Jerry Alfred

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Jerry Alfred (* 1955 ) is a Canadian guitarist, singer and songwriter from the Selkirk -Tutchone tribe. He lives in the small town of Pelly Crossing in the Yukon Territory .

Life

Jerry Alfred is the son of a shaman of the Crow clan, who appointed him “Keeper of the Songs” when he was born and raised him in the traditional way of life of his people. Like most Indians of his generation, however, he was separated from his family at the age of five and had to attend a boarding school for native peoples , where he was to be re-educated to become a "civilized Canadian" . During this time, his strong singing voice helped him to his first successes in the school choir, with which he performed in various places in the Yukon region. At the age of seven he got his first guitar from his parents and was enthusiastic about the music of Bob Dylan , whose influence on his music can still be seen. As a teenager, he began to combine modern styles of music with the traditional music of his people.

From the late 1970s to the 1990s, Alfred was politically active. He played an important role in the land rights negotiations between the Selkirk First Nation and government officials in Canada and the Yukon Territory .

After that he devoted himself entirely to music, especially because shortly before his death his sick father asked him to take his job as guardian and collector of traditional music seriously. Incidentally, this also included the task of representing his clan at the Potlach festivals or other gatherings of the Tutchone tribes.

Since then, Jerry Alfred has been singing traditional and modern pieces with Indian elements in his own interpretation, mostly in Tutchone (a dialect of the North Athapaskan language family ). He mixes the melodies of his people mainly with pop , psychedelic music , folk rock and world music . He founded his band "Medicine Beat" with Bob Hamilton, a British Columbia guitarist and producer whom he met at the 1991 Yukon International Storytelling Festival . The band also includes Andrea McColeman (keyboards, accordion), Marc Paradis (percussions) and Marie Gogo (background vocals). As with most modern productions of Indian music, the basic beat determines the band's sound, which is mostly dominated by a frame drum . In addition, modern instruments as well as reverb effects and natural sounds are used in different forms.

Alfred's debut album, Etsi Shon ("Grandfather's Songs") was originally released in 1994 and re-issued in 1996. On this album, on the one hand, Tutchone rhythms and chants are combined with the wailing of electric guitars and pearling piano sounds, on the other hand, also pure Tutchone sound - only staged with drum and voice. The album also played an important role in preserving and maintaining the Tutchone language. One song from the album - Generation Handdown - was adopted by the UN on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. In 1995 Alfred won the Juno Award for the best interpretation of indigenous music. In the same year his second album, Nendaa: Go Back , was released, followed by Kehlonn in 1999.

Despite the rare language, Jerry Alfred is now known beyond the borders of Canada. In Germany he was sponsored by the music producer Oliver Shanti .

Today Alfred hopes to be able to pass on his vocation as guardian of music to his two daughters Cenjeya and Saanuwa.

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personal data
SURNAME Alfred, Jerry
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Canadian musician from the Selkirk tribe
DATE OF BIRTH 1955