BOULDER, Colo. ? Mary Youngblood bends tradition once again with this year’s release “Beneath the Raven Moon” (Silver Wave Records).
“Beneath the Raven Moon” contains 12 original tracks written by Youngblood and Tom Wasinger. Youngblood provides vocals and plays a variety of Native flutes. Wasinger ? who co-produced with Youngblood ? plays many instruments on the album, including guitar, bass, zither, cello, percussion, cittern, mouth bow, mandolin and banjo. Several other musicians also contribute to the album with everything from viola to water vessels.
Youngblood, Aleut/Seminole, “turned pro” 38 days after receiving her first Native American flute. Despite her seemingly fast rise to success, her career has been in the making for over 20 years.
She began piano lessons at age six, violin by age eight and graduated to classical flute at age ten. Her first musical performances were fairly typical ? the high school marching band to the obligatory college rock band to recording backup vocals on friends’ albums.
What is not typical about Youngblood is that she is credited as being the first female to record professionally with the Native American flute, which is traditionally considered a purely male genre. “I also wear pants and I vote,” she jokes. She will also tell you that Creator has given her a gift, and out of honor, gratitude, respect, responsibility and joy, she uses that gift. “That’s traditional,” she said.
Youngblood received nominations for artist of the year, flutist of the year and won in the Best New Age recording category at the Fifth Annual Native American Music Awards held Sept. 7.
Youngblood’s name is a familiar one at the Nammy awards. Her 1999 debut album “The Offering,” garnered her the Flutist of the Year award, while her 2000 release, “Heart of the World,” earned her both Flutist of the Year and Best Female Artist. “Heart of the World,” with vocals by Joanne Shenandoah, also won best Native American recording with the Association for Independent Music and the New Age Vocals Radio Awards. Both albums are available through Silver Wave Records.
Youngblood’s other works include multiple compilation albums with other well-known artists, many television appearances, and tracks for the independent Indian-produced and financed film “Naturally Native” and the IMAX feature films “Wolves” and “Bears.”
To learn more about the artist visit www.maryyoungblood.com. For purchase information write to Silver Wave Records, Inc., P.O. Box 7943, Boulder, Colo. 80306 or go to www.silverwave.com on the Internet.
