Mary Youngblood
Breaking or Bending Tradition?

Mary Youngblood is an American Indian, touted as the first professional female Native American flutist. She is the 1999 and 2000 Native American Music Awards Nammy winner for "Flutist of the Year" as well as the 2000 Nammy's "Best Female Artist" winner verifying her talent and mastery of an ancient instrument traditionally played only by men. Half Aleut and half Seminole, she will tell you that Creator has given her a gift, and out of honor, gratitude, respect, responsibility and joy, she uses that gift..."that's traditional" she says, while on the lighter side adds, "I also wear pants and I vote!"

Mary's solo debut album titled: "The Offering", on Silver Wave Records, received rave reviews. Music critic Laurence Washington writes, "Mary Youngblood's solo album is a vibrant, pulsating masterpiece. " Mary's second album "Heart of the World" received multiple distinctions. It's the 2000 Nammy winner for "Best New Age Recording," is #1 on Amazon.com's list of "The Best New Age CDs of 1999," and is the 2000 A.F.I.M. (Association for Independent Music) Indie winner in the North American Native Music category.

On top of her own albums Mary is featured on the compilation soundtrack of the popular IMAX film "Wolves," and can also be found performing on Joanne Shenandoah's award winning children's album "All Spirit's Sing." Mary has appeared on numerous other compilation albums: "Heartbeat 2" on Smithsonian's Folk Ways label, "Tribal Waters" on Earthbeat's label, "Weaving the Strands" on Red Feather Music's label, "Three Sisters" (Quiltmans' first album) by Earth Beat Records, and "Songs of the Spirit" (Volume Two) on Triloka Records.

Mary has worked on numerous visual media projects too. Her music graces the movie "Naturally Native" which was shown at the Sundance Film Festival. She was in distinguished company on this soundtrack working with Rita Coolidge, Bill Miller, Joanne Shenandoah, Gloria Estefan, Donna Summer and Pam Tilis--just to name a few.

The television public was first introduced to Mary's music on a PBS special produced by KVIE (Sacramento, California) channel 6 titled "American Indian Circles of Wisdom" which aired throughout the country. An audio cassette of Mary's compositions from the show was produced with the same title. Mary was also very proud and honored to work on a cable television program focusing on American Indian storytellers, produced by Americana Television Inc., and filmed at the home of internationally renowned Apache sculptor Allan Houser. She said, "The greatest joy was being given the opportunity to meet this great and gentle man just a month before his passing."

Mary has performed at many prominent Native American venues including opening the 10th Annual American Indian Music festival at Crissy Field in the Presidio, San Francisco. She also performed on the Queen Mary for a gathering of Who's Who in Native American entertainment, hosted by actress Valerie Red Horse. This gathering was put together so that mainstream Hollywood could have the opportunity to meet American Indian entertainers. Mary also recently completed the 1999 "Silver Feather Festival Tour" with Joanne Shenandoah and Joy Harjo.

Mary's reputation in her home area is also quite established. She has been accepted on the California Arts Council's Touring and Presenting Program- 2000/2001. She also worked on a project for PBS -- a documentary titled "Healing the Water" which addresses the complex issues over water rights between the Piaute Indians and ranchers in Nevada near Pyramid Lake. Mary also co-founded the Northern California Flute Circle and is secretary on the board of directors for the Sacramento Urban Indian Health Project, Inc.

Mary turned professional only 38 days after receiving her first flute. But despite this, and her subsequent seemingly fast rise to success, she has an established musical background playing and studying the classical flute, guitar, piano and vocals for over 20 years. She started with piano lessons at age 6, violin at 8, classical flute and guitar at 10. Youngblood ranged from school choirs and musicals to marching, symphonic and concert bands (and one must not forget the rock-n-roll band in college!). She also has done back up vocals, songwriting, and instrumentation on friends' albums, church choirs and midnight jam sessions...basically she's done the "musician thang" all of her life.

When Mary performs, it takes only a moment to acknowledge the profound spirituality of the sacred Native American flute. Her haunting music is much more than a song...it is liquid poetry, a prayer. Mary takes little credit for the intense emotions people feel when they listen to her play. "I am only a vessel between Creator and this instrument. As a sculpture will tell you, the clay has a spirit of it's own and decides what it will become; so it is with the flute. These songs came from those who walked before me."

Biography written by Bob Burmeister
Photography by Bob Burmeister