Jerry Alfred
Jerry Alfred ( born 1955 ) is a Canadian guitarist, singer and songwriter from the tribe of Selkirk Indians. He lives in the small town of Pelly Crossing, Yukon Territory.
Life
Jerry Alfred is the son of a shaman of the Crow clan, who appointed him at his birth to the "Guardians of the songs," and brought him up in the traditional way of life of his people. Like most Indians of his generation, but he was already separated the age of five by his family and had to attend a boarding school for Native American, in which he should be re-educated to a " civilized Canadians ". During this time he helped his powerful singing voice to the first successes in the school choir, with whom he performed in various places of the Yukon territory. At the age of seven, he was given his first guitar from his parents and was enthusiastic about the music of Bob Dylan, whose influence on his music, you can still recognize. As a teenager, he began to combine modern music styles with the traditional music of his people.
From the late 1970s until the 1990s, Alfred engaged politically. He played an important role in the land negotiations between the Selkirk First Nation and the government representatives of Canada and the Yukon Territory.
Thereafter he devoted himself entirely to music, especially because his sick father asked him shortly before his death to take his role as stewards and collectors of traditional music seriously. Incidentally, this also included the task of representing his clan at the potlatch festivals or other gatherings of Tutchone strains.
Since then, Jerry Alfred ( a dialect of the North - Athabaskan language family ) sings mostly on Tutchone traditional and modern pieces with Indian elements in his own interpretation. He mixes the melodies of his people especially with Pop, Psychedelic music, folk rock and world music. His band " Medicine Beat", he and Bob Hamilton, one coming from British Columbia guitarist and producer, whom he had met at the Yukon International Storytelling Festival 1991. For the band also includes Andrea McColeman (keyboards, accordion), Marc Paradis ( percussions ) and Marie Gogo ( background vocals ). As with most modern productions of Indian music of the basic beat determines the band's sound, which is mostly dominated by a frame drum. In addition to varying degrees make use of modern instruments and reverb effects and nature sounds for use.
Alfred's debut album, Etsi Shon ( " grandfather's songs " ) was originally released in 1994 and 1996 launched a second time. On this album the one hand Tutchone rhythms and chants combine with the wailing electric guitars and sparkling piano sounds, but on the other hand, pure also Tutchone sound - staged only with drum and voice. The album also had an important function to conserve and maintain the Tutchone language. A song on the album - Generation Hand Down - took over the UN to celebrate its 50th anniversary. In 1995, Alfred the Juno Award for best interpretation of indigenous music. In the same year came his second album, Nendaa: Go back to the market, followed by Kehlonn in 1999.
Despite the rare language Jerry Alfred is now known beyond the borders of Canada also. In Germany he was promoted through the music producer Oliver Shanti.
Today, Alfred hopes his appointment as guardian of the music on his being able to pass two daughters Cenjeya and Saanuwa.