MP3 James Bilagody - Near Midnight
Traditional Navajo songs with a modern twist, James Bilagody''s "Near Midnight" gives listeners a sonic landscape of Navajo Culture.
12 MP3 Songs
WORLD: Native American, NEW AGE: Shamanic
Details:
James Bilagody leads his life with a song in his heart. He was exposed to traditional
Navajo song through his aunt and uncle at an early age and they introduced him to
what would become his lifelong passion. He also listened extensively to classical music
as a child and it opened his eyes to the diversity and beauty of music. While he was
starting his prolific journey into music, he worked as a radio DJ at KRCL in Salt Lake City,
Utah, which had a multiple music format and at KGHR in Tuba City, Arizona, which had a
country music format. He also played rhythm guitar for a country band for a short time.
As he grew older, he was introduced to Elvis Presley’s music and became entranced by
the energy of rock and roll. He later returned to his Native roots and sang traditional and
fusion vocals for several albums. He sang on 1989’s Sacred Feelings with flute by Douglas
Spotted Eagle, 1990’s Canyon Speak, 1991’s Sound of America Records (SOAR) Sampler
with various other artists and 1994’s SOARS Solo Flights II with various other artists as well.
He also contributed to the vocals on Wolf Moon in 1997 with Little Wolf, Contact from the
Underworld of Red Boy in 1998 with Robbie Robertson and One Nation in 1999 with Brule.
James wrote, recorded and contributed to the production of two of his own albums,
Beauty Ways in 1992 and Sing For Me in 1999, which was nominated for a Grammy for
Best Native American Music Album. With his knowledge and skills developed through the
years by his involvement in the music business, he has supported the musical development
and efforts of the tremendously popular Native rock band The Cremains.
It only seemed natural for James Bilagody and The Cremains to collaborate on a musical project
since they share a similar love of rock and traditional Native song. The result, Sacred Stage is
a testament to this fusion of styles. They have already performed at many locations
throughout the Southwest with an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response from their audience.
The tracks consist of beautiful Native vocals backed by traditional drumbeat and they naturally
progress to a full rock set with vocals sung by James in Navajo. Everyone involved with this
collaboration are both excited to be exploring new territory and consider themselves to be
writing a new chapter in a book the history of rock and roll.
Never in the history of music has anyone solemnly fused the heritage of Native America
with the vigor of hard rock.
Jump at any opportunity to come and hear something that has never been done before…
-K. McGinnis