two hour edited version of the Eighth Annual Native American Music Awards which will be broadcast on the MHZ Network on Thursday, November 9th at 8:00PM EST and a repeat broadcast scheduled for December 28th.

Up to four repeat broadcasts are scheduled on the network throughout the year. Additional broadcast dates are also expected to be announced from Black Star Communications’ Colours TV which broadcasts on the Dish Network.

The Eighth Annual Native American Music Awards, originally held at the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida this past Summer, features a wide array of star-studded talent including Little Steven, Calton Coffie (Cops Theme Song) and John Trudell along with other special guest award presenters.

The program features dynamic music performances by nominated and award-winning artists including; Keith Secola (Artist of the Year), Pura Fe’ (Best Female Artist), Wade Fernandez (Best Male Artist), Arvel Bird (Best Instrumental), Eagle & Hawk (Best Pop Rock), Douglas Blue Feather (Flutist of the Year), Red Rhythm Band plus a Lifetime Achievement Award presentation to Tiger Tiger and a Hall of Fame Induction of the late Link Wray with a tribute performance lead by his grandson Chris Webb.

“Best of the Nammys” features over one dozen music performances recorded from the Second Annual show to the Fifth. Featured performers include; Crystal Gayle (Cherokee), Bill Miller (Stockbridge Munsee), Thunderbird Sisters (Shinnecock), Bird Singers (Viejas Band of Kumeyaay), Pamyua (Yup ‘ik), Howard Lyons (Onondaga) Felipe Rose of the Village People (Lakota/Taino) and more.

The airing of both programs help commemorate the month of November as National Native American Heritage Month proclaimed by the President of the United States of America.

MHZ Worldwide is an independent, noncommercial television network delivering international, educational and arts programming to an estimated 18 million households nationwide. Owned by the Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Corporation, the network consists of independent public television stations, cable and satellite television channels across the country. See affiliate list below or visit www.mhznetworks.org .

The Miccosukee Tribe of Florida, Indigenous Peoples Music and Foxwoods Media Arts Department provided postproduction underwriting support for the Eighth Annual Native American Music Awards.

The Eighth Annual Native American Music Awards was taped in front of a live audience by the Native American Music Awards Inc and Seminole Broadcasting. Founded in 1998, the Native American Music Awards proudly continues to honor the outstanding musical achievements of Native American artists from across the country and celebrate their gift of music around the world.

MHZ Networks and Colours TV have already expressed commitments in airing the Ninth Annual Native American Music Awards in 2007.

MHZ Affiliates:

WNVC Washington, DC Broadcast Channel 56 (analog), 30-1 (digital broadcast) 2,241,610 DMA HHS Cable various 1,587,840 Cable

WEIU Charleston, IL Broadcast Channel 50-2 (digital broadcast) 382,460 DMA HHS Cable 50 256,810 Cable HHS

KCSM San Francisco,CA Broadcast Channel 43-2 (digital broadcast) 2,359,870 DMA HHS Cable various 1,785,510 Cable HHS

WYCC Chicago,IL Broadcast Channel 21-2 (digital broadcast) 3,417,330 DMA HHS Cable various 2,382,760 Cable HHS

KBTC Tacoma/Seattle, WA Broadcast Channel tba 1,690,640 DMA HHS

LSR Access Colorado Springs,CO Cable: Channel 15 Adelphia 90,000 Cable HHS

MPS Cable Minneapolis, MN Cable: Channel 76 Time Warner 80,000 Cable HHS

Globecast (DTH) Cable: Channel 156 200,000 HHS

DirecTV Cable: Channel TBD international package 200,000 HHS Cable/DTH Sub-totals: 18,590,350 Cable HHS


*** Actual cable systems and subscriber counts will follow. Public tv affiliates are working out the details of their multiple channel carriage with their respective cable systems. The cable HH# is a “guide only” at this time.



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 8, 2006

EIGHTH ANNUAL WINNERS ANNOUNCED: LINK WRAY, KEITH SECOLA, JOHN DENSMORE, JANA, TIGER TIGER, & MUSICARES’ HAROLD OWENS AMONG THOSE HONORED

On Thursday, June 8th, 2006, at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, the Eighth Annual Native American Music Awards inducted the late Link Wray into the N.A.M.A. Hall of Fame. The induction was presented by Little Steven and a special tribute performance was lead by his grandson, Chris Webb. The NAMMYS also awarded original Doors drummer, John Densmore with a Native Heart award for his contribution on Keith Secola’s “Native Americana”, Miami-based 70’s rockers, Tiger Tiger with a Lifetime Achievement, and GRAMMYS® MusiCares’ Harold Owens with a Humanitarian Award. Leading Award winners included Keith Secola for Artist of the Year and Best Folk Recording, Jana’s “Flash of a Firefly” for Record of the Year, Jim Boyd for Songwriter of the Year, Bill Miller for Song/Single of the Year, and Rita Coolidge’s “And So Is Love” for Best Blues/Jazz Recording. See below for a complete list of winners.

The Awards ceremony, which was founded by music industry veteran Ellen Bello in 1998, was held at the new state-of-the-art facility, the Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. A post show VIP party was held at Paradise At Paradise, formerly the Legends Theatre, where winners and nominees jammed throughout the remainder of the evening.

Hosted by Navajo comedy duo, James & Ernie, this year’s program featured a magical evening of pride and musical excellence with over 28 awards presentations and a dozen live music performances including a special All Star Native Rock performance by Micki Free (Shalimar) Jean Beauvouir (Plasmatics/Little Steven), Stevie Salas (Mick Jagger/Rod Stewart), John Brant (Cheap Trick) and Dave Abrusezze (formerly of Pearl Jam). All have Native American heritage except Brant and Beauvoir who produces & records with Micki Free.

The awards show was broadcast live on the internet via Indigenous Peoples Music. Overwhelming responses were received in Australia, Nigeria and Venezuela. An edited version of the Awards show is expected to be broadcast nationally by Seminole Broadcasting. 

The Native American Music Awards has been acclaimed for having “all the professionalism and production values of much larger events like the Grammy Awards and the American Music Awards” (American Federation of Radio Television Artists). The Awards has received wide critical praise from both national and international media such as; USA Today, Associated Press, CNN, Wall Street Journal, Billboard Magazine, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, La Voce Italiana and France's International Herald Tribune. Nominees were selected by the Awards Advisory membership committee and winners were determined through a national voting campaign open to the general public. 

Artist of the Year -Keith Secola
“Native Americana”

Best Blues/Jazz Recording - “And So Is Love”
Rita Coolidge

Best Compilation Recording “The Collection”
Brule’

Debut Artist of the Year - Silverbird
“World Peace”

Best Female Artist - Pura Fe’
“Follow Your Heart’s Desire”

Best Folk/Country Recording \- “Native Americana”
Keith Secola

Flutist of the Year - Joseph Fire Crow
“Red Beads”

Gospel /Christian/Inspirational Recording  - “I’ll Run To You”
Marlena

Group of the Year - AIRO
“Tatanka”

Best Historical Recording  - “The Soundtrack of a People”
Various Artists

Best Instrumental Recording  - “Arvel Bird Live”
Arvel Bird

Best Male Artist - Wade Fernandez
“Song of the Black Wolf”

Best New Age Recording - “Time For Truth”
Douglas Blue Feather 

Best Pop/Rock Recording  - “Mother Earth”
Eagle & Hawk

Best Pow Wow Recording  - “Straight Up Northern”
Black Eagle

Best Producer - Stephan Galfas & Alex Salzman
“American Indian Christmas”

Best R&B/Rap/Hip Hop Recording  - “Spirit World”
Buggin Malone

Record of the Year - “Flash Of A Firefly”
Jana

Song/Single of the Year  - ‘Sacred Ground’
Bill Miller

Songwriter of the Year - Jim Boyd
“Them Old Guitars”

Best Spoken Word Recording - “The Keepers of the Earth”
Red Feather Woman

Best Traditional Recording - “Way of Life”
Lakota Thunder

Best Short or Long Form Video - “In This World”
Medicine Dream

Best World Music Recording - “People Of Peace”
R. Carlos Nakai Quartet

Native Heart - John Densmore
“Native Americana”

Humanitarian Award - Harold Owens
MusiCares

Lifetime Achievement - Tiger Tiger

Hall Of Fame - Link Wray