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MARCH 5, 2001

Amid questions of financial impropriety, the organizers of the nation's largest pow-wow last week severed all ties to Native music veteran Tom Bee and refused him all future recording rights to their successful event.

The move comes just days after Bee accepted the first GRAMMY award recognizing traditional Native American music. Before a televised audience of millions, Bee and co-producer Douglas Spotted Eagle took home top honors for "Gathering of Nations Pow-Wow 1999," one of five recordings nominated for the new "Best Native American Music Album" category.

But it also comes after nearly two months of emotional and heated debate between Bee and the organizers of the annual Gathering of Nations pow-wow. As accolades for Bee -- who lobbied heavily for the introduction of the category -- poured in from all over Indian Country, pow-wow officials quietly made known their frustrations with Bee and the Sound of America Recordings (SOAR) music label.

For ten years, Bee's record label recorded and distributed music from the pow-wow, held every April in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Trouble soon began in early January, when pow-wow organizers learned Bee's 1999 recording was nominated for a GRAMMY.

To their dismay, none of the drum groups or the organizers would be allowed to accept the GRAMMY should Bee's recording win. When compilations are nominated, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) gives the award to its producer.

Pow-wow organizers asked Bee if they could participate in the ceremony but according to Gathering of Nations spokesperson Derek Matthews, Bee refused them. Bee was unavailable to respond to Matthews' recollection, but in his acceptance speech on February 21, he thanked the drum groups and pow-wow organizers.

By that time, however, the damage had already been done. After a number of exchanges in which Bee himself indicated it was time for the two to part ways, pow-wow officials in early February said goodbye to Bee, citing "sagging returns of royalties" as the primary reason for ending their relationship.

"Even though Tom Bee told us that we don't know anything about the music business, we have decided to take control and start our own record label," Matthews added last week. "By doing this, the drum groups selected will finally have the opportunity to earn income based on the sales of the album that they are featured on."

Just how much money the dozen or so drum groups represented on the GRAMMY-winning recording are now worth is open for question. Since being nominated for a GRAMMY, the recording has indeed seen increased traffic and on Amazon.Com, it is currently ranked 218 out of more than 250,000 recordings, even beating out fellow GRAMMY winners like Latin artist Shakira.

According to Matthews, recent sales could also qualify the recording for gold record status. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) awards gold certifications for album sales exceeding 500,000 units, a notable distinction for any Native music recording.

Despite mixed feelings, the entire experience has been historic for the Gathering of Nations and the Native music industry as a whole, said Matthews. Officials from the Recording Academy will attend this year's pow-wow to meet other Native musicans who are interested in becoming members of the Academy.

"It is a great time for Native music," said Matthews. "We have the power, the door is open, and it's time for us to walk through."

This year's Gathering takes place from April 26 - 28.

Only on Indianz.Com:
Join a discussion about The GRAMMYs (The Talking Circle)

The Winner:
Gathering of Nations Pow-Wow - Various Artists (SOAR)

The Other Nominees:
Tribute To The Elders - The Black Lodge Singers (Canyon)
Cheyenne Nation - Joseph Fire Crow (Makoche)
Veterans Songs - Lakota Thunder (Makoche)
Peacemaker's Journey - Joanne Shenandoah (Silverwave)

Special Offer from AllNative:
Get your GRAMMY Pack featuring the Black Lodge Singers, Joseph Fire Crow, Joanne Shenandoah, and Gathering of Nations.

Relevant Links:
The GRAMMYs - www.grammy.com
Gathering of Nations - www.gatheringofnations.com

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