WMU News

Cheyenne fluteman Joseph Fire Crow performs Nov. 29

Nov. 27, 2000

KALAMAZOO -- International recording artist Joseph Fire Crow, a Northern Cheyenne flute player, will perform on the Western Michigan University campus at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29, in Room 2303 of Sangren Hall.

The concert is free and open to the public and is being sponsored by WMU's Division of Multicultural Affairs. It will conclude the University's November activities in celebration of National American Indian Heritage Month.

The month recognizes the culture and contributions of American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians.

Fire Crow, a singer/musician who only plays flutes crafted by his own hands, is characterized by one Echodisc Catalog reviewer as "quite simply one of the most gifted players of the Native American flute."

He has several albums to his credit, including two self-recordings-"The Mist" in 1992 and "Rising Bird" in 1994. "Fire Crow," released in 1996, was one of the first recordings to be launched nationally on the Makoché label. His latest release, "Cheyenne Nation," is described as a soulful mixture of traditional flute and contemporary instrumentation that promotes the unity of the Cheyenne people.

Some of Fire Crow's songs are featured on the soundtrack of the Ken Burns documentary "Lewis and Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery" as well as on Earthbeat's best-selling album "Tribal Winds: Music from Native American Flutes."

His work also is included on Tribal Voices and Tribal Waters, two Earthbeat compilations, and several European releases, among them "Shaman," "Circles of Life" and "Medicine Power" on the German label Sattva.

Media contact: Jeanne Baron, 616 387-8400, jeanne.baron@wmich.edu


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