Close to the Drum A Profile of Kevin Tarrant and the SilverCloud Singers by Steve Elm

In the earlier part of the twentieth century many Indians migrated to New York City. Often escaping the poverty of reservations, they came here in search of a better life. Finding work was difficult for most. Some, like the Mohawks, were lucky and found a niche building the skyscrapers and bridges of Manhattan. Many found work in less heroic professions, but nevertheless, work was found and families fed and raised. Settling mainly in Brooklyn, this first wave of urban Indians often found themselves and their traditions at odds with the way life was lived in the city. Many assimilated, others moved back - but the ones that stayed became the nucleus of the now contemporary Native community of New York City. Kevin Tarrant, of the SilverCloud Singers, is a proud and direct descendent of these early pioneers.

The SilverCloud Singers are undoubtedly one of the most respected and sought after drums on the East Coast as well as on the national powwow circuit. Kevin, in particular, is considered by many to be a singer of impeccable technique and style, with a voice that is instantly recognizable for its power, strength, and range. He is carrying on a family tradition that has its roots in the Hopi and Ho-Chunk Nations out west - a tradition that continued as family members moved to Brooklyn many years ago.

Kevin's mother, Josephine Tarrant, and his uncle, Louis Mofsie, grew up in Brooklyn, where they were brought up singing and dancing. Later, Louis, along with Josephine and Muriel Miguel (of Spiderwoman Theater), formed the Little Eagles, which performed at gatherings and events in the New York City area. By the late 50's, Louis' group had become the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers (and later, Singers). Kevin, along with his siblings Michael, Donald, Kenny and Judy started dancing as a baby. Other members included Rosemary Richmond (Executive Director of American Indian Community House), her son Lance Richmond, and Kevin's future wife, the actress Murielle Borst (daughter of Muriel Miguel). The story of the Thunderbird "family" is too complicated and long to tell here ( another article); however, it is important to note that these "old timers" (Kevin's words) are among the most prominent members of the New York Native community to this day.*

Kevin became seriously interested in singing when he was around nine years old - "I had a little drum and used to sing around the house...and in order to dance you have to know the songs - the beats. The more songs you know, the better dancer you become. For me, the next logical step was singing". He began singing with his uncle Louis' Thunderbird Singers at thirteen. As the group began to travel around the country, he became exposed to other drum groups, other styles. Soon, he was buying as many Indian music tapes he could, and immersing himself in the many traditions of Native music. Later, with SilverCloud, he would learn first hand from other drums, other singers, and would soon be composing his own songs.

In 1990, Kevin and his brother Michael formed the basis of what would later become the Silver-Cloud Singers. They were at times called "All Indian Singers", "All Nations", "Silver Bullet" and would often sing at events that Louis wasn't available for. The members of the drum were Michael Tarrant, Lance Richmond, Preston Tonepahhote, Darryl Swift, and Kevin. When Kevin decided to form a group of his own, he chose the name "SilverCloud Singers', as an honor to his mother Josephine, who passed away in 1975. Her Indian name was SilverCloud.

SilverCloud are an intertribal drum and dance troupe, featuring singers and dancers of many Nations throughout the US and Canada. The original SilverCloud Singers members included Kevin, Michael Tarrant, Lance Richmond, Randy Whitehead, Louis Mofsie, Ben Haile (of the Thunder Bird Sisters) and Alan Walsh. Other members include Donald Tarrant, Judy Fields, Carson Funmaker, Sam Windy Boy and John Dreher. Currently with the group are Kevin, Lance Richmond, George Stonefish, Preston Tonepahhote, Moose Kitcheyan, Brandon Tubby, along with Larenia Felix, Kevin's wife Murielle (who is the Artistic Director of the SilverCloud Dance Troupe), and their seven year old daughter, Josephine. At one point, even I sang with SilverCloud - if only for two or three practice sessions.

Singing with SilverCloud takes discipline and commitment - and I didn't have enough of either. I was exhausted at the end of each practice. Every time I thought we were finished, Kevin would begin another song. My voice became hoarse. I realized singing isn't something you just "do". As Kevin says "It isn't something you just pick up and think you can do - it's in you, it's a gift. And you have to practice." He takes his work very seriously - and he is very aware of what his voice is doing. He says "I can hear if I'm singing well. I don't overdo it - you have to know your limitations. Everyone has to know their range, their plateau. It's better to sing under your plateau than to reach it. Of course, if your are at an event and you are only singing two songs - then you can go ahead and let it rip!".

In the last decade SilverCloud proved themselves as one of the premier singing groups not only on the east coast but throughout the country as well. They placed fourth at this year's Schemitizun, The World Championship of Native Song and Dance on the Pequot Reservation. They have also appeared at numerous powwows throughout the United States, including the Denver March Pow-Wow, the Gathering of Nations Pow-Wow and the Canadian Aboriginal Festival at the Sky Dome in Toronto. SilverCloud served as one of the Host Drums for Shemitizun '99.

In addition to being one of the most sought after drums at powwows and other Native events, SilverCloud has performed at such major venues as the Public Theater, the Apollo, Roseland, the Theater at Madison Square Garden. They have also been featured at the National Museum of the American Indian, Trinity Church, The American Museum of Natural History, The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and the American Indian College Fund Flame of Hope Gala. SilverCloud was also honored to perform for the Year of the Indegenous Peoples opening ceremony at the United Nations in 1992. They have shared the stage with Midnight Oil and Joan Osborne at the Ritz as part of the Earth Day Celebrations. Internationally, some members toured Japan with the Thunderbirds in 1993. SilverCloud performed at the World Percussion Festival in Brazil in 1998 and will be performing at a similar festival in Korea in the Fall of 2001. They also were featured, along with Ulali, on Robbie Robertson's "Native Americans" soundtrack, which accompanied the TNT documentary series.

Speaking with Kevin, I asked if he had ever considered singing other styles of music, such as rock. He says "No, it's not for me. What I do is deeper. It was what I was told to do. Someone once said to me 'if you are singing for two hundred people, and maybe one hundred and fifty don't like you, there might be that one person in the back who you touch, whom you make feel better. It's about that. It's not about the glory. The way it was explained to me - each person is given a gift by the creator. If you are a good singer, that is your job. If you are a good hunter, you hunt. If you are a good speaker - you speak. I consider this a gift. Singing is my job in the community."

Kevin Tarrant and the SilverCloud Singers remain very much apart of the community his family helped form so many years ago. With the SilverCloud Singers and Dancers, they give educational performances in area schools, bringing traditional Native music and dance to those who may have only seen it on tv. Most recently, they performed at the AICH Annual Children's Christmas party. One of the star dancers is Kevin's seven year old daughter Josie, proudly dancing in her mother’s and father's footsteps.

(An article on Louis Mofsie is planned for the near future.)

SilverCloud Singers recordings:

Native American Pow Wow songs
(cassette, self produced by SilverCloud Singers)
SilverCloud Singers
(cassette, produced by Sunshine Records, Canada)
Song From The Clouds
(CD produced by AICH, Inc.)
Visions From The City
(CD and cassette, produced by Algonquin Productions
-released December 31, 2001)

For more information visit the SilverCloud Singers website at
www.silvercloudsingers.com