MICHAEL BUCHER

Bio:

ABOUT MICHAEL BUCHER

.. MICHAEL BUCHER (Artist) is a Cherokee singer-songwriter who was taught from the beginning of his memory the stories, language and legends of his people. His songs are intended to teach, heal and bring an awareness to everyone who hears them. He sings about topics that are important to him and others in Indian Country. From the desecration of sacred sites, to Cherokee legends, to the sometimes seemingly Invisible Indian, there's a passionate quality throughout. With strong vocals and heartfelt lyrics, his music is a blend of acoustic guitar, native and a contemporary drum, flute, shakers, rattles, bass and electric guitars, and cuts a swath through native folk, blues and rock.

On the Net: MichaelBucher.Com
Email: seven@indianheadtel.net

---

MICHAEL BUCHER
IICOC Artist of the Month
March 2009

---

Michael Bucher writes in his own words....

Photo by KR LaRive 2008

"If this music helps one person to survive, to heal, or helps them on their way to wellbriety, it is all worth the effort. If it helps one person realize they do have a voice and can help stop the desecration, it did what it was intended. If it helps one person understand everyone of us makes mistakes, but it's never to late to return to our center, and in a good way, enjoy the journey we're on, it is complete.

I came from a musical family where almost everyone was self taught. I grew up listening to Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn and all the popular country music artists of the day. As a teenager my musical tastes expanded to include Rock, Blues, and R&B.

By my early twenties I started writing my own songs and through the years have refined my style and approach to music. My influences and inspirations are broad and varied, but some of who include Buddy Red Bow, Johnny Cash, Buffy St.Marie, Neil Young and Bill Miller.

One of my favorite hobbies is Native style drum making. I made my first drum when I was eight years old with the help of my grandmother. Years later I came back to Native drums and now make hand drums and old pow-wow style drums, which are logs that I hollow out and lace various types of rawhide heads to. The Native drum that you hear on this CD, Seven, was made by me. My feelings for the drum are strong. The tree is a gift from the Creator. It is part of the balance and stays true to it's purpose. The drum is a sacred vessel that should not to be mistreated or disrespected. It is the heartbeat of the people."

Michael Bucher releases with his 3rd music video, Sacred Ground from the 2009 CD release Bitter Tears | Sacred Ground from Hondo Mesa Records. Produced by Karla LaRive, PK Productions LLC in association with musicseenPROductions.

The new music video is directed and edited by 3rd time NAMA nominated, video director, Christopher Crosby and features additional footage from cameraman, Jason Cochran.

Featuring live performances by Michael Bucher, Windwalker and Edoal Spirit Buffalo of Wind Spirit Drum, DJ Travieso (KUMN Radio), KR LaRive, Jackie Calvert, Norm (Terripin Trailways) and, featuring the Bigfoot Memorial Riders of Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

Shot on location at the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, Little Wound School, Wounded Knee Memorial, Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota; Gathering of Nations - Stage 49, Rio Grande River Gorge Bridge, Taos Pueblo, New Mexico.

Studio track flute recording by Joanne Shenandoah courtesy of Hondo Mesa Records 2009.

---

---

2007 and 2008 Native American Music Awards nominee Michael Bucher films his latest music video, DON’T FORGET ABOUT ME at the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, Hot Springs, South Dakota.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT ME was produced and filmed in association by 2007 and 2008 Native American Music Awards nominees (Best Short Form Music Video) Producer, Karla LaRive of PK Productions (South Dakota) and Director/Editor, Christopher Crosby of musicseenPROductions (New York).

This is the third indigenous music video from PK Productions which features additional vocals by Grammy Award and 12 time Native American Music Awards winner, Joanne Shenandoah. Re-enactor performances by Paula Tonemah and Krista K. Knapp.

The music video was shot on location at the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary’s petrogylph site, Badlands National Park, Wounded Knee Memorial, Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota along with other regional locations in July 2008.

“The music video deals with the protection of Native burial grounds, Native grave sites and sacred sites. I try to tell people you wouldn’t want your grandmother’s grave dug up…nor do American Indian people. And, yet, it happens every day in Indian Country” says Michael Bucher.

The Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary ..is the largest private non-profit wild horse sanctuary in northern America and has been in continuous operation since 1988. It is home to over 500 wild mustangs plus several film and television projects. Additional productions filmed on location at the Sanctuary are; Touchstone Pictures, HIDALGO; TNT made-for television movie, CRAZY HORSE; and Sean Penn’s INTO THE WILD.

On the Net:

www.michaelbucher.com
www.wildmustangs.com
www.myspace.com/pk_productions
www.myspace.com/musicseenPROductions

---

DON'T FORGET ABOUT ME

Lyrics and Music by Michael Bucher

I'm the one who has painted on the rock in the desert sun, I'm the one was buried with the small pox blanket on the run, I'm the one who built my burial ground for all to see never dreaming that the grave robbers prize would be me.

(Chorus) Don't forget about me I'm the voice singing in your head. Don't forget about me I told the stories that you have. Don't forget about me take notice of all they do if they do it to me who's to say they won't do it to you.

I'm the one with my heart buried at Wounded Knee, I'm the one who was tossed in the ditch of the Trail of Tears, I'm the one who was buried with my medicine bag in my hand, now my medicine bag is on some collector's stand - don't forget about me - don't forget about me.

I'm the one who has seen all the genocide first hand, they couldn't cheat me fast enough take what I had now, they built their trophy houses right on top of my grave, if they have no honor, than they have no shame. (Chorus)

---

PK PRODUCTIONS, LLC Michael Bucher, and musicseenPROductions nominated for a 2008 Native American Music Awards for "Best Short Form Video/DVD" for DIRTY WATER, a tribute to Bear Butte Mountain, South Dakota.

DIRTY WATER is written and performed by (2007) NAMA nominated "Best Debut Artist" and "Best Folk Recording" Native American acoustic singer/songwriter Michael Bucher and produced in association with Christopher Crosby - musicseenPROductions (Videographer/Editor) and Karla LaRive (Producer) of PK Productions, LLC; (2007) NAMA nominees for "Best Short Form Music Video/DVD" for Native Hip Hop Artist/Activist, Shadowyze BUMPY ROADS.

THE MUSIC VIDEO

DIRTY WATER is a tribute video about the spiritual battle of Mato Paha - Bear Butte Mountain, being threatened by the encroachment of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, South Dakota.

On the Northeastern edge of the Black Hills, just a few miles from the small town of Sturgis, off Highway 34, lies one of the most sacred mountains to the Plains Indians from the United States and Canada.

Up to 60 different tribes traveled to Bear Butte to fast and pray. Separated by about 8 miles of prairie from the greater Black Hills, which are also considered sacred by these same nations of people, Bear Butte looks like a sleeping bear lying on its side with its head pointed toward the northeast. Geologists call Bear Butte a laccolith, or a bubble of magma that did not become a complete volcano.

All the tribes of the Sioux people: Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota, came to Bear Butte to pray. The months of May, June, and July will see families camped at the base while a relative is standing on the side of the mountain fasting in deep meditation. Small colored pieces of cloth containing pinches of tobacco are wrapped around trees and bushes as prayer gifts to the Creator. Larger flags of red, white, black, or yellow, the sacred colors, also are tied to trees to carry the prayers to all the directions.

Bear Butte, the mountain proper, is currently a National Historic Landmark managed by the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Department. Although a few parcels of adjacent land have been purchased by some Native American nations, the rest of the surrounding area is ranchland, or is being sold to developers. Two drag racing strips, biker bars, a convenience store, campgrounds, and housing developments are all located within a few miles of this sacred place.

The tribute music video was shot on-location during the 2007 Sturgis Rally in the Black Hills, South Dakota including: Bear Butte Mountain State Park; City of Sturgis; Fort Meade National Cemetery; Reddy Ranch/Wounded Knee; Oglala Nation Pow-Wow/Pine Ridge Reservation; Hartman Ranch/Oelrichs, South Dakota and, Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel, New York.

On the Net: Protect Bear Butte



“The music video deals with the protection of Native burial grounds, Native grave sites and sacred sites. I try to tell people you wouldn’t want your grandmother’s grave dug up…nor do American Indian people. And, yet, it happens every day in Indian Country”

~ Michael Bucher ~

Member Since:

January 13, 2007

Members:

---

Native American singer-songwriter, Michael Bucher releases his new recording, Believe. Believe picks up where his award winning cd Seven left off. Believe cranks it up a notch or two and is evident with the songs he's put down in this highly anticipated cd. His approach to songwriting, as only a few in this genre can do, and as Native People's magazine writes of Michael,"an American songwriting icon", is stronger than ever.

The musical versatility in songs like Fat Cats, Sacred Ground, For Chief Joseph, Blessings and the title track Believe are enough to satisfy all styles. He has dedicated this cd to the children throughout Indian Country who are battling their struggle with suicide. A rate 70% higher than any other race in the country in ages 18 and under. It's for who and why he wrote the title track Believe.

As usual for Michael, he sings about issues and topics in Indian Country he feels strongly about and uniquely covers them in these 11 new songs. All are straight from the heart, and as usual, straight into yours.

Produced by Canyon Recording Artist, Peter Phippen, Jason Introwitz, and Michael Bucher. All songs were recorded, mixed and mastered at The Sound Garage, Menominie, Wisconsin. Jason Introwitz engineer, except for Texas Cherokee, which was recorded, mixed and mastered at Skyline Studios, Eau Clare, Wisconsin. Evar Lunde, engineer. All bass guitar by Peter Phippen. All percussion and keyboard by Jason Introwitz. Native drum used in the recording of this cd made by Michael Bucher.

Special guest artists include Howard "Guitar" Luedtke (electric slide guitar) and Curtis Brown (blues harp) on Fat Cats, Josh Entzminger (lead guitar) on Believe, Kevin Brown (resonator dobro guitar handmade by Kevin) on Mountain Top Removal, Douglas Bluefeather (Native American flute) and Sarah Maurer (background vocals) on Texas Cherokee.

"My music has always been a reflection of where I stand on certain issues, what I have learned, been through, and healed from. 'Believe' is just that. One of the most important things I've learned so far on my Journey is to believe. That may sound overly simplistic, however, if we don't believe, we don't have hope, without hope, no dreams for today or the future. May we all Believe." says Michael Bucher.

Bucher is a 2007 Native American Music Award Nominee for Best Folk Album and Best Debut Artist (Seven); 2007 Indian Summer Music Awards Nominee for Best Folk Album and Best Pop Album (Seven); 2008 NAMA nominee for Best Short Form Music Video for Dirty Water; 2008 Native E Music Awards Winner for Best Political Song for Don't Forget About Me; 2009 Native American Music Awards Nominee for Best Male Artist, Best Music Video for Don't Forget About Me, Best Record, Best Compilation (Bitter Tears Sacred Ground); 2009 Native American Music Awards Winner for Best Compilation (Bitter Tears Sacred Ground) and, 2009 Grammy 1st Round for the Best Folk and Americana Recording (Bitter Tears Sacred Ground) on Hondo Mesa Records.

Michael Bucher is a Cherokee singer-songwriter who was taught from the beginning of his memory the stories, language and legends of his people. His songs are intended to teach, heal and bring awareness to everyone who hears them. He sings about topics that are important to him and others in Indian Country. From the desecration of sacred sites, to Cherokee legends, to the sometimes seemingly Invisible Indian, there's a passionate quality throughout.

With strong vocals and heartfelt lyrics, his music is a blend of acoustic guitar, native and a contemporary drum, flute, shakers, rattles, bass and electric guitars, and cuts a swath through native folk, blues and rock.

On the Net:
www.michaelbucher.com
www.SonicBids.com/michaelbucher
www.StudioWestManagement.com

---

Joanne Shenandoah & Michael Bucher

Bitter Tears Sacred Ground

2009 Native American Music Awards Winner
'Best Compilation' Album

2009 Indian Summer Music Awards Winner
'Best Folk' category

2009 Native American Music Awards
Karla LaRive (Studio West Mgt) Michael, Joanne Shenandoah, Dennis Kinsey (Hondo Mesa Records)

---

Michael and Joanne Shenandoah
Perform Live at the Native American Music Awards
October 3, 2009

---

Hondo Mesa Records presents
"Bitter Tears Sacred Ground,"
an album honoring Johnny Cash, Floyd Red Crow Westerman and Peter LaFarge and featuring Joanne Shenandoah
and Michael Bucher.



"Joanne Shenandoah and Michael Bucher speak from their hearts on 'Bitter Tears -- Sacred Ground’…They've constructed a proud and noble collection…The sounds of their voices and guitars are striking...Shenandoah sings 'The Star Spangled Banner' gloriously a cappella, one voice, soaring…And the CD closes with 'America,' gorgeously written and sung by Shenandoah..."

Mark Bialczak, Music Critic
The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY)
February 1, 2009


To order Bitter Tears- Sacred Ground click here:
Hondo Mesa Records

Produced by Dennis Kinsey and Joanne Shenandoah

---

| Quotes |

"Michael Bucher is an American songwriting icon." -- Native People's Magazine

"Michael's music is some of the best I've heard in a long time. Nothing less than phenomenal" -- Vincent Schilling, author/columnist for Indian Country Today

"Michael's music and his 'Dirty Water' video is an excellent recourse for teaching college students about American Indian Sacred Sites. Thank you for your hard work." Reno Charette - Director of American Indian Studies - Montana State Univ./Billings

"Thank you beyond my ability to express into words for your music. When I first heard 'Don't Forget About Me', I cried, and still do. It touches me in a very deep and sacred place." -- Mary Jo -- fan from Petaluma, Ca.

---

Trailer for On Sacred Ground



from Aegis Film and Television Group

Don't Forget About Me
Written & Performed by
Michael Bucher

---

1st Annual Native E Music Awards
El Rey Theatre
September 20, 2008
Albuquerque, New Mexico

2008 NEMA Winner
"Best Political Song"
DON'T FORGET ABOUT ME

---

1st Annual Native E Music Awards 2008
from Christopher Crosby
musicseenPROductions

---

Management Representation | Public Relations
Michael Bucher

Karla LaRive | Studio West Management

Subsidiary of PK PRODUCTIONS LLC
Post Office Box 752, Hot Springs South Dakota 57747 USA

On The Net: Studio West Management

Influences:

Buddy Red Bow, Buffy Saint Marie, Joanne Shenandoah, Neil Young, Johnny Cash, John Trudell, Bill Miller

Sounds Like:

Michael Bucher .. .. .. .. ..

Record Label:

Blue Hills Records