Canku Ota
	(Many Paths)
	An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America
	May 5, 2001 - Issue 35
	Best Male Artist 2000-Andrew Vasquez

"Everything I play comes from my heart and stands for what i believe in. I compose my songs for special reasons."-Andrew Vasquez Ditkal Te-Bikas Andrew Vasquez whose Apache name "Ditkal Te-Bikas" means Cedar Stalk in the Apache language (that part of the Cedar Tree is where the music comes from) received NAMA's Best Male Artist award for "V3: An American Indian", at the Native American Music Awards show held in Albuquerque,New Mexico on November 11, 2000. It was dance that first introduced Andrew Vasquez to performance and to the flute. Andrew toured the world as a solo traditional dancer with the New York based American Indian Dance Theater from 1986 to 1991. The Los Angeles Herald Examiner wrote of Andrew’s performance "Andrew is a phenomenon. His concentration never let up. His eyes covered interrifying black paint observed the direction of his feet, swishing from side toside until he looks part man, part animal.” While on tour with the dance theater, Andrew made a trade for his first flute.He was soon taken by the instrument and began to develop his own style and eventually, his own compositions. His songs are composed with a well-defined reverence and respect. He considers all flute playing a cultural contribution. As a Makoché recording artist, Andrew has released three albums to date, Vasquez, the award winning Wind River and V3: An American Indian. He has performed on the label’s 1997 East Coast tour and their 1998 West Coast tour. He also lent his talents as artistic director for the 1997 and 1998 tours. Andrew’s recording, Wind River, was recognized as Best Contemporary Native American Album of the Year and Best Album Cover in the 1998 NAV Music Awards. Wind River was also a finalist in the Association for Independent Music (AFIM) 1998 Indie Awards. Andrew was nominated for the 1998 Native American Music Awards (NAMA) Songwriter of the Year and Best Flutist of the Year awards. The Coalition of Visionary Retailers (COVR) named Wind River as a runner-up for 1998’s Best Native American Music award. In 1999 he was nominated as Flutist of the Year and Best Male Artist by NAMA, and V3: An American Indian received a nomination in the Best New Age Recording category. The 1999 NAV Awards also included a Best Native American nomination for V3: An American Indian. Andrew is no stranger to the stage or the camera. He has directed the Four Winds Encounter dance group of Perth, Australia and performed with them as a dancer and flutist. He’s performed at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, in the video “Dance in America” while with the American Indian Dancer Theater, and had a part in the movie “Son of the Morning Star.” Andrew is an enrolled member of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma. As a Northern Style Traditional dancer, Andrew has won many pow-wow titles. He creates his own traditional outfits and beadwork. Andrew and his wife Myra currently reside in Bismarck, ND with their family. They have four children and three grandchildren. Andrew’s travels have taken him throughout the United States and to Canada, Egypt, Italy, Germany, Jordan, Baharain, Quatar, Yeman, Japan, Australia, Austria, France, Morocco, Monaco, Greece, Algeria, Belgium, Malaysia and England. To Book Andrew Vasquez for Concerts, festivals or Special Events contact Rose at starwebdesigning@lycos.com All pictures copyrighted by Makoche

starwebdesigning@lycos.com

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