Bruce Cockburn, Bob Dylan, The Byrds, Joni Mitchell, Stephen Stills, Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Ray Charles, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Bessie Smith, John Trudell ...and Yeshua ben Yosef, Deganawidah, Moshe Rebanu, Thomas Merton, Gautama Sidartha, Morihei Ueshiba, Lao Tzu, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Ayenwatha, Nicolas Black Elk, Tadodaho (Sid Hill), Sakokwenionkwas (Tom Porter), Tenzin Gyatso, Tashunka Witko, Tatanka Iyotanka, Tekamthi, Tenskwatawa, Obwandiag, Golthlay, Wovoka, Sinte Gleska, Hinmuuttu-yalatlat, Joseph Thayendanega, Leon Shenandoah, Sagoyewatha (Red Jacket), Jack Kerouac, Ernesto Guevara de la Serna, Oscar Romero, Leonard Crow Dog, Leornard Peltier...and:
Going back to the earliest human communities events, history and traditions were preserved in song. The Gilgamesh epic, the Song of Miriam from Exodus, the stories preserved by the Navajo Singers all the way to the songs written and sung by such giants as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger represent a long tradition of preserving our stories and traditions in song. In that same spirit Michael Iott, known as Medicine Crow, writes and performs topical songs that are observations and commentary on contemporary cultural traditions.
Mike began playing guitar in the 1960’s on a Gibson LG0 acoustic that was passed down to him from his older sister. Over the intervening years he has played many styles of music; folk, blues, rock and light jazz . In the 1980’s he worked with harmonica virtuoso Bill Price in the Iott & Price Band, with bassist Don Diamond in the Sentinels and, during the 1990’s, with Thom Burke and the Last Hippy Band. Over the years he has shared stages with Tommy Chong, Dr. Hook, Bad Finger, and Bonnie Raitt and with regionally known artists Ghetto Gas John, Miko Fossum, Phil Winterdmute, Stargrazer, Harmonica Buzz, Jeff Baldori, Frog & The Beeftones, Seth Bernard and Daisy May, Jen Sygit, Chara Love, Eric Blades, Perry McDonald and Nicole Good Pierce.
His original songs feature rhythmically driven folk/rock/Acoustic Blues, 12 bar finger style blues, some intricate instrumentals and gentle folk ballads. His songs tend toward the topical rather than the romantic and cover all of those political, religious and social issues we are told to avoid when in polite company.
Medicine Crow currently has two CD releases with Lansing Michigan based Illegible Records: “A much Better Reality” (2006) and “Nahnah’s Garden” (2007). There are two new releases scheduled to 2008, with the working titles of “Hymn To Gaia” and “Logan Street”.
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Strip away, strip away, it is the beginning, simple and pure. What you seek is not outside, but inside, seeking outside. In an instance you can revel of this satisfaction, but only when the moment is recognized. Zen lessons from, ~Shizuka Kaji~..
["Walls Impede My Progress," acrylic on board, painted last week]
I hung 5 new paintings and 8 related paintings at Schuler Books in Eastwood Towne Center yesterday. They will be on display through August 10. I hope you can give them a look this summer and let me know what you think!
I'm going to put up title cards today, so people know who painted the work on display.
Closing Reception Thurday August 7, 7:30 - 9:30 PM, with sounds by djtor2. Save the date, por favor?
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