Keith Secola Benefit Concert /In Az?

Secola, a group of performers, raise food shelf donations, money for heating costs

Angie Riebe
Mesabi Daily News
Wednesday, November 15th, 2006


Keith Secola, who feels blessed for his gift of music and his heritage and upbringing on the Iron Range, is once again providing an offering to the community in which he was raised.

The award-winning Native American recording artist will merge his talent and bond to the area in two concerts this weekend to raise money to help low-income families stay warm and well-fed this winter.

The third annual Keith Secola & Friends Benefit Concert and Silent Auction will take place Friday at the Lincoln School Auditorium in Hibbing and Saturday at Goodman Auditorium at the Virginia High School. Doors will open each night at 6 p.m. for the silent auction; concerts will begin at 7 p.m.

"It's a way of showing gratitude, of repaying and honoring my roots," Secola, of Arizona, said by phone Wednesday.

Tickets cost $5 per person or $12 for families, plus a non-perishable food shelf item, all of which will be donated to the food shelves in Gilbert and Hibbing. All concert, silent auction and cash donations will go toward the local Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency's "Reach Out for Warmth" program to assist low-income families with heating bills.

For every dollar donated, the state will match $2 for the local program. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will also contribute $1 for each $4 raised, up to $1,000.

Last year, more than $2,500 was raised for "Reach Out for Warmth," and more than a ton of food items were collected.

With the addition of a second concert in Hibbing this year, organizers aim to double donations. "We're hoping for a lot of cash donations," in addition to food, said Sandy Wallin of Range Mental Health Center, which helped spearhead the Arrowhead Committee to Feed the Hungry and the Secola concert in 2004.

On Saturday, Bob Villebrun of Fortune Bay Resort Casino will also present a check to the food shelves from the casino's Thanks for Giving Food Drive, which began Nov.1. For every $5 donation, tickets were given for a Nov. 19 drawing, with a top prize of $1,000. Fortune Bay is also matching the donations, said Nancy Lannroos, chairwoman of the Arrowhead Committee to Feed the Hungry.

"For each dollar donated, food shelves will be able to purchase $10 of food," she said.

Native American Fancy Dancers in full regalia and a drum group will also perform.

Secola often incorporates audience participation in his concerts, such as calling children up on stage during certain songs, Wallin said. "It's a good family event. It's a good event to bring children to."

"I break down the wall between the audience and the performers," said Secola, who grew up in Parkville and is a member of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa.

"I love the land and I love the people" of the Iron Range, he said. He's happy to contribute to the "grassroots effort" to assist people "who fall between the cracks."

"I try to do a few benefit concerts every year," said the six-time Native American Music Awards winner. His concerts have assisted native youth and elders, suicide prevention, and AIDS and HIV awareness.

Growing up he had strong ties to both the native and non-native communities, he said. "Music transcends" boundaries, and "compassion for people is important."

Secola, who moved to Arizona in 1982, is a master guitarist, native flute player, singer, songwriter, composer and producer. His music is familiar to thousands of fans across North America and Europe, where he's been playing his brand of progressive music in concerts to a cult following for many years, according to his Web site at www.secola.com.

He describes his music as "Native Americana" — also the name of a recent CD.

It's a blend of blues, folk, country, mellow and heavy rock, reggae, indigenous and world beat. Some songs combine electric guitar with the Native American flute, tribal drums, and native chants; and many songs speak to day-to-day lives of Native Americans. Secola said his music has metaphysical qualities and makes people think.

His well-known song "NDN Kars" is considered the contemporary Native American anthem and is the most requested song on native radio in the United States and Canada. He has also shared the stage with artists including David Bowie, Randy Travis, the Indigo Girls, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and the Neville Brothers.

Some of Secola's recent awards include best folk/acoustic CD at Canada's Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, and 2006 artist of the year at the Native American Music awards.

"That's the highest award that can be given to a Native American recording artist," he said of the latter. "All the more reason to give back to his roots, to "combine successful music with helping people," Secola said.

He has also been working with the Bois Forte band on CD projects, including a recent language CD that presents the spoken Ojibwe language with flute and guitar music.

Secola said he will perform new songs at the concerts Friday and Saturday. "The concerts won't be the same."

Tickets can be purchased at the door or in Virginia at the Range Mental Health Center's Bell Building, Natural Harvest Food Co-op, Schmitt Music, and the Sportspage Bar; in Hibbing at the Hibbing Family Investment Center, and Rupar Music; in Ely at Music Outfitters.