Biography
Michael Searching Bear, NAMA (Native American Music Awards) winner for Best World Recording and nominated artist, Aboriginal People's Choice Award nominee and Just Plain Folks Music Awards Album of the Year winner, is an accomplished world musician whose love for music and search for his Native heritage led him to the Native American wood flute.
Michael incorporates the Native flute with his love and education for many traditional world cultural instruments including Celtic, Japanese, Native American and African, just to name a few, and creates a fusion of world instrumentation with a familiar underlying rhythm Michael is known for. Michael adds contemporary instrumentation when needed as well as modern dance and voice to give his audience not only a sonic experience but a visual experience as well.
Michael is also a flute player with a “traditional” or “old” style sound. His flute playing incorporates many techniques that are unique to the traditional Native style. Barks, chirps, trills and other techniques which often mimic sounds heard in nature are not uncommon and weave their way through the melodies. ”I’ve always played the flute this way”, Michael states. “It’s as if it has been inside of me all my life. This is how I have always heard the flute in my mind. I have a vague memory of certain sounds from my childhood. One of those was the flute. I searched for many years to find the instrument that was the sound I heard in my head, in my memories. Then one day I happened to be doing a search on the Internet, of all places, and came across a sound clip. I knew instantly that this was the sound I was looking for and so began my journey to find this instrument. It was the Native American wood flute and I’ve been in love with this instrument ever since.”
With over 35 years of experience in music as a drummer and percussionist, Michael has developed his talents and perfected his gift for mastering intricate rhythms. Through private study, Michael increased his knowledge of the electric, acoustic and classical guitars, as well as music theory and ethnomusicology. With this knowledge, Michael incorporates as many different types of instruments into his recording compositions – especially Native cultural instruments. Michael began incorporating the Native American flute music in 1996. His original compositions can be heard in his CD’s, 2006 Just Plain Folks Award winning album of the year Voice from Within (2003) and the 2006 Native American Music Awards (NAMA) nominated Un earthed (2005). Fans can also enjoy Michael’s NAMA nominated concert DVD, Michael Searching Bear Live in Concert (2007) along with his latest NAMA winning CD for Best World Recording release, Ceremony (2009).
Of Cherokee and Powhatan descent, Michael considers himself to be a cultural traditionalist and desires to pass on the traditions of the Native American wood flute. Michael has followed his heart and now teaches about the ancient and contemporary methods of flute construction and uses of the flute in the Native ways of life. His informal classes and workshops are taught in a variety of settings and to literally all age groups; from toddler daycare centers and college level workshops; to a variety of churches, schools and community organizations. Dedicating his life to educating and teaching about his Native culture, he uses his expertise in the flute as a catalyst for this training.
Nearly a lost art, the Native American wood flute is experiencing resurgence in popularity. The haunting melodies and soothing tones have found a wide and accepting audience in today’s hectic society. Michael has been appearing in concerts to selected audiences throughout the country and brings the music of the flute to the public.
Michael’s full Bio can be viewed online at his Electronic Press Kit site (EPK) at: www.sonicbids.com/michaelsearchingbear
Michael is currently available for performance booking engagements as well as workshops, lectures, concerts and other performances. For more information about Michael Searching Bear and arranging for booking engagements, call (330) 296-7413 or contact Michael by Email at michael@searchingbearflutes.com. Please also visit his website at www.searchingbearflutes.com or Michael’s MySpace page at www.myspace.com/michaelsearchingbear
Instrumentation
Michael Searching Bear - Native American wood flutes, world instrumentation, guitars, drums & percusions, dulcimers, didgeridoo, etc....
Discography
Silent Journey (out of print)
Voice From Within - 2003
Un earthed - 2005
Michael Searching Bear Live in Concert (dvd) - 2007
Ceremony - 2009
Links
| http://www.searchingbearflutes.com |