Redbird Giving, founded in 1997, is a musical fusion of traditional Native of Traditional Native American instruments and music with jazz and rock.
Through poetry and singing in both indigenous language (Cherokee) and English, contemporary Indian issues are explored. Songs and poetry are written by Nanette Bradley, (Cherokee) founder of the band, and as Ms. Bradley says, "many Indian issues are tackled, some highly personal and some very political -- but ultimately taken from my own experiences as an Indian artist creating within this end of the 20th Century environment."
Other band members include Dave Amato on lead guitar, Johnny Beane (Dakota/Creek) on guitar, Raven on cedar bird-whistle flute, Darryl Spencer (Navajo) on drums. Ms. Bradley earned her B.A. and M.A. from UCLA in Theater Arts and Dance and has appeared in the original film Yozi of "Carrie" and in the film "1941 " with John Belushi. She has been performing for many years, and began writing poetry fifteen years ago. Ms. Bradley is registered with the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation in North Carolina, and when not making music, she teaches in Special Education at Fremont High School in Oakland, California.