Henery Powell's Powerpoint presentaion for Music Cultures of the World Brandman University

1. Pluck
Beat
Strum
Speak
A Native American
Musical Message
HENERY POWELL

2. Why Native
American
Music?
 Rich culture and history
 The sounds of their traditional and popular
music are a joy to listen to
 Highly respect them
 A persevering people
 Can help mankind grow, learn from
mistakes
 Delivers powerful messages within their
songs

3. What is the message?
A look into Native
American Popular Music,
XIT and the “Plight of the
Redman”

4. Let’s Meet the Band!
Tom Bee: Lead vocalist
Jim Boyd: Lead Guitar
Willie Blue-House Johnson: Lead Guitar
Louis Running-Wolf: Bass Guitar
Obie Sullivan: Piano/Organ
P.J West: Drums

5. Tom Bee
Obie Sullivan Willie Blue-House JohnsonP.J
West
Jim
Boyd
Louis Running-Wolf

6. Tom Bee and XIT (Crossing
of Indian Tribes)
• Rock group
• Started by Tom Bee in 1970
• Sings about Native American
issues, social/political
• Guitars, Keyboards, Drums,
Flutes, Rattles
• Associated with the “Red
Power” movement

7. Native
American
Popular Music
• Social and political issues
• Ignites pride in many Native
American tribes
• Music as a platform to have a
voice
• The listeners can relate to the
lyrics
• Love for man and nature, a call to
respect one another and to be free
• Western musical elements/styles,
incorporated with uniquely
Native American elements

9. Color Nature Gone
 Performers - Tom Bee and XIT
 Album – Silent Warrior (1973)
 Location - North America
 Duration - 3:11
 Sub-Genre – Blended Rock
 Label – Brettian Productions
 Release date – January 1, 1973
 Soloist – Tom Bee

10. WHAT DID I
JUST HEAR?
COLOR
NATURE
GONE
MUSICAL
ELEMENTS
4/4 – Time signature
Minor Mode (E Minor/G major)
Piano, Guitar, Rattles, Drums, Flutes, Strings
Somber atmosphere created with minor 7th chords, a medium
paced tempo,
Lyrics that call out mankind’s actions/behaviors

11. • ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY USES 4/4-TIME SIGNATURES IN THEIR
SONGS
• VARIED USES OF DYNAMICS, LOUDS AND SOFTS, DEPENDING
ON SONG
• FREQUENT USE OF RATTLES AND STEADY DRUM-HEAD BEAT
(CHARACTERISTIC OF NATIVE AMERICAN TRADITIONAL
MUSIC)
• TYPICALLY PLAYS WITH UPBEAT TEMPO, ENERGETIC ROCK
STYLES
• LYRICS DEALS WITH SOCIAL/POLITICAL ISSUES OF NATIVE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND PLANET EARTH
• PLAYS IN THE NATURAL KEYS, LIKE C, D, E, F, G, A, AND B
(GUITAR FRIENDLY)

12. •
•
•

13. A Timeline of Native
American History for
Cultural Context
HTTPS://WWW.HISTORY.COM/TOPICS/NATIVE-AMERICAN-
HISTORY/NATIVE-AMERICAN-TIMELINE

14. 1492: ENTER CHRISTOPHER
COLUMBUS
• 1492, with the arrival of Christopher
Columbus, Native American sorrow, disease,
war and oppression was about to begin

15. • Keyboardist/Organist, Obie Sullivan,
like many Native Americans, believes
we all come from the Great Spirit
• Earth is our Mother
• Live in harmony and peace with nature
and one another

16. Thank you!
Henery Powell