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Mountain Stage Remembers John Trudell

John Trudell on Mountain Stage
Brian Blauser
John Trudell on Mountain Stage

John Trudell - "Rockin' the Rez" - Live from Mountain Stage

John Trudell on Mountain Stage
Credit Brian Blauser
John Trudell on Mountain Stage

Outspoken and charismatic Native American activist John Trudell died this week. While Trudell’s triumphs and tragedies as an activist and leader are chronicled in this NYT obituary, Trudell was also an important musician, author, and poet who brought his songs and spoken word pieces to Mountain Stage multiple times. Larry Groce remembers:

“John Trudell was one of the most powerful performers to ever appear on Mountain Stage. Each of his three visits was chilling. The depth of his material and the uncompromising spirit of his artistry was second to none. His was a serious message delivered through song poems like “Rockin’ the Res” and “Hanging from the Cross” that burned into the listener. He’s the rare kind of artist Mountain Stage was created to showcase.”

Copyright 2015 West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Josh Saul