ARTIST BIO

Howard Lyons, who has been creating music that blends the traditional sounds and values of his native Iroquois and Mohawk Culture with contemporary sensibilities for almost two decades, is one of the leading Native American folk singer-songwriters today. Winner of the top awards from both the New York State Foundation on the Arts and the Central New York Council on the Arts, Lyons is also a multiple NAMMY (Native American Music Awards) nominee. His CD "Hopes and Dreams" was a NAMMY nomination for Best Folk Recording in 2001 and his CD "Spirit Walk" was nominated for Best Album of the Year and Best Songwriter in 2002. In 2002, he was also a GRAMMY Entry for Best Native American Artist and Singer Songwriter.

Lyons - a member of the Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy, Mohawk Nation, Wolf Clan Haudenosaunee - has traveled all over the U.S. performing and teaching people about Iroquois and Mohawk culture. He sings the traditional songs of his people as well as his own compositions, which he calls "Native Folk," a style he developed himself. His music is a unique blend of Native American, world beat, folk, and mainstream pop. It features Lyons’ rich voice with the sounds of acoustic and electric guitars, violin, mandolin, drums and percussion. The lyrics are thought-provoking and convey messages of respect and gratitude.

Howard Lyons has performed at the Lincoln Center, NYC, New England States Expo, Caffe Lena, 5th Annual Native American Music Awards, Marcus Amphitheater, Songwriters Cafe in Nashville, the Smithsonian, the Annual Native American Indian Summer Festival, Club Passim, and the National Conservation Training Center, to name a few places. He is a member of the Bureau of Lectures and Concert Artists, an organization that brings multi-cultural presentations to schools, and Lyons has presented at over 1,000 schools and educational venues. Lyons has received several grants from arts organizations and been the recipient of numerous awards and credits, such as the New Hampshire Council on the Arts Touring Artist, 2003 New Hampshire Governor’s Award Nominee for Excellence in Arts Education, Three Time NAMMY Nominee, New England Congress on the Arts Showcase Artist, Native American Wind Hollow, New York State Foundation on the Arts, Central New York Council of the Arts, and Grammy Entry.

AWARDS:
2004 nominee for the NH Governor’s award for Excellence in arts and Education.
Three time Native American Music Awards for Best Folk Recording, Album of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year.
New York State Foundation on the Arts for Best Singer, Songwriter and Composer
2004 Nominee for Best Pop Recording at the Indian Summer Music Awards.

Email: hlyonsvt@yahoo.com
www.howardlyons.net