Thousands of spectators watched and listened to nine talented contestants sing their songs. The pressure was on, with $1000 prize money and free drums to be won.
On Saturday, all ten Native American singers played before the judges. A tense sing-off betwen Otter Big Mountain (Cree) and Alex Alvarez (Creek) left both young men wondering who would score more points for the coveted first place position and prizes on Sunday. As Otter played, his mother and sister danced the traditional round dance to cheer him on.
Otter Big Mountain, Cree, Saskatchewan Canada
Jimmy Big Mountain, Mohawk Comanche, Florida
Alex Alvarez, Muskogee Creek, Atmore, AL
Jake Chappell (Comanche Kiowa), Daniel Dean (Lakota), both from Georgia
Katrina Fisher, Cree, Saskatchewan Canada with son, Otter
Keith Sharphead, Cree, Florida
Mike Thompson, Cherokee, Cherokee, NC
Paige Burgess, Comanche, Oklahoma
Katrina and daugher round-dancing for Otter Big Mountain's play-off song
Hand Drum Contestants Anxiously Await Ranking for First Day of Contest
At the end of Day One, contestants wait anxiously for our three judges to reveal the points scored. Our three impartial, but knowledgable judges were:
(1) Dan Burke, veteran powwow trader for 33 years. (2) Joey Pierce, designer and jewelry-smith of fine Native American jewelry, veteran powwow trader, dancer and promoter. (3) Robin Jumper, Cherokee champion powwow dancer since childhood.
Alex, Day 2
Jake & Daniel, Day 2
Jimmy, Day 2
Otter, Day 2
Paige, Day 2
Keith, Day 2
Mike, Day 2
Day 2 of the competition thinned out the contestants. Seven entries, including the team of Jake and Daniel, vied for the prize money and free hand drums. They sang awesome songs. Every singer put his entire heart and soul into their drumming and singing. They used the "scratch drum" beat, stopping the vibrations of a drum beat with their thumb. The grass dance beat, with stick against the side of the drum was employed. Most contestants combined a multitude of drum beats and the range of their voices went from the highest high to lowest low, all in perfect rhythm to the beat of their drums.
The crowd went crazy after each drummer performed. Judges had to wait to call the next drummer until the applause and hooting calmed. And with each new singer, we were all transformed to another place and time by the sound of their voices joined with the drums.
After much scratching of heads, and an equal amount of scratching on the score sheets, the hard decision was made. The judges handed Keith and Cheryl their results. We called each winner to the stage and congratulated them. Each winner played a victory song, and I do believe that those three victory songs topped all the rest of the singing for the weekend!
The Drum People want to thank all of the talented men and women who entered the 2008 Hand Drum Competition in Cartersville, GA the weekend of October 11 and 12.
We would also like to thank all of our donors for making it possible to award such generous prizes to the winners: $500 first place, $300 second place and $200 third place. Plus we had money left to hire a photographer to capture the event for us.
Special Thanks to Betty A. Frady, photographer extraordinaire, who took all of the contest photos. To contact Betty to photograph your event, email her at bettyafrady@comcast.net or call her: 770-479-5608.
Special Thanks also to Mr. Chipa Wolfe, the man. Thanks for lending us a stage, and scheduling this hand drum competition into your annual Cartersville powwow. Contact Chipa at http://www.rthunder.com.
Chipa Wolfe hands over the microphone to Keith Little Badger
Call Today: 1-256-538-0246 (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m Central Time Weekdays to speak to live person) Can always leave message on weekends and we will call back ASAP
This Web Site was Created and Maintainted by Cheryl Talking Bird Last Update: October 5, 2011
