Martha Redbone is a Native and African American vocalist, songwriter, composer and educator. She is known for her unique gumbo of folk, blues and gospel from her childhood in Harlan County, Kentucky, infused with the eclectic grit of pre-gentrified Brooklyn. Inheriting the powerful vocal range of her gospel-singing African American father and the resilient spirit of her mother’s southeastern Cherokee/Choctaw culture, Redbone broadens the boundaries of American roots music. With songs and storytelling that share her life experience as a Native and Black woman and mother in the new millennium, Redbone gives voice to issues of social justice, bridging traditions from past to present, connecting cultures and celebrating the human spirit. From grassroots beginnings at powwows across Indian Country and in the underground clubs of NYC, Redbone has built a passionate fan base with her mesmerizing presence and explosive live shows.

Her album The Garden of Love (Songs of William Blake), produced by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band founder and Grammy-winner John McEuen, is an unexpected twist—“a brilliant collision of cultures” (The New Yorker)—featuring Redbone’s magnificent voice, Blake’s immortal words and a masterful cornucopia of roots music (blues, gospel, bluegrass, soul and traditional southeastern Woodlands). Her debut, Home of the Brave, garnered extremely positive critical attention—Billboard raved “stunning album, the kind of woman who sets trends”—while her sophomore album, Skintalk, described as the soulful sound of “Earth, Wind and Fire on the rez” (J. Poet, Native Peoples Magazine), took her music to Europe and the Far East.

Over the years, Redbone  has performed and recorded with many great artists, including Bonnie Raitt, George Clinton, Judy Collins, Joan Osborne, Steven Van Zandt, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Nona Hendryx, Lisa Fischer, Steve Martin, David Amram, Randy Brecker, Tony Trischka, John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Carter Cash, Ben Sollee and Tom Chapin, among many others.