by Amy Tall Chief Image by: Patrick Tafoya

New York City is a great place for diversity and Native people are no exception. In this city of the ultra fast-paced pursuit of dreams and moments of reflection on what might have been, there are at least ten times as many different reasons Native people are drawn here as the Nations they represent. But if there is one thing we all share, it is the comforting feelings of home which we get when we hear the sounds of the drum. We are lucky to have four strong drum groups in this area that give us beautiful music to fill our hearts during the pow wows up and down the East Coast. Silvercloud Singers, based in New York City proper and Youngblood Singers from the Shinnecock Reservation on Long Island are considered New York City's local drum groups. Cedartree Singers from Falls Church, VA and Mystic River Singers from Mystic, CT are our other local East Coast drum groups.

Youngblood Singers are unique in that they come from a close-knit reservation community where most of them grew up together. This Northern drum was formed by a group of young men who, "just really enjoyed singing" Wayne Duncan states. Charlie and Johnny Smith (Shinnecock), Lance Gumbs (Shinnecock), Arther Crippin (Shinnecock), Wayne Duncan (Cherokee), Hiawatha Brown (Naragansett) and Andrew Cuffee(Shinnecock) are the original singers. These seven men would visit one and other's houses or meet at the pow wow grounds on the rez and just sit around the drum and sing. Then one evening, in 1979, while sitting in Lance Gumbs' back yard, they came to a decision to formalize as a group. This was a commitment and everyone knew it. If they were going to be able to carry the responsibility of the drum they would have to have a reason for singing besides their own self- satisfaction. Wayne Duncan says that they agreed upon the idea of, "encouraging their upcoming youth as their elders encouraged them," and the Youngblood Singers were formed.

Since 1984 they have been singing at the Shinnecock pow wow grounds where they practiced as young boys. Most of the songs they sing come from the Shinnecock and Cherokee languages. Some songs were composed by current singers and some even came from their elders long ago. The commitment born out of a youthful longing in the heart has paid off. Youngblood Singers have now traveled worldwide and been invited to pow wows across the nation including Crow Fair, Cherokee, Schemitzun and Narragansett as well as many others in states like Oklahoma, Pennsylvania & Massachusetts.

Current members of the drum group are Wayne Duncan (Cherokee), Chris Pegram (Cherokee), Jeff Pegram (Cherokee), Gordell Wright, Eric Phillips, Charlie Smith, Johnny Smith, Arther Crippin, Micah Hunter, Honovi Smith, Wayhan Smith(all Shinnecock), Ganew Benton Smith(Ojibway).

Wayne Duncan goes on to say that they are a community-based drum that is more than glad to travel but always remember where they came from and try to represent their Shinnecock people to the best of their ability. He states that they pride themselves on “respecting the drum, over-bounding tribalism,and focusing on God.” The older singers remain drug and alcohol free and encourage their younger singers as well as other youths to do the same. These people live by example which is sometimes a rarity in the confusion of the struggling times we live in today.

You can hear the Youngblood Singers on three tapes currently in print; Youngblood Singers Vol. I., II., III. Cedartree Singers from Falls Church, VA are Southern style singers headed up by their lead singer Michael Rose (Cherokee). They have their roots in family. Michael, his two brothers and their mother met Harold Cedartree (Cheyenne/Arapaho) from Geary, Oklahoma while going to various pow wows in Indian country. Mr. Cedartree knew the power the drum had to heal Indian people and had committed his later years to passing on these Indian ways to young Indian men. He was a strict teacher who commanded respect, discipline, commitment and practice. This is what their mother was seeking for her boys.As young boys Michael and his brothers wanted to dance and sing but weren't sure how to do it. Mr. Cedartree told them that they would only be good dancers when they learn to respect the drum and sing the songs. He began teaching Michael Rose and his brothers each week how to dance and sing. Sadly, in 1977, Mr. Cedartree passed away.

In 1992 Harold Cedartree's sister, Viola, gave Michael Rose permission to use the name Cedartree to form his drum group in loving memory of her brother Harold. The original singers on the drum were John Mark Rose (Cherokee), Dan Addy, Michael Rose(Cherokee), Austin Sebastian, Don Neconie (Kiowa), Pete Neconie(Kiowa) and Jim Horner. They sang their first dance on Sunday March 12, 1993 at the AICO pow wow at the University of Maryland during a huge snowstorm which almost canceled the event. A snow storm and the first-time jitters couldn't stop them. Afterward they continued practicing together and ultimately chose Michael to be the lead singer saying, "he had a good memory and retained the songs well."

Stylistically, Cedartree works hard for their sound to be clean, sharp and clear and they don't like to hear anyone drag ging behind during the song. Conceptually they stress keeping the sound very tight, the drum beats even with each others and to always dress tidily out of respect to their drum and it's namesake.

In 1998, Michael's wife Terry made beautiful outfits for the singers to wear for Schemitzun pow wow, where they wore a different one everyday...and ultimately won 1st place! The group has been invited to many pow wows across the country such as Schemitzun and Red Earth as well as singing in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina. They have also traveled and shared their music overseas.

Michael Rose speaks on behalf of the drum in saying that, "when we go to sing, we are there to serve. We do what we are asked to do and try to do our very best and leave there leaving everything in a good way." He says that they, "find great joy in providing music for those that love to dance, and those that can't and those that just want to listen. We continue to practice often, sing hard and hopefully bring respect to our namesake Harold Cedartree." Cedartree's tapes currently on the market are Forever Green I. & II. and Promise!.

Mystic River Singers are a Northern drum group from Mystic, CT. Their group was formed in 1991 on the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation in CT. As the Mashantucket tribal economy soared, many Native people from across the US and Canada relocated to CT in hopes of entering the job force for indigenous people. Amongst this influx of natives there were a lot of people with the love for traditional inter-tribal song. These people joined the group and the drum grew and improved. The Mystic River Singers have since developed an international following and have become one of the more popular traditional inter-tribal drum groups in North America.

The current membership of the drum truly reflect the diversity of Native people who migrated east to work. The members are Michael Thomas(Pequot/Narragansett), Albert Zamora (Pequot/Narragansett), Kenny Merrick, Jr. (Sioux/ Man-dan/Arikara), Tyson Merrick (Sioux/Mandan/Arikara), Wayasti Richardson (Haliwa-Saponi), Jeff McDonald (Crow), Eric Plainbull (Crow), Glen Tait(Cree/Assiniboine), John Taylor(Menomiee), Crew Bellcourt (Ojibway), Ron Mallory(Ho Chunk), Chris Whipple(Santee Sioux/Ho Chunk) and Chris Newell(Passamaquoddy). Kenny Merrick, Jr. is the lead singer for Mystic River and Michael Thomas is the group's manager. The Mystic River Singers believe, as do most Native people, that the drum is the heartbeat of all indigenous people and that if traditional drumming ceases, so would the heart of the Native people.

With economic success burgeoning in areas of the East Coast Native artists have joined the mainstream in marketing their work. Mystic River has used their recording catalogue to promote themselves. These releases coupled with first rate talent and dynamic live performances are directly responsible at least in part for the current popularity of the group.

Kenny Merrick, Jr. says, "Native music is the first music and is here to stay, but doesn't get the recognition it deserves." He goes on to say, "the drum is one of the instruments of learning and with it none of us ever quits learning and never quits teaching." He wants their group and their music, "to be a teacher to all races and in the right way."

Mystic River Singers have worked with several record companies over the years giving them 5 international releases in their discography. The first recording from Sunshine Records was self titled.

The second and third albums recorded by Sweet Grass Records are Mystic River Live at Crow Fair and Mystic River Live at Schemitzun. The fourth recording, Straight At Ya, was produced by Wacipi Records as well as the fifth recording, Thunder From The East.

A feature piece on Silvercloud Singers, New York City is scheduled for the winter 2001 edition of Talking Stick. It will be published in conjunction with their new cd.