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Originally it was our intent to avoid the fray begun around the Grammy™™
Award by a couple
of jealous, ego-driven people. However, since false statements and incorrect
suppositions have found
their way into an Anglo run-Native newspaper, and same paper lacking the
integrity to speak the truth, there seems to be little choice in the matter.
- The
points I’d like to make are simple, hopefully so that everyone will grasp the meaning
of my words.
- First: Tom Bee and I were awarded the Grammy™ Award for the “Gathering of Nations 1999 Powwow” as producers. A producer is the person who collates the media, recording equipment, engineers, sequencing, mastering, album cover notes, artwork, travel, lodging, and anything else associated with the release of a CD. No matter what, all final responsibility and culpability lies with a recording’s producer.(s) .
- The
NARAS rules are clear; Any CD that
features multiple artists, with no one artist having done 51% of the
recording, then should that CD be voted a Grammy™ winning CD, the Grammy™
goes to the producers.
- The artists, assistants, and anyone else connected with the recording of the CD receive a certificate from NARAS. This is the case in the instance of the first Native American Grammy™. 13 drum groups participated, 5 recording assistants, and 2 producers. Tom Bee and I are jointly culpable and responsible in the end, for what goes on and in the Gathering CD. Tom Bee and I have been co-producing the Gathering of Nations CD’s since 1991. Our work has also won 2 NAMMY or “Native American Music Awards.” (It should be mentioned here, that although the NAMMY’s are Music Awards, Tom Bee, myself/the Producers, have not received a certificate, trophy, or other recognition from the NAMMY’s for the 1997 Gathering or 1998 Gathering recordings, nor have the Drum Groups received recognition. The trophies both were received by Derek Mathews of the Gathering of Nations) No one can truthfully claim to have produced this CD with the exception of Tom Bee and I.
- Second:
While I have always held nothing but respect for the Gathering of Nations,
recent letters coming from their organization have not only been
malicious, but dishonest. The Gathering has claimed that they’ve
contacted me; never, ever in the history of the Gathering have I been
contacted about the recording of the Gathering, by the Gathering. Their
statement regarding contact with me is a bold-faced lie. The Gathering
sent out a public statement barring Tom Bee from recording the 2001
Gathering. This is posturing at best; Tom had informed the Gathering and
me back in May 2000, that we would be recording no more Gatherings in the
future. Most everything in the Gathering statement regarding Tom Bee and
SOAR is equally misleading and untrue. Due to on-going litigation between
SOAR and the Gathering, I cannot comment further at this time.
- Third:
Derek Mathews attributes Herman Begay for being the Gathering’s catalyst
for having made their public statement. Herman Begay, in conversation with
Tom Bee, recanted his initial assertion that he mastered and produced the
Grammy™-winning CD. Unfortunately, a couple of other well-known artists in
the Native music industry have decided to make statements public and
private, about the recording of the CD, with the same attribution to
Herman Begay and the Gathering of Nations. Their assertions are false. The
Gathering was recorded in 1999 the same way it was recorded in the
previous 8 years, with a variety of recording assistants, with me at the
decision making level regarding the recording, mastering, and finishing processes in all but one of
those years. Until he passed away, my son, Linda Dee, Tom Bee, and myself
are the only consistent participants in the recordings over the course of
10 years. The Gathering receives royalty payments each quarter for sales
of these recordings, and the recordings are done as a service to the
Gathering. The Gathering pays NO production costs whatsoever, which is a
major departure from industry norm. They simply reap the financial
benefits of our works.
- Lastly, it was brought up by Herman Begay that Indian America is less-than-satisfied with my adoption by Lakota family 26 years ago and marriage into a Dine’ family as being or not being valid enough to have received a Grammy™ in the Native American category. To cut to the core of this point, the Grammy™’s are colorblind. It’s a music industry award, not a race award, not a color, religion, sexual preference, or cultural award. For years, people of various cultures have received Grammy™’s for their work on projects related to music divergent from their own culture. The producers of ALL Grammy™ nominated recordings in 2000 are non-Native, so at some level, this issue would be raised. For what it’s worth, I was dancing at powwow before the age of 13. My family and I are proud that Tom and I were the recipients of the first-ever Native American Category Grammy™. I make no apology to anyone who is not satisfied with the voting of the 12,000 members of NARAS. I make no apology for the fact that while I was raised Native, I'm not of Native blood. If my person, skin color, or appearance don't meet with someone's prejudices, I offer no apology.
- Readers
also should clearly understand that at some very near point, it's likely
a non-Native will win the Grammy™ in this category as a solo artist.
- I
will not disparage Herman Begay publicly or privately, as he is a relative
and
I have too much respect for our families, immediate and extended, to say
anything negative about the embarrassment he and the Gathering have caused
to all Native people in the recording industry, to the people at NARAS,
and to the voting members of the academy and industry, regardless of what
he’s posted on the internet. It will take many years to undo the damage
done by persons who simply don’t understand the facts surrounding
the Grammy™ rules and regulations. I
will say that as of the moment that I was informed by Tom Bee that the
Gathering 1999 CD had received a Grammy™ nomination, Herman and his family
were invited in writing, by me, to participate in all Grammy™ activities
from that moment forward. He and his family declined, also in writing.
- What’s
saddest of all is that the first-ever Native American Grammy™ has been
muddied by ego, greed, and jealousy, of two individuals who have no
experience in this industry. The Grammy™ is not a ‘Golden Calf’ or
‘Industry Shrine’ but rather recognition of hard work and talent.
Between Tom Bee and myself, we have over 55 years in this business, and
have produced over 400 recordings between us.
Prior to our placing the very first digitally recorded powwow on CD
back in 1990, Native music was generally relegated to the discount bins of
powwow stores, and never found on the shelves of major record chains.
I’ve worked very hard for Tom Bee over the past 14 years, and have
learned a lot from him, and I’ve put a lot into the SOAR releases,
powwow and otherwise. The Grammy™ was received as a result of hard,
heart-felt work, changes made in the industry, and advancements in cultural music. I was there when Tom sent a proposal to NARAS back in 1990.
Where was everyone else at that time? Tom told me in 1990 that there would
be a Grammy™ category by 1996. He was off by a few years, yet I know that
he diligently worked on this achievement for 5 years before any 3rd
party joined the battle.
- In
closing, I’d like to point out to all parties involved in the attempt to
create controversy surrounding the Grammy™ that nothing was won by their
malicious attacks on Tom and myself. The Drum Groups are receiving Grammy™ certificates, John Frazier, Herman and Herwin Begay are receiving
Grammy™ certificates, and Tom Bee and I received the Grammy™ Award. The only thing
gained was embarrassment to the industry and Native America, (as voiced by
hundreds of mails supporting Tom and I) and
a great deal of short-term hardship for Tom Bee and myself. To the
newspaper who even dare question who produced this CD, yellow journalism
is despicable at best; to directly lie in print is lower than even the
National Enquirer. You should be ashamed to cast any aspersion on this
event. Especially to do so without even having the decency to interview
those involved.
- It's wonderful that the Gathering of Nations is holding an "invitation-only" Grammy™ Awards party this weekend of the biggest powwow in the world. However, how childish and petty is it to hold such an event while publicly printing that the recipients of the Grammy™™ were deliberately not invited? It's simply another indicator of the lack of adult behavior and over abundance of greed, jealousy, and ego surrounding those who would demean this opportunity for all musicians involved in making Native and Native-oriented music.
- My
uncle Sam Moves Camp told me once that it’s not how long I live on this
earth that counts, it’s how well I live, what and why I do for others.
I’m very proud to have received this award as a co-producer, and will
continue to do my best to advance the technology, quality, and integrity
of Native music in every way I may. It’s a success and win for all
Native music, for all drum groups, for all Native people. It's a
door-opener for all Native musicians and for those who live within Native
culture. I’m proud to
know Tom Bee, proud to have worked with him on many, many records, and
look forward to future projects with him. Forever in my heart, I’ll
be grateful for the opportunity to have worked with all the great drum
groups found on the 99 Gathering and all the other Gathering CD’s.
- Respect
to all,
- Douglas Spotted Eagle & family
- and the staff at Native Restoration