Speak/Sing Native™ Artist Archive
Micki Free
Cherokee Nation/Comanche
At the age of 17, Micki was discovered and came to be managed by Gene Simmons of KISS, who encouraged him to join the R&B group Shalamar, where he received three Grammy nominations. He won a Grammy award for Don't Get Stopped In Beverly Hills from the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack. He has won five Native American Music Awards, including Hall of Fame in 2022.
Micki has been managed by, performed and/or recorded with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS, Bill Wyman of The Rolling Stones, Diana Ross, Janet Jackson, Little Steven Van Zandt of Bruce Springsteen, Prince, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Carlos Santana, Cindy Blackman-Santana, Cheap Trick, Sam Moore of Sam & Dave fame and many others.
Professional Information
Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS, Bill Wyman of The Rolling Stones, Diana Ross, Janet Jackson, Little Steven Van Zandt of Bruce Springsteen, Prince, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Carlos Santana, Cindy Blackman-Santana, Cheap Trick, Sam Moore of Sam & Dave fame and many others.
Rock, blues
Musician, composer, bandleader
Guitar, Vocals
Video
- Micki Free, Cindy Blackman Santana
Voodoo Child - Jimi Hendrix tribute - Micki Free, Cindy Blackman Santana
Venue: Hyde Park, London, England
Format: Live
Duration: 8:14
- Micki Free, Tracy Lee Nelson
Red House - Jimi Hendrix Tribute - Micki Free, Tracy Lee Nelson
Venue:
Format: Official
Duration: 7:04
- Micki Free
Hear My Train A-Comin' - Jimi Hendrix tribute - Micki Free
Venue:
Format: Live
Duration: 7:32
Benefit for Homeless Veterans
- Micki Free
Wounded Knee - Micki Free
Venue:
Format: Official
Duration: 6:07
- Micki Free, Kimberly Acosta
Rez Style - Micki Free, Kimberly Acosta
Venue: Indian Country TV
Format: Official
Duration: 9:38
performance/interview
- Micki Free, Jessica Rosado, Elliott Bambrough
We Are One - Micki Free, Jessica Rosado, Elliott Bambrough
Venue: Morning Blend, KTNV Channel 13, Las Vegas
Format: Official
Duration: 5:49
Tribal Information
Cherokee Nation
also known as "Cherokee"
Traditional lands and Reservation
When first contacted by Europeans, “the Nation held dominion over a sprawling territory comprised of much or most of the modern states of West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.” A forced removal, the “Trail of Tears” relocated them to what is now a 14-county reservation in Oklahoma, with many At Large tribal members located all over the world.
Languages
Tsalagi (Cherokee) is the traditional language of the Cherokee Nation. Fluent speakers are dwindling and the tribe is making massive efforts to ensure that the next generations will be able to speak the language that expresses so much in a way that English does not capture.
Tsalagi has a written form that is based on a syllabary rather than an alphabet. Each spoken syllable in the language is represented by one of 85 distinct characters.
Article 6 of the U.S. Constitution (the Supremacy Clause)
“This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.”