NATIVE AMERICAN Artist HOWARD LYONS to perform at Shepherd University

Native American singer, songwriter and educational assembly presenter, Howard Lyons will be performing at Shepherd University on April 6, 2005.  Lyons will be giving students an educational presentation during the day and then a concert at 8:00 PM that evening. The concert is free and open to the public. The concert will be held at the Frank Arts Center in room M08.

Howard Lyons, Mohawk from the reservation in upstate New York, Akwesasne, now resides in Chelsea, New York. His music has carried him through numerous awards and nominations nation wide. His educational enrichment programs have been highlighted in over 1600 schools, hundreds of universities, libraries and even at the Smithsonian. He has literally hundreds of letters from students and teachers across the USA. His wife and manager, Nancy, spends the first part of her morning answering emails from parents and students who have met Lyons on his educational tours. In 2004, Lyons was a nominee for the NH Governor's Award for Excellence in Arts and Education.

Howard Lyons' first album Hopes and Dreams was a nominee at the Native American Music Awards (NAMMYS) for Best Folk Recording. Sound of America Records was so impressed with Lyons's talent they immediately signed him as a recording artist following the National NAMMYS and produced Spirit Walk. Both albums can be heard on most radio stations across the USA, Canada and Europe. The critic reviews for Spirit Walk in Sing Out, Music Design, and Performing Songwriter have all given Lyons a lead status in the Native American Music world but have also made him an exceptional cross over.

Recently, while on a tour through Kentucky and Tennessee Lyons met the president of Junction Records in Nashville who has now signed Lyons for another album. Junction Records is owned and operated by Kitty Wells' family. Her grandson, who is president of the company, toured as a drummer for Kitty Wells and Johnny Wright in the 1980's. " We met at the studio in Nashville," states Lyons. "The conference room was an exact duplication of Kitty Wells' kitchen and dining room back home. It was an awesome moment to feel like I was sitting at Kitty Wells' kitchen table! "

The new album will be more of a country folk sound laced with a flavor of bluegrass. This concert will be a sneak preview of Lyon's new album. Performing with him will be Matt Robinson and Butch Sanders of Shepherdstown WV. Robinson performs on mandolin and lead guitar while Sanders performs percussions, congas, chimes and some of the ancient Native American traditional rattles.