Welcome to Michael Bucher.com. This is my site which was inspired by my album Seven.
If this music helps one person to survive, to heal, or helps them on
their way to wellbriety, it is all worth the effort. If it helps one
person realize they do have a voice and can help stop the desecration,
it did what it was intended. If it helps one person understand everyone
of us makes mistakes, but it's never to late to return to our center,
and in a good way, enjoy the journey we're on, it is complete.
I came from a musical
family where almost everyone was self taught. I grew up listening to
Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn and all the popular country music artists of
the day. As a teenager my musical tastes expanded to include Rock,
Blues, and R&B.
By my early twenties I
started writing my own songs and through the years have refined my
style and approach to music. My influences and inspirations are broad
and varied, but some of who include Buddy Red Bow, Johnny Cash, Buffy
St.Marie, Neil Young and Bill Miller.
One of my favorite
hobbies is Native style drum making. I made my first drum when I was
eight years old with the help of my grandmother. Years later I
came back to Native drums and now make hand drums and old pow-wow style
drums, which are logs that I hollow out and lace various types of
rawhide heads to. The Native drum that you hear on this CD, Seven,
was made by me.
My feelings for the drum are strong . The tree is a
gift from the Creator. It is part of the balance and stays true to it's
purpose.
The drum is a sacred vessel that should not to be mistreated
or disrespected. It is the heartbeat of the people.
Latest News!
New CD:
Michael's newest cd 'Believe' picks up where his award winning cd 'Seven' left off. 'Believe' cranks it up a notch or two and is evident with the songs he's put down in this highly anticipated cd. His approach to songwriting, as only a few in this genre can do, and as Native People's magazine writes of Michael,"an American songwriting icon", is stronger than ever. The musical versatility in songs like Fat Cats, Sacred Ground, For Chief Joseph, Blessings and the title track Believe are enough to satisfy all styles. He has dedicated this cd to the children throughout Indian Country who are battling their struggle with suicide. A rate 70% higher than any other race in the country in ages 18 and under. It's for who and why he wrote the title track 'Believe'. As usual for Michael, he sings about issues and topics in Indian Country he feels strongly about and uniquely covers them in these 11 new songs. All are straight from the heart. And as usual, straight into yours.
Track Listing:
1. Blessings
2. For Chief Joseph
3. Sacred Ground
4. Never Meant To Make You Bleed
5. Texas Cherokee
6. Fat Cats
7. Believe
8. Ahani Tsi Toga-Here I Stand
9. Mountain Top Removal
10. Cedar Smoke or the Flame
11. Amazing Grace-Instrumental
Price: $15.00 + $2.00 S&H
To order by mail:
Michael Bucher
PO Box 181
Birchwood, WI, 54817
Form Object
Michael and Joanne Shenandoah win at the 2009 Native American Music Awards for 'Best Compilation' with their latest cd "Bitter Tears - Sacred Ground".
Also winning in September at the 2009 Indian Summer Music Awards for 'Best Folk'.
Comments:
"Michael Bucher is an American songwriting icon." -- Native People's Magazine
"Michael's music is some of the best I've heard in a long time. Nothing less than phenomenal" -- Vincent Schilling, author/columnist for Indian Country Today
"Michael's music and his 'Dirty Water' video is an excellent recourse for teaching college students about American Indian Sacred Sites. Thank you for your
hard work." Reno Charette - Director of American Indian Studies - Montana State Univ./Billings
"Thank you beyond my ability to express into words for your music. When I first heard 'Don't Forget About Me', I cried, and still do. It touches me in a very
deep and sacred place." -- Mary Jo -- fan from Petaluma, Ca.
Michael and Joanne Shenandoah are nominated in the following cartegories.
Best Male - Michael Bucher
Best Video - "Don't Forget About Me" written by Michael Bucher
Best Compilation - Bitter Tears-Sacred Ground - Joanne Shenandoah & Michael Bucher
Best Record - Bitter Tears - Sacred Ground - Joanne Shenandoah & Michael Bucher
Best Female - Joanne Shenandoah
Song/Single - Riding Free written by Joanne Shenandoah
Michael and Joanne Shenandoah win 'Best Folk' category at the 2009 Indian Summer Music Awards for "Bitter Tears - Sacred Ground"
New CD:
Bitter Tears/Sacred Ground
Joanne Shenandoah and Michael Bucher
"Bitter Tears-Sacred Ground" is a new release from Michael Bucher and Joanne Shenandoah. It contains 13 songs and takes the listener on a musical journey through Native history in true Joanne and Michael style. While honoring Johnny Cash, Peter La Farge and Floyd Red Crow Westerman, 5 songs are redone from the Johnny Cash album "Bitter Tears" which has through the years weaved its own legacy through Indian Country. Then there's the soulfull and beautiful rendition of "Star Spangled Banner" as only Joanne Shenandoah can sing it along with Joanne's version of Floyd's song, "They Didn't Listen".
To round off this cd are 6 original tunes from Joanne and Michael and give this cd it's own signature sound. Michael's picks for hits are "Riding Free" written by Joanne Shenandoah and "Sacred Ground" written by Michael.
2007 & 2008 Native American Music Awards nominee Michael Bucher films his latest music video, DON'T FORGET ABOUT ME at the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, Hot Springs, South Dakota.
DON'T FORGET ABOUT ME was produced and filmed in association by 2007 & 2008 Native American Music Awards nominees (Best Short Form Music Video) Karla LaRive of PK Productions, LLC (South Dakota) and Christopher Crosby of musicseenPROductions (New York). The music video is the third indigenous music video from PK Productions and features area re-enactors, Paula Tonemah and Krista Knapp.
The music video was shot on location at the Black Hill Wild Horse Sanctuary’s petrogylph site, along with other regional locations in July 2008. "The music video deals with the protection of Native burial grounds, Native grave sites and sacred sites. I try to tell people you wouldn't want your grandmother's grave dug up… nor do American Indian people. And, yet, it happens every day in Indian Country" says Michael Bucher.
Michael Bucher is a Cherokee singer-songwriter who was taught from the beginning of his memory the stories, language and legends of his people. His songs are intended to teach, heal and bring awareness to everyone who hears them. He sings about topics that are important to him and others in Indian Country. From the desecration of sacred sites, to Cherokee legends, to the sometimes seemingly Invisible Indian, there's a passionate quality throughout.
With strong vocals and heartfelt lyrics, his music is a blend of acoustic guitar, native and a contemporary drum, flute, shakers, rattles, bass and electric guitars, and cuts a swath through native folk, blues and rock. The Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary is the largest private non-profit wild horse sanctuary in northern America and has been in continuous operation since 1988. It is home to over 500 wild mustangs plus several film and television projects. Additional productions filmed on location at the Sanctuary are; Touchstone Pictures, HIDALGO; TNT made-for television movie, CRAZY HORSE; and Sean Penn's INTO THE WILD.
My new music video for Dirty Water from the album "Seven".
"Dirty Water" was produced in association with PK Productions, LLC and musicseen PROductions in fall 2007.
The tribute music video was directed by Christopher Crosby, also nominated for Shadowyze's, BUMPY ROADS (2006) and was shot on-location in Western South Dakota and Niagara Falls, New York.
The music video is about the sacred lands of Bear Butte Mountain being threatened by the continued development of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.
By my early twenties I
started writing my own songs and through the years have refined my
style and approach to music. My influences and inspirations are broad
and varied, but some of who include Buddy Red Bow, Johnny Cash, Buffy
St.Marie, Neil Young and Bill Miller.
