The year in entertainment

(Special to the Times - Donovan Quintero)

Teen-age guitar prodigy Levi Platero performs in 2009.

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The year 2009 produced a lot of stories within the entertainment, arts & culture and people sections of the Navajo Times. It's only fitting that we reflect on some of the year's top stories.

Navajo blues band The Plateros shine

The blues band fronted by teenage guitar prodigy Levi Platero celebrated many memorable moments this year including some outstanding performances at the El Morro Theater in Gallup, Stage 49 during the Gathering of Nations Powwow, opening gigs for Indigenous and Blues Traveler and other show across the country.

The band consists of Levi Platero (guitar and vocals), Levi's father Murphy Platero (bass and vocals) and cousin Douglas Platero (drums and backing vocals).

The Plateros released their debut album "Hang On" in the spring and it has done exceptionally well.

With the help of Shonie and Andee De La Rosa, co-owners Sheephead Films, the band released music videos "Forever I'm With You," and "Without You." "Forever" was an official selection of the 2009 American Indian Film Festival.

With the electrifying performances that Levi and Co. deliver there's no doubt that 2009 was just the beginning for big things to happen for this band.

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Comedy and music at the heart of Navajoland

The first annual Comedy and Music Festival took place during the Central Navajo Fair at the Pinon High School auditorium in August.

It was a big night for local and national talent.

The performers included comedian and folk singer James Bilagody, funnyman Pax Harvey Jr., illusionist Myg Blade and blues band The Plateros.

Also some of Indian Country's finest performers such as Jana Mashonee and Litefoot dazzled the audience.

Dancer Samsoche and Lumhe Sampson, brothers and sons of the late actor Will Sampson, flanked Jana onstage and danced as she performed.

Litefoot's performance was a show-stopping event, especially as he took time out to encourage Native youth to remember their heritage, culture and history.

He also encouraged them to remember that regardless of how they may think they've gotten away with things, when the time comes they will have to answer to the holy spirits for any wrongs they committed.

Young voice with a big heart

When Arianne Sheka, Navajo/Zuni/Cheyenne/Arapaho/Kiowa, stands behind a drum group with other female backup singers at a powwow, you know you are witnessing one of the best.

She is the eldest daughter of Matthew Sheka Sr. and Crystal White Shield. Her brothers are Matthew Sheka Jr. and Maximus Sheka. She is the granddaughter of Margaret and Leonard Sheka Jr. of Fort Defiance.

Her grandmother Margaret believes that her singing was passed down through her paternal grandfather's side of the family because they were part of the world famous Zuni olla maidens.

"I think so," Arianne said. "I just know that I love to sing."

The singing tradition began when Arianne was three years old and her father and grandfather were singing with the Southern Medicine drum.

Since that time, with encouragement and guidance, Arianne's love for singing magnified. She has sang backup to some of Indian Country's finest drums like The Boyz of Minnesota, Thunder Hill of Weatherford, Okla., and Southern Outlawz and Mile Post 30 of Tse Daa K'aan, N.M.

"To me she's family first," said Cheevers Toppah, Diné/Kiowa, lead singer for the famed southern drum group Thunder Hill. "I've known her since she was a little baby. She's related to me on my Kiowa side. Her mother is Kiowa and has strong ties to people from the Kiowa nation. Her grandpa is an uncle to me."

"She makes us complete," said J.R. Keeswood, lead singer for Mile Post 30 and Southern Outlawz. "With Utania (Nelson) and Veronica (Keeswood), the singing is even more powerful. When I see Arianne at a powwow I know we're going to have good, strong backup singers.

"She's powerful, really powerful," Keeswood said. "When she sings with us everything is good. I'm really proud of her."

"She sings because there is that passion for it and I think that's what really keeps her humble," Toppah said. "She's a great asset to the Navajo and Kiowa nations. There are so many people that are proud of her."

Former American Idol Contestant Performs

Rising country music star Bucky Covington performed during the Navajo Nation Fair in September.

Covington performed for an audience of more than 7,000 people at the Dean C. Jackson Memorial Arena on Sept. 11.

His greeting - "Window Rock! How are ya?" - brought a screaming response from the audience.

Caught up in the energy of the moment, Covington at one point jumped off the stage and walked up and down between the barrier and stage greeting fans.

At one point he invited a young Navajo cowgirl to sit next to him onstage as he sang. He also introduced his twin brother Rocky, who plays drums in his band, and Rocky sang lead on a couple of songs.

Among the songs Covington performed were "Seven Special Angels," "I'll Walk," "Unchain My Heart," "I'm Good," "Mexicoma," and a country version of Pink Floyd's "The Wall."

Covington and his bass player, Scott Cook, even did their best to get their tongues around the Navajo greeting "Yá'át'ééh," which came out sounding more like "Yah-Tah-Hey."

In a quick interview after the show, the two were effusive.

"Man, it was unbelievable!" Cook said. "It's just so wonderful to meet the people here. It has really opened my eyes to the Navajo Nation."

New funny man on the verge

Up and coming funny man Pax Harvey Jr. is gearing up to make the Navajo language "sexy."

"Imagine using the slang today," Harvey said. "If you were to say, 'Damn, that girl is hot.' How would it sound in Navajo? 'Doolá doo sido da.'"

The audience that attended the Comedy and Singing Night at the Navajo Nation Museum on July 2 laughed at the translation.

"What if you were to say, 'That is sweet,'" he asked. "That would be, 'T'ooahoyoi doo likan da.'"

Harvey also shares personal advice as well.

The true test of a relationship, according to Harvey, who has been married 14 years, is the "fart test."

"Tl'id! That's the key to marriage," he said. "If you're dating and you want to know if this was meant to be, just do it. Just let it out, man.

"If she gets disgusted and walks away, let her go. Nichxo (leave her alone). T'áá bindii naaghá (just let her go)."

The audience roared with laughter, while some were agog with disbelief, either at his suggestion or his subject.

"If you let it go and she pretends that it didn't happen, if she was like, 'Oh my God, but hi!' it was meant to be."

Pax Harvey Jr. has come a long way since his debut but his brand of humor is new and definitely "rez related."

Information: www.myspace.com/paxharvey.

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