R. Carlos Nakai has received two gold records (500,000 units sold) for Canyon Trilogy and Earth Spirit which are the first (and only) Native American recordings to earn this recognition. In 2014, Canyon Trilogy reached Platinum (over 1 million units sold), the first ever for a Native American artist performing traditional solo flute music. He has sold over four million albums in the course of his career.

A Navy veteran, he earned a Master’s Degree in American Indian Studies from the University of Arizona. He was awarded the Arizona Governor’s Arts Award in 1992, and an honorary doctorate from Northern Arizona University in 1994. In 2005, R. Carlos Nakai was inducted into the Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame. He has also authored a book with composer James DeMars, The Art of the Native American Flute, which is a guide to performing the traditional cedar flute.

We encourage you to visit his website: http://rcarlosnakai.com and you can purchase music here: https://rcarlosnakai.com/category/discography/

All music used with permission of R. Carlos Nakai (rcarlosnakai.com)and Canyon Records (canyonrecords.com). Special thanks to R. Carlos Nakai, Pamela Hyde, and Kathy Norris.

The Curiosity Hour Podcast is hosted and produced by Dan Sterenchuk and Tommy Estlund.