Joanne Shenandoah

All Music Guide:

Native American vocalist Joanne Shenandoah is a member of the Wolf Clan of the Oneida Nation, Iroquois Confederacy. Her parents, Maisie Shenandoah, a Clanmother, and the late Clifford Shenandoah, an Onondaga chief and jazz guitarist, loved music and named Joanne "Tek-ya-wha-wha," which means "she sings" in the Oneida language. As a child, Joanne learned all the tribal songs and studied voice, flute, piano, clarinet, guitar, and cello. She draws upon her rich heritage, yet can bring these songs into a contemporary setting.

In 1994, Shenandoah sang at the Woodstock Festival and has appeared on and created sound tracks for numerous television shows, most notably Northern Exposure and How the West Was Lost. She has performed and recorded with many accomplished musicians in Europe and America, including pianist/composer Peter Kater, Neil Young, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Jackson Browne, and Rita Coolidge. From traditional chants to contemporary ballads of Native ways, her music has been described as an emotional experience, a "Native American trance."

Shenandoah is the cofounder and president of Round Dance Productions, a non-profit educational Native-operated foundation dedicated toward the preservation of Iroquois culture. Round Dance has begun to initiate activities which will result in the creation of a Native American traditional music archive, performing arts center, and recording studio. In 1993, Shenandoah was honored with the "Native American of the Year" award, and the next year she was awarded "Native Musician of the Year," from the First Americans in the Arts Foundation. Shenandoah has recorded on the Canyon Records and Silver Wave Records labels since then, delivering a sometimes spotty but always authentic array of Native American music. Highlights of her catalog include 1997's warm and earnest Matriarch: Iroquois Women's Songs and 2001's politically motivated Eagle Cries.

Wikipedia:

Joanne Shenandoah is an Iroquois singer, composer and acoustic guitarist. She is a member of the Wolf Clan of the Oneida Nation, of the Haudenosaunee Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy. Her music is a combination of traditional songs and melodies with a blend of traditional and contemporary instrumentation. She has recorded more than 15 albums and won a multitude of awards, and given an Honorary Doctorate of Music by Syracuse University. She was awarded a Grammy Award for her part in the album "Sacred Ground".

Roots

Shenandoah is the daughter of the late Maisie Shenandoah, Wolf Clanmother of the Oneida Nation, and the late Clifford Shenandoah, an Onondaga Nation chief. She is the direct descendent of John Skenando (Skenandoa, Shenandoah) after whom the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia is named. A compatriot of George Washington, Shenandoah played a key role in rallying some Iroquois to support the rebels during the American Revolution. John Shenandoah was the co-founder of the Hamilton-Oneida Academy which later became Hamilton College.

Works

Joanne Shenandoah, Ph.D, is one of America’s most celebrated and critically acclaimed musicians. She is a Grammy Award winner, with over 40 music awards (including a record13 Native American Music awards). She has captured the hearts of audiences all over the world, from North and South America, South Africa, Europe, Australia and Korea, with praise for her work to promote universal peace. She is a board member of the Hiawatha Institute for Traditional Knowledge www.hiawatha.syr.edu. Shenandoah has performed at prestigious events such as The White House, Carnegie Hall, 3 Presidential Inaugurations, Madison Square Garden, Crystal Bridges Museum, The NMAI-Smithsonian, The Ordway Theater, Hummingbird Centre, Toronto Skydome, The Parliament of the Worlds Religions,(Africa, Spain and Australia) and Woodstock ‘94.

"Joanne Shenandoah is one of the finest tributes to Native American Music and Culture" Neil Young

Recognition

Shenandoah is a Grammy Award Winner with 15 CD's. She has received more Native American Music Awards (13 to date) than any other Native Artist. She has also received numerous Indie Awards and Syracuse Area Music Awards (SAMMYS) and was presented with the Rigoberto Menchu - Highest award by the Native Film Festival in Montreal, Canada for her soundtrack in the documentary "Our Land Our Life".

Personal

She is married to Doug George-Kanentiio, a Co-Founder of the Native American Journalists Association