Led by Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, musician and mixed blood (Cherokee & Comanche) Native American Micki Free, NATIVE MUSIC ROCKS! will feature the first-ever collection of Native American artists performing rock, country, roots rock, native folk, gospel, blues and reggae on a major cross-country trek.
NATIVE MUSIC ROCKS! will features headliner Micki Free’s American Horse Trio (featuring former Lenny Kravitz drummer Cindy Blackman), along with Casper and Keith Secola.
“There has never been anything like the Native Music Rocks! Tour,” Free says. “This is a history-making event: Native American musicians touring the Hard Rock Cafes, which are now owned by Native Americans (The Seminole Tribe of Florida). I am honored to be involved as one of the musicians chosen to lead the way.”
Free works directly with The Seminole Tribe of Florida to promote Native American Music and musicians. The NATIVE MUSIC ROCKS! Program, sponsored by Hard Rock International and The Seminole Tribe of Florida--is being developed as a forum to showcase the diversity of musical talents within the Native American community.
MICKI FREE: Most Native Americans don’t sport turquoise & silver skull shaped rings on their fingers. But most Native Americans have never played London’s Hyde Park in front of 100,00 fans. They weren’t discovered by Gene Simmons of KISS, and were managed by Diana Ross. Most Native Americans have never had their guitar “put up on the wall” of a Hard Rock Cafe.Most Native Americans never got a chance to jam with Prince, recorded with ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons, or have former Lenny Kravitz superstar drummer Cindy Blackman as a band member. Nor have they ever won a Grammy, or as a member of the R&B super group Shalamar, gone multi-platinum and sold millions of records… or have been immortalized in a Dave Chappelle skit on national TV. That’s because most Native Americans… aren’t Micki Free.
CASPER LOMAYESVA: This Hopi/Diné singer has created a sound that combines his native roots with the positive vibes of reggae music. Casper’s music is filled with hope and power. The words are a reflection of his own philosophy on life, influenced not only by the sounds of crucial reggae music but of traditional Hopi culture.
KEITH SECOLA: Native folk & blues rocker Keith Secola is an accomplished artist: award-winning musician, master guitarist and native flute player; singer, songwriter, composer and producer. His music is familiar to thousands of fans across North America and Europe, where he's been playing his brand of progressive music in concerts to a cult following for many years. Keith's famous song, "NDN Kars", is considered the contemporary Native American anthem and is the most requested song on Native radio in the US and Canada. Keith Secola is Anishinabe (Ojibwa) originally from the Mesabi Iron Range country of northern Minnesota, now residing in Arizona. He's a member of the Anishinabe Nation of northern Minnesota and southern Ontario, Canada. Keith Secola is a seven-time Native American Music Awards winner receiving numerous Nammy nominations in various categories. Winner: Artist of the Year, Best Linguistic Recording, Best Folk/Country Recording, Best Producer, Best Instrumental Recording, Best Blues/Jazz Recording, Best Independent Recording; with nominations for Songwriter of the Year, Record of the Year, Song/Single of the Year, Best Historical Recording.