Walela
Walela is a trio of singers, named for the Cherokee word for hummingbird.[1] The group was founded in 1996 by sisters Rita Coolidge and Priscilla Coolidge, with Priscilla's daughter as the third member.
Biography[]
Featured as part of Robbie Robertson and the Red Road Ensemble's album Music for The Native Americans, Walela is known for their distinctive vocal blend brings. During the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Walela performed extensively in the Olympic Park. Their 1997 debut release on Capitol Records earned them the recognition of the Nammy Awards (Native American Music Awards) where they took home the award for Debut Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for "The Warrior".
Awards[]
The group won the Native American Music Awards' best debut group and song of the year for 1998.[2]
Discography[]
Walela (1997)[]
- Is Everybody Here
- Cherokee River
- Wash Your Spirit Clean
- The Warrior
- Muddy Road
- Cherokee
- Cherokee Morning Song
- Wounded Knee
- The Whippoorwill
- Circle of Light
- Earth Children
- Amazing Grace (in Cherokee)
- I’ll Turn My Radio On
Unbearable Love (2000)[]
- Gathering of Eagles
- The Sequence
- Cherokee Rose
- I Know I Don’t Walk on Water
- Smoke in the Wind
- Bright Morning Star
- I Have No Indian Name
- Tell Them They Lie
- When It Comes
- When Love Was All We Knew
- God Save Us from Ourselves
- Unbearable Love
Live in Concert (2004)[]
- The Gathering of Eagles
- Cherokee River
- Cherokee Rose
- Wash Your Spirit Clean
- I Have No Indian Name
- When It Comes
- Muddy Road
- When Love Was All We Knew
- Cherokee Morning Song
- Wounded Knee
- Tell Them They Lied
- God Save Us From Ourselves
The Best of Walela (2007)[]
- Is Everybody Here
- Cherokee Morning Star
- Amazing Grace
- Bright Morning Star
- Smoke In the Wind
- Wash Your Spirit Clean
- The Warrior
- Cherokee Rose
- I’ll Turn My Radio On
- I Have No Indian Name
- God Save Us From Ourselves
- When It Comes
- The Whippoorwill
- Unbearable Love
References[]
- ^ Feeling, Durbin (1975). Cherokee - English Dictionary. Tahlequah: Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. pp. 187. ISBN 9994626787.
- ^ "WINNERS DIRECTORY". www.nativeamericanmusicawards.com. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
- American girl groups
- American vocal groups