by Sandra Hale Schulman

News From Indian Country

Brulé, the award-winning group headed up by Paul LaRoche, is hitting the international radar with a slew of new multi-media projects.

Four years of work went into the book Hidden Heritage... the Story of Paul LaRoche which is set for release by Beaver’s Pond Press, Minneapolis, on July 1. LaRoche is one of the top-selling Native American recording artists with more than a million CDs sold worldwide. Brulé and his award-winning band, AIRO (American Indian Rock Opera), tour the U.S. with approximately 100 or more appearances each year. This compelling book addresses the tensions and triumphs of family life, and touches on the themes of identity, purpose, and reconciliation while following a dream.

LaRoche’s music is a result of his life story.

Adopted at birth, LaRoche grew up in white, middle-class America and didn’t uncover his Native American heritage until he was in his mid-30s. Risking everything to reunite with his blood family on the Lower Brule Sioux Reservation, LaRoche walked away from his engineering background in the Twin Cities to discover his true ancestry and bridge the gap between white and Native America.

The result is a musical synthesis of the two cultures. The distinct sound of Brulé, a hauntingly beautiful mix of flute, piano, traditional drum, and various guitars, has captured the attention of actor Kevin Costner, First Americans in the Arts, and the Native American Music Awards.

In June 2006, Brulé won “Best Compilation Recording” for his release The Collection, while AIRO won “Group of the Year” for its release Tatanka at the NAMA Awards in Hollywood, FL.

“This new book chronicles the journey,” says LaRoche by phone. “So many people had been asking us about our unusual family story that we felt we had to tell it in a book. We are also working on a new record – a holiday CD and tour that will be the largest and most expansive we have done. The theme is the Nativity, as we present the holiday season from a Native perspective. We take classic holiday music and put our spin on it. We’ve also had a South Dakota PBS film crew following us around for a documentary of South Dakota families. It will run on TV, plus there will be a DVD release.”

Paul’s mission is to be a role model and to use his music to bridge the gap between cultures. In 1999, Paul was selected as a musical ambassador and speaker for the UN Peace Conference held in the Hague Center for Peace, Netherlands. Brulé’s annual coast to coast tour with his band AIRO has included performances at such venues as the Hollywood premier of the movie Open Range; Indian Art Markets in Denver, Arlington, and Overland Park, KS; Harbor Fest in Virginia Beach; Indian Summer in Milwaukee; the world-renowned Ordway Theater in St. Paul, various tribal casinos and many additional outdoor festivals and events. Brulé and AIRO’s tour consist of live, outdoor performances up to full-stage concert productions of We the People and One Holy Night.

Brulé has become one of the top-selling Native American recording artists with more than a million CDs sold worldwide. With national appearances on Regis and Kathie Lee, CNN Worldbeat, QVC, and others, Brulé has come of age. The live performances have created a contagious excitement. Brulé was presented the 1999 “Outstanding Musical Achievement Award” by the The First Americans in the Arts, 2002 “Group of the Year” and “Best Instrumental Recording” for Star People, and 2003 “Best Instrumental Recording” for Night Tree from the NAMA.

Current band members include Paul LaRoche on keyboards. His early bands played a variety of musical styles and traveled the Midwest. His recording career was launched in 1975 with the release of his first solo LP. The 70s and 80s were scattered with musical ventures, engineering jobs, and years of raising his family with wife Kathy.

For many of these years, Paul turned his attention to audio engineering and recording with a heavy emphasis on computer aided recording and music sequencing. As technology improved, Paul became proficient with analog and on digital audio recording software and hardware. In and out of over 15 bands over 20 years, Paul finally took a leave of absence from music in 1989. As fate would have it, Paul was reunited with his biological Lakota family in 1993. His family, along with wife Kathy, encouraged Paul to re-enter the music industry this time as a cultural role model and “Brulé” was born.

Nicole LaRoche (Paul’s daughter), began playing the flute at age 11. She was a member of the Eden Prairie junior high school band and studied under the well-known flute instructor Judy Ranheim during high school. Nicole was accepted to perform with the Minneapolis Youth Symphony where she gathered her early stage experience. Classical music lost its appeal soon after high school, and Nicole teamed up with her father at Brulé’s debut performance in St. Paul to a crowd of 20 patrons.

Nicole has been performing with the band for the past six years, and her unique flute sound combines classical and traditional styles with a contemporary edge that has become the signature sound to the Brulé catalog.

Shane LaRoche (Paul’s son) is the newest member of band and joined in June of 2002. He is a college graduate from the University of Hawaii, Hilo, where he majored in anthropology. During Shane’s college years his interests were baseball, music, and cultural studies. Shane played competitive baseball all through high school and college, but his love for music brought him back to Brulé. Self-taught on classical guitar and well versed in many genres, Shane brings a new sound to Brulé, as well as many new fans from the younger generation.

Multi-talent Moses Brings Plenty on traditional drums and percussion, is a proud descendant of Chief Brings Plenty from the Lakota Nation. Born and raised on the Pine Ridge Reservation, Moses now serves as a young spiritual leader and active speaker for the people. Fluent in the Lakota language and the true traditional ways of his people, Moses is also a strong role model, inspiring the youth to also lead a drug and alcohol free lifestyle.

As a traditional drummer and singer, Moses is honored to join Brulé & AIRO to help further their efforts towards reconciliation and a peaceful understanding of the Lakota culture. His acting credits are numerous, some of which include: Hidalgo, Pirates of the Caribbean, Comanche Warrior and Who Killed Crazy Horse for BBC films in the title role.

Kathy Summers, Paul’s wife, is the stabilizing force behind Brulé. She has provided belief, persistence, and patience over the past 27 years. It is because of Kathy’s many sacrifices and unwavering faith in husband and composer Paul Laroche that the Brulé story has unfolded.

Today, Kathy is the group’s artistic/business manager, booking agent, photographer/videographer and executive producer. Among her many talents are strong office and communication skills, the ability to work well with people, excellent salesmanship, numerous marketing skills, and an ear for commercialism. Kathy plays an important role in virtually all aspects of the Brulé operation. Though she remains behind the scenes as far as the live Brulé performance, she is a talented and prolific violinist. She studied and played violin for many years, but feels most comfortable at the helm of the business operation. As well as the many hats she wears for Brulé, she is also a wonderful wife, loving mother, and grandmother.

“We are also planning to film a live concert at Mt. Rushmore with the South Dakota symphony and a whole cast of local musicians and dancers,” says Paul. “We are free agents now, running our own label, so we are really looking to expand what we can do, including European tours. I know it all sounds ambitious, but with faith we know we can move mountains.”

For the latest tour updates and band information, www.brulerecords.com

Hidden Heritage... the Story of Paul LaRoche, by Barbara Marshak; Beaver’s Pond Press, Minneapolis, MN $19.99.