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Artist
Primeaux & Mike
12+ albums
native americanethniclakotarelaxingtraditional
about
Verdell Primeaux is of Oglalla/Yankton Sioux and Ponca heritage and was born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Verdell represents the Seven Council Fires of the Lakota and the Eagle Clan of the Ponca Nation. Verdell's mother, Delores Arapahoe, an Ogllala Lakota, is a descendant of Chiefs Many Horses, Red Cloud and Crazy Horse. At birth Verdell was diagnosed with a combination of spinal meningitis and yellow meningitis. Verdell's father, Francis Primeaux, Sr., traveled to Texas where he harvested, with the help of Amanda Cardenas and family, peyote, which at the time was illegal to possess even for religious reasons. Francis returned home with the peyote and through prayer and songs of the Native American Church, cured Verdell's illness. Today, Verdell considers himself a living testimony to the healing power of God and Peyote. At the age of two, Verdell received Holy Baptism which was performed by his great grandfather, Solomon Red Bear, Sr. By the time he was five, Verdell began singing and learning Lakota culture and tradition. When he was thirteen, Verdell recorded four albums with his father and at the age of sixteen he began composing lyrics and rhythms. Verdell believes that God has enabled him to help restore and maintain balance, peace, harmony and beauty for all people though his prayer music. In conjunction with colleague, Johnny Mike, Verdell developed healing chants or "Two in One" music, which are peyote melodies and harmonies sung without drum or rattle accompanime
