Micki Free | |
|---|---|
 Free performing at the Kitchener Bluesfest in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1955-05-20)May 20, 1955 (age 70) |
| Genres | Rock,blues,electric blues,blues rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician,songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, vocals,Native American flute, harmonica |
| Labels | Native Music Rocks Records |
| Website | The Official Website of Micki Free |
Micki Free (born May 20, 1955) is aguitarist and singer ofNative American descent. He won aGrammy Award for his contribution to theBeverly Hills Cop (1984) movie soundtrack and has won twoNative American Music Awards.[1] He is the director of Promotions and Special Events for theSeminole Tribe of Florida, owners ofHard Rock International.[2][3]
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 aJimi 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 byGene Simmons ofKISS, during a concert at which Smokehouse was the opening act for KISS,Ted Nugent, andREO Speedwagon. After Simmons' encouragement, Free joinedShalamar 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 theFootloose soundtrack, and aGrammy for "Don't Get Stopped In Beverly Hills" from theBeverly Hills Cop (1984) soundtrack in 1985.[9] With Shalamar, he was nominated for a Grammy three times.
After Shalamar, Free andJean Beauvoir (ofThe Plasmatics) founded anAOR band, Crown of Thorns. Free later founded, The Micki Free Electric Blues Experience, withJon Brant (formerly ofCheap Trick) on bass, and Curly Smith (formerly ofBoston) on drums. Recognition for his musical career after Shalamar came from theNative American Music Awards, where he won in the categories of Male Artist in 2002 and Pop Rock artist in 2004. Free 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] Free has recorded withBilly Gibbons ofZZ Top and the DVD/CD/EP releaseMicki Free Live in Hyde Park featuredBill Wyman, formerly ofThe Rolling Stones. In 2002, he was cast to playTonto in a new production ofThe Lone Ranger.[11]
Native Music Rocks is a music program created by Free, designed to give Native American musicians an opportunity to tour alongside Micki and his band, American Horse Trio. The band featuresCindy Blackman-Santana, former drummer forLenny Kravitz, and David Santos on bass. Free was Director of theNative 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 theSeminole 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 inArlington, Virginia, on the occasion of presidentBarack Obama's inauguration. He performed with Native Rocks at a related event at theHard Rock Cafe prior to performing at the Inaugural Ball.[13] Free's releaseTattoo Burn (2012), is a blues-rock style album written, produced, arranged, and performed by Free.[14] Micki's latest album to date isTurquoise Blue (2022).
Free's manner of dress and appearance during the early 1980s (and that ofPrince) was parodied in theChappelle's Show sketchCharlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories: "Prince - Uncensored" (February 18, 2004). The sketch is a retelling byCharlie Murphy about meeting Prince (played byDave 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]
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