Biography

Indigenous vocalist Joanne Shenandoah was a member of the Wolf Clan of the Oneida Nation, Iroquois Confederacy. Her parents, Maisie Shenandoah, a Clanmother, and the late Clifford Shenandoah, an Onondaga chief and jazz guitarist, loved music and named Joanne "Tek-ya-wha-wha," which means "she sings" in the Oneida language. As a child, Joanne learned all the tribal songs and studied voice, flute, piano, clarinet, guitar, and cello. She drew upon her rich heritage while bringing traditional songs into a contemporary setting. In 1994, Shenandoah sang at the Woodstock Festival and appeared on and created soundtracks for numerous television shows, most notably Northern Exposure and How the West Was Lost. She performed and recorded with many accomplished musicians in Europe and America, including pianist/composer Peter Kater, Neil Young, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Jackson Browne, and Rita Coolidge. From traditional chants to contemporary ballads of Indigenous ways, her music has been described as an emotional experience, an "Indigenous trance." Shenandoah was the co-founder and president of Round Dance Productions, a non-profit educational Indigenous-operated foundation dedicated toward the preservation of Iroquois culture. Round Dance's goal was to create an Indigenous traditional music archive, performing arts center, and recording studio. In 1993, Shenandoah was honored with the "Native American of the Year" award, and the next year she was awarded "Native Musician of the Year," from the First Americans in the Arts Foundation. Shenandoah recorded on Canyon Records and Silver Wave Records, delivering an authentic array of Indigenous music. Highlights of her catalog include 1997's warm and earnest Matriarch: Iroquois Women's Songs and 2001's politically motivated Eagle Cries. Joanne Shenandoah died on November 22, 2021 at the age of 64. ~ Carol Wright, Rovi