New book examines history of American Indian musicDate: 4/28/2016 CHICOPEE – The depth of variety and influence of music made by American Indians is the subject of a new book by author and percussionist Craig Harris.
“Heartbeat, Warble and the Electric Powwow: American Indian Music” will be released next month by the University of Oklahoma Press and Harris will be undertaking a series of appearances in venues throughout the region.
Harris, who is an active musician and part of the Gaea Star Band, as well as an educator with his “Drum Away the Blues” percussion workshops, told Reminder Publications the book was 10 years in the making and reflects a part of American music that hasn’t received the attention it deserves.
“It’s groundbreaking. There is nothing close to it,” he said.
The book has received favorable reviews. Philip J. Deloria, author of “Playing Indian,” wrote, “An evocative snapshot of the musical landscape of Native North America.” Rev. Goat Carson, American Indian elder and Grammy Award winner, said, “This book doesn’t miss a beat. It’s the most authentic study of the ongoing spirit of our music in recent memory.”
The book looks at everything from the music at powwows and sacred ceremonies to the tradition of the Native American flute to singers and songwriters such as Buffy Sainte-Marie, Keith Secola and Joanne Shenandoah to Rita Coolidge and Redbone.
Harris examines how Native music has influenced jazz and blues, as well as hip-hop.
“There’s so much out there,” he added. “It’s a full range and it’s so readily available. It’s under our nose.”
To prove his point, Harris assembled a 16-hour long Spotify list that can be accessed at https://play.spotify.com/user/1250721165/playlist/3iRUQ4kK79CRWTaW84zgdi.
He said the book was a journey for him. “I had to grow into it, had to become immersed in it and understand it,” he said of the subject matter.
Having the assignment to review a series of powwow drum albums for a publication set Harris’ interest in the music in motion.
“I listened to them for a month – there had to be something to divide the recordings, gave them their distinctive qualities,” he said.
The more he listened the more he learned.
He said there is much more to Native music than drums and flutes. “It is making influences on every genre [of music],” he said.
He noted that both Jimmy Hendrix and Elvis Presley had Native ancestry.
He said in American music the syncopation came from Africa, the harmony was from Europe, and what united the two was the influence of Native music.
Harris will be hosting a multi-media presentation that will serve as an introduction to Native music and his book in libraries in the area. The schedule includes libraries in the following communities: Enfield, CT, 7 p.m. May 11; Gaylord Memorial Library, South Hadley, 2 p.m. May 21; Longmeadow, 6:30 p.m. June 6; Amherst, 6:30 p.m. June 7; Ware, 6:30 p.m, June 15; and Greenfield, 6:30 p.m. June 13.
Next on the horizon for Harris is a second book about The Band – he wrote his first volume on the group in 2014 and an album from the Gaea Star Band. For more information, go to www.drumawaytheblues.com.
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