Micki Free

Not to be confused with Mickey Free.

Micki Free
Free performing at the Kitchener Bluesfest in 2018
Free performing at the Kitchener Bluesfest in 2018
Background information
Born (1955-05-20) May 20, 1955 (age 69)
GenresRock, blues, electric blues, blues rock
Occupation(s)Entertainer, musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar, Singing, Native American flute, Harmonica,
LabelsNative Music Rocks Records
WebsiteThe Official Website of Micki Free

Micki Free (born May 20, 1955) is a guitarist and singer of Native American descent. He won a Grammy Award for his contribution to the Beverly Hills Cop (1984) movie soundtrack and has won two Native American Music Awards.[1] He is the director of Promotions and Special Events for the Seminole Tribe of Florida, owners of Hard Rock International.[2][3]

Biography

Micki Free was born in West Texas and moved to Germany soon afterward. He is of mixed Irish, Comanche, and Cherokee descent.[4][5] His stepfather, a U.S. Army sergeant, was stationed in Germany, and Free was introduced to rock 'n' roll there as a child, when one of his five sisters received tickets to a Jimi Hendrix concert and took him along to the show. "It just blew my mind", Free remembered.[6]

His family later moved to Illinois, where Free joined the rock band Smokehouse. When he was 17, he was discovered by Gene Simmons of KISS, during a concert at which Smokehouse was the opening act for KISS, Ted Nugent, and REO Speedwagon. After Simmons' encouragement, Free joined Shalamar in 1984,[7][8] just in time for the band's big successes, including a #17 position in U.S. Top 20 in 1984 with "Dancing In The Sheets" from the Footloose soundtrack, and a Grammy for "Don't Get Stopped In Beverly Hills" from the Beverly Hills Cop (1984) soundtrack in 1985.[9] With Shalamar, he was nominated for a Grammy three times.

After Shalamar, Free and Jean Beauvoir (of The Plasmatics) founded an AOR band, Crown of Thorns. Free later founded, The Micki Free Electric Blues Experience, with Jon Brant (formerly of Cheap Trick) on bass, and Curly Smith (formerly of Boston) on drums. Recognition for his musical career after Shalamar came from the Native American Music Awards, where he won in the categories of Male Artist in 2002 and Pop Rock artist in 2004. Micki has won to date 5-Native American Music Awards and was recently inducted into The Native American Music Awards Hall of Fame in 2022.[10]

Micki Free has recorded with Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top and the DVD/CD/EP release Micki Free Live in Hyde Park featured Bill Wyman, formerly of The Rolling Stones. In 2002, he was cast to play Tonto in a new production of The Lone Ranger.[11]

Native Music Rocks is a music program created by Micki Free, designed to give Native American musicians an opportunity to tour alongside Micki and his band, American Horse Trio. The band features Cindy Blackman-Santana, former drummer for Lenny Kravitz, and David Santos on bass. Free was Director of the Native Music Rocks program and went on to create the first Native American Record company, Native Music Rocks Records, distributed by Fontana/Universal Music. He was a recording artist on the label as well as Chief Creative officer/VP. The event was sponsored by Hard Rock International and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.[12]

Free was invited to appear as part of an all-star cast of Native American musicians, known as Native Rocks, at the American Indian Inaugural Ball in Arlington, Virginia, on the occasion of president Barack Obama's inauguration. He performed with Native Rocks at a related event at the Hard Rock Cafe prior to performing at the Inaugural Ball.[13]

Micki's latest album to date is "Micki Free Turquoise Blue", featuring members of Santana, with special guests; Steve Stevens of Billy Idol, and Gary Clark, Jr. Micki's release "Tattoo Burn (2012), is a blues-rock style album written, produced, arranged, and performed by Free.[14]

Parody

Free's manner of dress and appearance during the early 1980s (and that of Prince) was parodied in the Chappelle's Show sketch Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories: "Prince - Uncensored" (February 18, 2004). The sketch is a retelling by Charlie Murphy about meeting Prince (played by Dave Chappelle) and engaging in a basketball game, with Prince and the Revolution still wearing their flashy clothes, dominating Murphy and his friends and later serving them pancakes.[15] In a 2016 interview, Free clarified that the events depicted in the sketch were "totally accurate" and that Prince played "like Michael Jordan".[16]

References

  1. ^ "Native American Music Awards: Previous Award Winners". Native American Music Awards. 2008. Retrieved January 17, 2009.
  2. ^ Sandra Hale Schulman (2002). "Rock Star "Micki Free" Joins The Seminole Tribe as "Deputy Director of Promotions"". News from Indian Country: The Independent Native Journal. Archived from the original on December 22, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2009.
  3. ^ Felix DoBosz (May 30, 2008). "Three Winners Announced at Star Search Finale". The Seminole Tribune. Retrieved January 17, 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ Volmers, Eirc (May 4, 2022). "Grammy-winning guitarist Micki Free brings eclectic Turquoise Blue to the Blues Can". Calgary Herald. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  5. ^ Ohryn, Taylor (September 12, 2023). "Micki Free— Grammy Award-Winning & 2022 Native American Music Awards Hall of Fame Inductee— Reveals Peace-Devoted New Single "We Are One"". Hashtag Magazine. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  6. ^ "Micki Free Biography". Mickifree.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
  7. ^ "Shalamar, biography". MyWire. February 1, 2007. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
  8. ^ Russel Smith (March 29, 1985). "Shalamar Recruits New Voices in Evolution of Funk Sound". Dallas Morning News.
  9. ^ Grammy Winners Search[permanent dead link‍] results for "Micki Free." Retrieved 17 January 2009.
  10. ^ "Winners Directory". Nativeamericanmusicawards.com. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  11. ^ Bill Donovan (September 14, 2002). "Native Artist Picked for 'Tonto'". Gallup Independent (N.M.). Archived from the original on February 3, 2010. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
  12. ^ Bureau, Diné (December 29, 2008). "Farmer, Plateros heading to D.C." Independent (Gallup, N.M.). Archived from the original on January 31, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2009. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  13. ^ Ruckman, S.E. (2009). "Tribes turn out for Obama Inauguration." Tuesday January 27, 2009. Indianz. Retrieved 5-17-2015.
  14. ^ "Micki Free Biography". Mickifree.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
  15. ^ "Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories - Prince - Uncensored True Hollywood Stories: Prince & Red Balls Energy Drink Season 2, Ep 5". Chappelle's Show. Comedy Central. February 18, 2004. Archived from the original on March 12, 2014.
  16. ^ "Micki Free: Chappelle Prince Skit 100% Accurate, Prince Played like Jordan". djvlad. youtube. May 31, 2016.