Indigenous Music Composers Robbie Robertson and Scott George Nominated for their work in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon
(Apple Original Films/Paramount Pictures)
 Indigenous Music Composers Robbie Robertson and Scott George Nominated for their work in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon (Apple Original Films/Paramount Pictures)  Robbie Robertson (Mohawk), the late singer-songwriter best known for his work with the Band and Bob Dylan, was posthumously nominated for an Oscar in the Original Score category for his contributions to Martin Scorsese’s “Killer of the Flower Moon”. The posthumous honor was Robertson’s first after decades of composing music for film and this was his last work before his passing. Scott George (Osage) has a made history becoming the first Native American to land an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song with the Osage Tribal Singers for “Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People),” a celebratory song that soundtracks the film’s final scene. Lily Gladstone (Blackfeet/Nimiipuu) who plays Mollie Burkhart, an Osage woman married to a key accomplice in the systematic assassination of the Osage people in the 1920s, is also the first Native American nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. The 2024 Academy Awards will be presented on March 10th. RICKEY MEDLOCKE RELEASES SONG DEDICATED TO MMIW Rickey Medlocke of Lynyrd Skynrd and Blackfoot, has released a powerful new single entitled, “Never Run Out Of Road,” which is dedicated to supporting the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement. Released on Rock the Cause Records, and distributed by Sony/The Orchard, a portion of proceeds go directly to the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC). Rickey and Rock the Cause aim to sustain change through music while inspiring future generations. The Rickey Medlocke Band is also set to grace the stage for two upcoming and extraordinary shows: Friday, March 1, 2024, Medina Entertainment Center Medina, MN and Saturday, March 2, 2024, Arcada Theatre St. Charles, IL. Join Rickey and his band on an amazing journey of iconic tunes that take his illustrious career full circle and then some! Download and stream the new single, “Never Run Out of Road” now available on all music platforms. Plus, you can help make a difference by spreading awareness on #MMIW. For more info visit https://www.rickeymedlocke.com KLEE BENALLY PASSES AT AGE 48 It was with great sadness that the Native American Music Awards shared the news of the passing of Klee Jones Benally. Klee Jones Benally was a multiple award winner and multi-talented artist. His family group, Blackfire, which was founded in 1989 in Flagstaff, Arizona along with siblings Jeneda, and Clayson Benally were mulitple award winners including wins for Best Pop Rock Album in 2002, Group of the Year in 2004, and Record of the Year in 2008. Klee’s deep rugged voice and strong lyrics were a featured part of the group as well as on his more recent solo efforts. Blackfire began as a Native American punk rock group performing around the country including NYC’s East Village and then around the world. Joey Ramone called their music “Native American fireball punk.” The musical style of these three siblings was influenced by traditional Navajo Diné music and alternative rock, with political messages about government oppression, sacred sites and human rights. In 2012, Jeneda and Clayson formed the award winning band Sihasin who won three awards including; Debut Group of the Year, Best Rock Recording and Best Producer with Ed Stasium (Ramones, Talking Heads, Motörhead, the Smithereens and Living Colour.) Klee Benally leaves behind a legacy and will be remembered as an award winning musician, cultural advocate, author and land defender. He passed away at the young age of 48. We extend our deepest condolences to the Benally family. JIMMY PAGE INDUCTS HIS HERO LINK WRAY INTO THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME  One of the world’s greatest guitarists, Jimmy Page, gave a surprise presentation and tribute performance at the 38th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremony for his “hero” the legendary guitarist Link Wray (Shawnee). Held at Barclays Center in New York Page’s onscreen prerecorded presentaton was followed by a surprise live tribute performance and rendition of Wray’s classic instrumental, “Rumble.” This was reportedly Page’s first public performance in a decade. The now 80 year old lead guitarist of Led Zeppelin recalled hearing Wray’s classic instrumental “Rumble” for the first time when he was 14 year’s old. Page recalled, “The vigor in it. The strength in it. The power in it. This was something else. It was fearless. It was just phenomenal. It was the essence of cool. Its just a masterpiece that sort of melted its way into the fibers of my body and my consciousness.”www.NAMALIVE.com |