Richard Anderson Jr., lead guitarist/singer for Mother Earth Blues Band, believes practice is the key to the blues. Anderson is a fervent guitarist and bluesman, jamming his guitar throughout his daily activities.
"This is our calling in life, to play the blues around the world," Anderson said.
MEBB is quickly becoming recognized as one of the best blues outfits originating from the Navajo Nation. Since 1998, the band has been performing in one incarnation or another, searing venues across the reservation with their blistering live performances of raw, uncut Navajo blues.
Anderson also plays guitar for the other critically acclaimed Navajo blues band, Rocking Horse.
MEBB is: Richard Anderson Jr. (lead guitar/vox), Merlin "Wizard" Yazzie Jr. (bass guitar) and Fred Vigil (drums). The three-piece outfit from Arizona recently returned from a successful gig in New York City.
The Shinnecock Nation hosted a blues festival of mainstream and native acts from across the country. MEBB was received well by the blues fans in South Hampton, New York in early Sept. 2004.
"It was a blast," said Anderson on the opportunity to play in New York. "The Shinnecock Indian Nation was such a great host. New Yorkers are cool. They either love you or not, there's no grey area."
Mother Earth used top shelf equipment, including a million dollar sound system from the world's biggest sound system-studio-instrument rental company based in New York City.
"I got to play a rented 1963 cream USA Strat that's been played by everyone from Keith Richards to Lou Reed. It's their most requested rented Strat," Anderson said.
MEBB will be returning to New York City in early 2005, to open for blues legend Buddy Guy. Anderson said Guy is one of his guitar heroes, alongside Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn.
He counts off his favorites: "Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Dr. John, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimi, Santana... All the spiritual guitar players who were playing from someplace else."
Admiration for the guitar legends led Anderson into the world of music and he's never looked back. He is also owner of Warpony Arts, an online store selling native handcrafted art.
In Aug. 2004, Anderson brought home a blue ribbon award from the Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial, for his 'Warrior' piece, which was a twin war shirt set, complete with breast plates, a bow and quiver of arrows.
He also makes a wide selection of lances, knives, guitar straps and medicine bags handcrafted from his residence in Crownpoint, NM.
Although Anderson retains a strong native cultural connection through his artwork, his talent to make the guitar speak in different tongues is definitely on a mainstream level.
"We're more in the mainstream and not just the native flutes, or the karaoke crap," Anderson said. "No fashion show, no feathers... just real people playing real music on stage."
He explains the MEBB style: "We like to keep it simple: guitar bass, drums and vocals. It's very stripped down, what you see is what you hear, a very meat-and-potatoes approach."
The band's early beginnings resulted from heartache and pain, in genuine blues style, Anderson said.
"Well Merlin is my cousin and we grew up together," Anderson said. "In 2001, both our lives fell apart. I was in a messy divorce and she took my kids.
"Merlin was in a relationship that failed too. We could have just given up on life and become drunks or drug addicts, but we chose music to heal us and find our destiny in this life," he said.
Growing up and listening to old Motown, Jimi Hendrix and the soundtrack to the Blues Brothers movie had a profound impact on Anderson, a feeling he likened to coming home for the first time.
He came home to the blues and decided to stay.
40 original songs later, Anderson and MEBB are working on a new album and enjoying successful sales of their six song acoustic CD available on their website: www.motherearthbluesband.com.
Although Mother Earth is knowledgeable about the blues, Anderson said getting gigs is one of the toughest challenges, no matter how good the band can play.
"We are the most under hired bands in Navajoland because they just don't accept the blues like the do in mainstream America, which is sad because the blues is the very foundation of every music style in America," Anderson said.
When he goes to work, Anderson's tools are: a Marshall 100-watt tube half stack and a USA 1963 Gibson Les Paul. The source of the lyrics is the heart and soul of humanity - love, loss and redemption.
"Last year, I was at Ft. Sumner with my wife. 3,000-plus Navajo died there in nameless graves and mass burials," Anderson said.
"I was crying as I was walking around that place and I picked up my guitar and this song came to me - 'Long Walk,' which is on our acoustic CD," he said.
The band's name is organic, as is the message of their music.
"Treat each other with respect and respect our Mother Earth," Anderson said.
"Music is the voice of the Creator - it makes you laugh, cry, sing and dance. And if you are lucky enough to be permitted to play it, you will truly understand the responsibility it comes with," he finished.
Copyright © 2004, Native Times