HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Several innovative artists were recognized at the 8th Annual Native American Music Awards ceremony June 8 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino’s state-of-the-art Hard Rock Live in Hollywood.

Hosted by Navajo comedy duo James and Ernie, this year’s program featured an evening of pride and musicianship of the highest quality. More than 28 awards were augmented by a dozen live music performances. Primary among them was a special all-star rock performance by Micki Free (Shalimar), Jean Beauvoir (former bassist for the Plasmatics and Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul), Steve Salas (former guitarist with Mick Jagger and Rod Stewart), John Brant (Cheap Trick bassist) and Dave Abrusezze (formerly of Pearl Jam). All of the aforementioned artists have American Indian heritage except Brant and Beauvoir.

Award winners included Keith Secola and his recording “Native Americana” for Artist of the Year and Best Folk Recording, Jana’s “Flash of a Firefly” for Record of the

Year and Rita Coolidge’s “And So Is Love” for Best Blues/ Jazz Recording.

A highlight of the night was the induction of late guitarist Link Wray into the Native American Music Association’s Hall of Fame. Presented by Little Steven Van Zandt (Bruce Springsteen’s guitarist and a featured player on HBO’s “The Sopranos”), Wray’s induction was boosted by a special tribute performance led by his grandson, Chris Web. The NAMMYs also awarded original Doors drummer John Densmore with a Native Heart Award, Miami-based 1970s rockers Tiger Tiger with a Lifetime Achievement Award, and GRAMMYS MusiCares’ Harold Owens with a Humanitarian Award.

Producers Stephan Galfas and Alex Salzman landed the Best Producer award for Jana’s “American Indian Christmas” album. That noteworthy album was recorded under the Standing Stone Records label, a division of Oneida Indian Nation’s Four Directions Media Inc. (Four Directions Media is the publisher of Indian Country Today.) Jana, a Lumbee singer, was also nominated by this year’s NAMMY committee for Artist of the Year. Previously christened Female Artist of the Year by the NAMMYs, Jana was named the association’s Best Pop Performer in 2001 for her dance single “More Than Life.” The following year, her remake of Led Zeppelin’s classic “Stairway to Heaven” landed at No. 6 on the Billboard charts and earned her Song of the Year honors at the 2002 NAMMYs.

Of particular interest, the awards show was broadcast live on the Internet through Indigenous Peoples Music, and an edited version of the show is expected to be nationally distributed by Seminole Broadcasting. All NAMMY nominees were selected by the awards advisory membership committee, and winners were determined through a national voting campaign open to the general public.

This year’s NAMMY winners:

* Artist of the Year – Keith Secola, “Native Americana”

* Best Blues/Jazz Recording – Rita Coolidge, “And So Is Love”

* Best Compilation Recording – Brule’, “The Collection”

* Debut Artist of the Year – Silverbird, “World Peace”

* Best Female Artist – Pura Fe’, “Follow Your Heart’s Desire”

* Best Folk/Country Recording – Keith Secola, “Native Americana”

* Flutist of the Year – Joseph Fire Crow, “Red Beads”

* Gospel /Christian/Inspir-ational Recording – Marlena, “I’ll Run to You”

* Group of the Year –

AIRO, “Tatanka”

* Best Historical Recording – Various Artists, “The Soundtrack of a People”

* Best Instrumental Recording – Arvel Bird, “Arvel Bird Live”

* Best Male Artist – Wade Fernandez, “Song of the Black Wolf”

* Best New Age Recording – Douglas Blue Feather, “Time for Truth”

* Best Pop/Rock Recording – Eagle & Hawk, “Mother Earth”

* Best Pow Wow Recording – Black Eagle, “Straight

Up Northern”

* Best Producer – Stephan Galfas and Alex Salzman, “American Indian Christmas”

* Best R&B/Rap/Hip Hop Recording – Buggin Malone, “Spirit World”

* Record of the Year – Jana, “Flash of a Firefly”

* Song/Single of the Year – Bill Miller, “Sacred Ground”

* Songwriter of the Year – Jim Boyd, “Them Old Guitars”

* Best Spoken Word Recording – Red Feather Woman, “The Keepers of the Earth”

* Best Traditional Recording – Lakota Thunder, “Way of Life”

* Best Short or Long Form Video – Medicine Dream, “In This World”

* Best World Music Recording – R. Carlos Nakai Quartet, “People of Peace”

* Native Heart – John Densmore, “Native Americana”

* Humanitarian Award – Harold Owens, MusiCares

* Lifetime Achievement – Tiger Tiger

* Hall Of Fame – Link Wray