Peter La Farge and Redbone: The Rise of Native Americana

Contemporary Native American music has its roots in the folk scene of the 1950s, when folksinger Peter La Farge, Narrangansett, came to Greenwich Village to play in the coffeehouses. He sang of the injustices he had seen on the reservations, the prejudice and the struggles of those who tried to enter mainstream society like soldier Ira Hayes, the subject of his most famous song.

By the 1970s rock music had taken over and Redbone, the Shoshone and Mexican band from California, brought native regalia and powwow dancers onstage with their electric guitars to national TV for the first time when they sang “Come and Get Your Love” on the Midnight Special in 1974.

They continued to record hits and tour for decades, releasing an official video of their hit song in 2020. These two pivotal musicians ushered in the rise of Native Americana that created the Native American Music Association, Grammy categories and winners, Native Guitar Tours and worldwide acceptance of the power and importance of Native American music.

The talk by Sandra Hale Schulman (Cherokee Nation descent) will be held virtually and in person.

To attend the lecture in person, please call (803) 313-7172 or email usclnasp@mailbox.sc.edu to reserve your spot.

To attend via Zoom, register via this link: https://bit.ly/3MaRXNv