Bill Stevens
Ch'adzah Aghwaa ('He Carries Dances')
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Bill Stevens
is the most recognized Athabascan
fiddler in North America today. For 20 years he has been sharing
his cultural history of his music through recordings and public appearances
in the state of Alaska and around the world. He has made a concentrated
effort to ensure that the music of his culture is not lost.
"...Born at an Indian trapping camp, Nitchie Village, on the
Black River in the interior of Alaska. Bill's family home is in
Fort Yukon, Alaska. He grew up in the wilderness in a traditional
Indian lifestyle. Fiddle music was played at social events such
as potlatches, dances and holiday celebrations. As a young boy at
a dance he heard the fiddle music of the late Paul Ben Kassi of
Old Crow Yukon Territory Canada, inspired he took up fiddling....." A regular at the Athabascan Old-Time Fiddle Festival held each November in Fairbanks, AK, Bill shares his culture with fiddlers from all over the world in festivals year-round. In addition, he speaks and performs for many schools and also travels to Old Crow, all across Alaska, and the world, educating others through his performances. |
NEWS:
This
summer Bill worked again as a cultural interpreter and artist in residence
for Doyon/Aramark at Denali National Park in Alaska. He provided tour
guides and music.
Check out these photos!
Bill's
has a new CD, "Fiddlin' Through the
Years", which is a compilation CD of many of his past works.
Bill plans for this to be his last CD he'll be putting out.
NEW:
See Bill's family album from the liner
notes of his latest CD!
[ Additional news
]
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
To know more about Athabascan music, Bill highly recommends reading "The Crooked Stovepipe" by Craig Mishler. It should be mandatory reading for anyone interested in learning about this music. The book is filled with information about many Gwich'in fiddlers, past and present, with the utmost detail.
Bill was also featured in the Summer '99 issue of Fiddler Magazine. Both the book and the magazine article provide samples of the music. I've tried playing it to his CD and let me tell you, it's not as easy as you might think!
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For booking availability & CD Information: Bill Stevens Phone: 907.451.TUNE (8863) Email: |
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This is the official, authorized web presence for Bill
Stevens.
For questions, contact Bill Stevens, see above, or the webmaster:
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