Bill Stevens

Ch'adzah Aghwaa ('He Carries Dances')

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....." — Internet Underground Music Archive 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.

This summer, from May through mid-Septemtber, Bill is working again as a cultural interpreter and artist in residence for Doyon/Aramark at Denali National Park in Alaska. He will provide tour guides and music. Check out these photos!

From July 31st through August 3, Bill will be attending and performing at the Moosehide Gathering in Moosehide Village via Yukon River in Dawson City, Yukon, Canada.Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Government - 867-993-7100

Bill's latest CD, "Fiddlin' Through the Years", is a compilation CD of many of his past works.
Bill plans for this to be his last CD he'll be putting out.

[ 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!

For booking availability & CD Information: Bill Stevens PO Box 10025 Fairbanks, AK 99710 Phone: 907.451.TUNE (8863) You can also contact me through Facebook: Bill Stevens - Athabascan Fiddler