“I picked up so much in my little village. “I’ll play some res jams that are meaningful to my people back home,” Louie said. It’s all about staying true to myself.”Įxpect a number of tunes Louie learned while growing up on the reservation. “I’ve never committed to one sound,” Louie said. Louie offers an eclectic sonic menu, which includes country, rock, hip-hop and R&B. “Writing is this amazing outlet for me,” Louie said. Friday at the Native Jam at Northern Quest Resort and Casino, has been detailing the Native American experience through his compelling songs for over a decade. That’s where I had my musical education.” “But home to me is the Colville Reservation. I’ve lived all over the place, including Spokane,” Louie said. Louie, 32, is a member of the Colville Reservation in Inchelium, which is 80 miles northwest of Spokane. What we’ve been battling as a native people is that eraser.” “Erased is the perfect word to describe those who have made accomplishments in the Indigenous world,” Louie said, while calling from his Inchelium, Washington, home. It’s as if Bailey has been erased from music history. However, Bailey somehow slipped through the cracks of entertainment. Bailey is a historic figure, who enjoyed great success as a jazz singer during the 1930s.
When discussing music and life on the reservation with singer-songwriter Tony Louie, the subject turned to Mildred Bailey, arguably the greatest Indigenous singer in North American history.
