Musician expresses love of family and nature by singing, playing flute<\/p>\n
Mary Youngblood, a two-time Grammy-winning flute player, performed at San Jose City College on April 24.<\/p>\n
Youngblood, an Alaskan native, won Grammy awards for \u201cBest Native American Music Album\u201d in 2003 and 2007.<\/p>\n
\u201cMary weaves love into people\u2019s lives,\u201d said guitarist and friend Sana Christian.<\/p>\n
The free concert was part of the Art and Lectures program produced by communications professor Merylee Shelton.<\/p>\n
The event honored Earth Day, and as a Native American, Youngblood spoke on environmental issues.<\/p>\n
She said she related her life experiences to a tree enduring the wind and losing the dead leaves, feeling that overcoming the wind makes the trees stronger.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe tree dances with the wind,\u201d Youngblood said. \u201cI feel like I am that tree.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her love for water relates to being a Cancerian, and her love of\u00a0kayaking comes from her last name, which translates to \u201ckayak builder\u201d in\u00a0her native Aleut language.<\/p>\n
Youngblood performed 10 songs and answered questions asked by communications professor Merrylee Shelton and audience members.<\/p>\n
Aside from playing the flute, Youngblood also sings. Her\u00a0calming voice communicates messages of peace and love.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m on my way to follow my heart\u2019s desire, find that sacred place to feed the fire,\u201d Youngblood sings in \u201cFeed the Fire.\u201d<\/p>\n
Youngblood spoke about her family and heritage during her performance. She went in depth about her birth mother who struggled adjusting to American society and was hit when she spoke in her native language.<\/p>\n
She said society\u2019s ways of living are hurting the environment and that we should look to the Native Americans\u2019 and their methods to preserve the planet.<\/p>\n
Youngblood\u00a0is part of the Aleut and Seminole Alaskan tribes.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0was adopted and later found her birth mother at age 26. She has eight sisters altogether and refers to many of her female friends as sisters.<\/p>\n
She performed the song \u201cPlay with Me,\u201d which was written for her first grandchild.<\/p>\n
Youngblood\u00a0said musicians should follow their dreams, but have something to fall back on.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe arts are the first to go when the economy goes bad,\u201d Youngblood said. \u201cNothing beats paying the rent.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the show, a line formed to the stage of people who wanted to thank the grammy-winner\u00a0and get a picture with her.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer songs show that she is a good mother and good daughter because she shows gratitude toward family and shares with young people,\u201d said Anh Nguyen, 44, early childhood education major.<\/p>\n
Youngblood is trained in several instruments, including the piano and guitar, and she is known as the \u201cfirst lady of the flute,\u201d according to her website.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe has been around the world and played for royalty,\u201d Christian said.<\/p>\n
Youngblood can be contacted and booked for performance and lessons through her website: http:\/\/maryyoungblood.com.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Musician expresses love of family and nature by singing, playing flute Mary Youngblood, a two-time Grammy-winning flute player, performed at San Jose City College on April 24. Youngblood, an Alaskan native, won Grammy awards for \u201cBest Native American Music Album\u201d in 2003 and 2007. \u201cMary weaves love into people\u2019s lives,\u201d said guitarist and friend Sana…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":88904,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"staff_name":[629],"class_list":["post-9543","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-arts-entertainment","staff_name-justin-san-diego"],"yoast_head":"\n