While listening to "America's Unsung Heroes," this writer couldn't help but wonder if F. Scott Fitzgerald was thinking about the plight of Native Americans when he said: "Show me a hero and I will write you a tragedy."
Author and Cherokee Indian L.D. Steelman and guitarist/songwriter Rick Sharp have written a stirring tribute to their ancestors. "These songs are a historically accurate audio portrait of our ancestors words, wisdom and character," writes Steelman in the CD's liner notes. "We have envisioned this work bringing about a new, or rather, ancient awareness of what is truly sacred. Life itself, all life, being that which we hold as sacred."
Recitals open much of the material found on "America's Unsung Heroes." In these openings, voices depict such legendary Indians as, Geronimo; War Chief of the Apaches; Chief Bowles of the Texas Cherokees; Tecumseh, the last Shawnee warrior; Tatanka Yotanka (Sitting Bull), the great Sioux Chief and Satanta (White Bear), Chief of the Kiowas.
Joining this extremely interesting production is bassist Stan Dulaney, flutist/drummer Manwolf, harpist Bentley Brown, keyboardist Clayton Jones and background vocalists Lanna and Lance Dulaney, Heather Webb, Sherri Lee and Debbie Shirley.
Nothing sums up the atmosphere and vibe of this Native American audio-visual portrait better than the ending chorus from "America, America": "America, America, let's live in crowning good, America, America, let's build a brotherhood, America, America, time has come to represent, All the things [that] you said you would…"
P.O. Box 897, Centerville, Texas, 75833
(888) 353-0239
warrior@longview.net
This review is copyright © 2000 by Matt Alcott, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved.