Friday, January 12: Music Maker: Paula Nelson
Paula Nelson of the Eastern Band of Cherokee has released two CD’s within the last year. The lyrics for the album “Project Songbird” are recorded entirely in Cherokee and includes the Cherokee national anthem. The other CD is called “C.H.A.N.T. – Cherokee Hope and New Traditions” and includes new songs sung in the Cherokee language, with only a few words spoken in English. Both CD’s include the signature song “Everybody Indian Dance” which is destined to become a favorite in Indian Country. Join us for our Music Maker edition featuring Paula Nelson.

Monday, February 12 – Music Maker:
And the winner is… The Grammy’s will announce this year’s Best Native American Album on Sunday, Feb. 11 and we will get the word out to and present the winner to Indian Country the very next day. The nominees include Black Eagle for Voice of the Drum; Robert Tree Cody & Will Clipman for Heart of the Wind; Jana for American Indian Story; Northern Cree & Friends for Long Winter Nights; and Mary Youngblood for Dance With the Wind. Our guest is Mary Youngblood, winner of the 2007 Grammy for Best Native American Album.

Monday, March 12 – Music Maker – Northern Cree:
Northern Cree is one of the hottest groups on the pow wow circuit today. Their latest CD Northern Cree and Friends: Long Winter Nights Volume 5 recently received a Grammy nomination. On this recording the group shares a host of round dance songs featuring some of Native America’s finest round dance singers. This live recording captures all the sounds, humor and lively singing of one the largest round dances in North America at Louis Bull Reserve in Alberta, Canada. Guests include singer/drummer Steve Wood of the Cree Nation.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007 – Music Maker: Native Roots:
The irresistible reggae beat and the empowerment of song is encompassed in this Native reggae band’s third CD entitled “Celebrate.” Band members and promoters say the new album represents a new stage in the evolution of the band, one that brings together a unique composition combined with soulful lyrics. The CD acknowledges the Native ancestors through innovative songwriting and accomplished musical arrangement. Guests include Native Roots founding members John L. Williams of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota Nation and Shkeme Garcia of Tamaya and Jemez Pueblos.

Wednesday, May 9, 2007 – Music Maker: Blackfire:
The immensely popular band Blackfire has a new CD out called Silence Is A Weapon. They are a traditionally influenced, high-energy, politically-driven group comprised of two brothers and a sister. Their style connects traditional Native American, punk-rock and “Alter-Native” music with strong sociopolitical messages about government oppression, relocation of indigenous people, ecocide, genocide, domestic violence and human rights. Guests are band members Clayson, Jeneda and Klee Benally of the Navajo Nation.

Monday, June 18, 2007 – Music Maker: Indigenous:
Fans are unanimous in singing the praises of Mato Nanji and his band Indigenous. One reviewer says this Nakota from South Dakota performs “ in the spirit of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lenny Kravitz, Jimi Hendrix and Robin Trower, but with the heart and mind of the Native American cause.” Indigenous has been around for a decade and has survived a rollercoaster ride of fame and family members breaking away from the band.  What do you think of Mato’s new initiative to focus not only on his guitar licks, but also to enhance his vocals?

Thursday, July 12, 2007 – Music Maker: Fara:
Two-time Canadian Juno and Canadian Aboriginal Music Award nominated artist Fara Palmer of the Salteaux First Nation has resurfaced with a new album entitled " Phoenix ." The sound is a fusion of pop/rock/folk/dance/and R&B. This 14-track album is full of humor, hope, raw emotion, and Fara's specialty – heart. Delving fearlessly into social and personal issues that are a part of today's reality, Fara uses her voice and her lyrics as a catalyst for positive change. In this, her third release, Fara's love of music and for the people shines through in each and every one of her songs.

Friday, August 10, 2007 – Music Maker: Gary Small & the Coyote Brothers:
Gary Small of the Northern Cheyenne tribe returns with a new band and a new CD.  After performing many years with the “Gary Small Band” out of Portland, Oregon , he moved home to Wyoming to take care of his ailing father. He remained in Wyoming after his father’s passing and then established his new band “Gary Small and the Coyote Brothers.” Small says his former band had a roots, rock and reggae sound while his new band is vintage 50s and 60s resembling “Chuck Berry meeting the surf.” Join us as we present Gary Small and his latest CD “Crazy Woman Mountain.”

Monday, September 24, 2007 – Music Maker: Big Every Time:
If you are one of the many on the mainland getting ready to pack your Bermuda shorts and flip flops away for the winter, hold that thought! Instead let’s take one more trip to the islands of Hawaii through the sounds of Big Every Time. The two man group with much malo formed nearly 14 years ago, bringing Jamaican-style-roots reggae and the soulful traditions of urban R&B ballads together with a hip-hop flare. Tim “Papa T” Troxell and Joe “J.D.” Daniels add their 5th release, “Big Everytime” to Polynesian P-funk’s finest.

Friday, October 19, 2007 – Music Maker: Pipestone:
Have you ever heard a love song that you swear was written about your crazy Native love life? Then maybe you were listening to Pipestone’s “Good Ol’ Fashioned NDN Lovin” when you held your hands over your heart and said, “Oh, the pain!” Pipestone sings about the woes and wows of Native love through their round dance sounds. From makeup to breakup the hand drum of Pipestone portrays NDN love just like it is. Johnny Marrow, a member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Ojibwe and a singer with Pipestone, joins us for our special Music Maker edition.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007 – Music Maker: Savage Family:
Some observers feel the resistance movement among Native Americans here in the U.S. has basically died. But a new generation of artists is taking up the fight for justice, for truth and for the right to exist as Native people in this country. A hip-hop band called Savage Family has a new album called “Stealing the Sun Back” featuring songs that speak of revolution and freedom. Is the younger generation of Natives ready and willing to carry on the resistance? Guests include Anthony (Paxindigena) Fernandez of the Lower Elwha S'Klallam tribe.