What inspired you to pursue a career in the performing arts?
As a little Native boy at five- years-old, on the Navajo Reservation in a place called Kaibeto, Arizona, is where Native music began for me. Humming and singing Traditional Navajo and Native American Church tunes after my grandmother while I played in the red dirt of Northern Arizona. Acting out Rambo and Conan was my thing. (Chuckling) I guess you can say my future, as a Native Performer was being sung and woven together as I was growing up.
Native American Church and Traditional Navajo songs have been in my heart and spirit since the beginning of my life. Singing came back to me in high school. My acting faded though. Chuckle. Native films started to catch my interests, but seemed impossible to be apart of something that beautiful. Plus performing arts wasn’t around the corner, at the time. During high school, singing was my interest and everywhere I went I sang Native American Church Songs. As a kid there were a few Well-known singers tapes and cd’s I had and followed, they were Primeaux & Mike, Blackhorse, and Jay Begaye.
Basketball was what kept me together, and after high school I played College Basketball for Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona, when I was pursing my American Indian Studies Degree at U of A. Life happen and I was a year way from finishing my degree. A short-term relationship was the decision that took me in the direction of difficulties. It was a learning experience and I move forward in my life.
Afterwards, a construction life happens for me. Getting to know Ironworking, welding, and pipefitting through my family. One day I realized, and I thought to myself “Eli what are you going to tell yourself when your an old man? That you did construction all your life? Or you went to school and got your degree and did something with your singing talent?” I motivated myself because no one was going to do it for me.
In 2000, I was working at a construction site in Kingman, Arizona. I had given a few co-workers some recorded Native American Church songs on a low budget cassette tape for free. The next day they told me “you should record professionally” so I did. In 2001, is when my independent label began “Secody Records” and I met my wife Trina. 2002, I met Producer Stephen Butler of Canyon Records, at Fort McDowell Pow wow. A recording was scheduled months in advance, but the recording happens the following week.
In 2003, I recorded on my independent label, Secody Records. The Award Winning recording “Butterfly” A contemporary Native American Church recording won me, “Best Male Artist” and a Nomination for “Best Traditional Recording” for the 2005 Native American Music Awards.
Honestly, I never knew my future had Performing arts, but now that it’s here I just want to hold on to it like a running horse, running with protection, strength and beauty. I just want to make the best of it.
What would you consider your defining moment in your career?
As a kid I sang after certain well-known Native American singers tapes and cd’s and then being nominated in the 2005 Native American Music Awards right next to them and winning! That was unbelievable! I cried and could not believe what happen.
I got a flash back of all my struggles and what I went through. It made me feel like I was doing the right thing for native music and especially for myself as an artist. I always tell myself treat your achievements special because who knows that might be the last, but I still try to have a good thought afterwards.
What is just as important to me, is sharing my talent with not only my kids but with others. I was told not to waste my talent and dreams. The same goes to everyone who is skeptical about his or her dreams.
When I first begin my professional singing career, a lot of my own loved ones had negative thoughts and words to share with me. When I was announced “Best Male Artist” for the 2005 Native American Music Awards, my loved ones didn’t know what to say, but “congratulations”. Just that feeling was good enough for me, I moved forward not saying anything.
What is the role of the artist when it comes to making the world better?
If you’re not happy no one around you will be. You as an individual need to be happy and balanced with yourself and you need some kind of healthy direction in your life. If you inspire others along the way, you become apart of the peoples that are trying to put a positive mark on the world.
My wife and I current project is called Runway Beauty native america 2008 Calendar featuring 12 beautiful Native American Women and our charity is the Navajo Nation Breast Cervical Cancer Prevention Program. My wife has been modeling here in the southwest of the United States since 2001. She is the model scout, make-up artist and assistant art director, and I’m the photographer and graphic designer for Runway Beauty native america.
I received my degree in Visual Communications here in Arizona. To make your world a better place, education is one of the most important ways to go to be successful in your life.
Every now and then I’ll give a homeless person some change or a couple of dollars. Even though I don’t make a lot of money I try to do that every now and then. I’ll try to think good about it after that moment.
Another moment in my life, was when “Butterfly” my contemporary Native American Church Album won me “Best Male Artist” for the 2005 Native American Music Awards, my wife and I participated in the Western Agency Fair of the Navajo Nation and I threw out over $2000.00 dollars worth of “Butterfly” Cd’s to the crowd.
I never released that album again after that.
Making a world a better place can be a lot. Sometimes the best thing to do is to just bring your kids and wife a better world. If it’s just yourself, do it for yourself, because if your not healthy and successful, who ever your with, won’t be.
What is your motto in life?
Pray for your road of life, smile for your spirit; love who you are and succeed with positivity.
Any words of encouragement or advice to those who want to pursue a career in the performing arts?
Dream. Pray. Be focused. Go for your dream at full force. Motivate and just improve yourself to be better for yourself. Plan. Respect and protect yourself.
Who or what do you listen to?
That question can mean several things. Music is to listen to but not to follow. If the music is good for your mind, body and soul, then follow it. Let it take you to the healing world and blessings.
Our traditions are very detailed and holy, the elderly have a lot of teachings to share if you give them the chance, but then again you have to watch out for negativity - spiritually, mentally, and in other ways.
Your spirit, heart, mind and gut feeling will make most of your decisions. This can take some time to understand or even your experiences will help you understand.
Other than that a lot of the new Native music coming out sounds great. I jam to stuff on the radio or Cd. I really don’t follow mainstream music, unless if something cool is playing on the radio, I’ll listen.
Most of the time I’m either doing a photo shoot for a model, designing, doing a performance or making new tunes. One at a time, day-to-day with short term and long term goals. Most of the time I’m listening to my wife and kids.
– Original interview printed in Canada by Say Magaizine.