Thunderhands: I am the band, Laughs! Actually I use a couple of guys from the drum circle that meet at the park near where I live. But if I travel I would probably find some local guys that played hand drums because there are usually a lot of good drummers in every town. This would depend on  if the guys I use were available,  because one is a doctor of psychology. My main instrument has been drums all my life and although I have toyed around with the flute for years off and on, I just recently decided to give it a lot more time because of my Native American Spirituality. My drum history covers a wide gamut. I started playing professionally at 16 in bars. On the drums I have worked with many, many, people and all kinds of music. Actually I played at James Brown’s penthouse party when I was 16. I played mostly what they called funk and then made a progression of changes which encompassed playing all kinds of stuff ending up with Jazz, Fusion, Latin etc. I have had the pleasure of working with Eric Clapton's bass player, Aretha Franklin’s organ man, some of Santana's people and on and on. This was as a drummer. But listening and working with all these fine instrumentalists rubbed off, or is part of my style on the Native American Flute.

Lisa: Is there a specific message to your music - simply a feel good bad or is there a social justice component - a message?

Thunderhands: Yes! The message is healing. A lot of music is healing but I find solace and peace with this instrument and I allow Great Spirit to come right on through me. I allow the spirits of our ancestors to come through and speak in the wind from the flute. Some people have told me that they can't play the CD in the car because it takes them out of body! Laughs!

Lisa: What was the best gig you've had to date? The worst?

Thunderhands: Well since I really haven't done a lot of gigs with the flute, I can't speak to that. But out of the thousands of gigs I have done as a musician, wow! There have been so many it would be hard to say! I use to play a lot of love-ins in the sixties and those were always fun. I once playe before three or four thousand people; that was incredible. I did a concert where I was the musical director for the famous latin jazz trumpet player Luis Gasca, and put together the whole band. He is a great musician and has played with Santana, The Grateful Dead, Malo, Janis Joplin and others. He is probably on over fifty albums. Probably the gigs that were the most drag were at military bases where there were a lot of strict rules. Although I love the the rank and file of the military, the club operators on the bases have a narrow mentality!

Lisa: What haven't you accomplished yet?

Thunderhands: In music? That's easy! Making a lot of Money! Laughs! Money was never my driving force, it was always about the music. Maybe that will Change. But seriously what I would like to do is play for the people on the reservations. And I would like to play for people interested in the old ways and traditions. I would like to do tours where I speak on some of the topics in my book. Like at seminars and college campuses. And I would love to play for the people in Europe! I have offered to do this for expenses only. Food, lodging, and travel costs, so maybe this interview will help get the word out!

Lisa:  If you left the Native American music scene, what would the world miss out on?

Thunderhands: Am I going somewhere? Laughs! I would never leave unless, I take the Journey! But in any case my music is out there so unless there is a meltdown people will always be able to hear me. And the world is always going to hear good stuff from spirit coming through various channels because it's all the same spirit. But they wouldn't be able to use my cd's for frisbees anymore!

Lisa: Upcoming dates in April, May, June?

Thunderhands: I don't have any at the moment because I put it on hold… I want to find a good agent who will work with and maybe travel with me and be a front person. I don't like the music Biz, and I want someone else to handle that part so I can concentrate on playing. I have heard from some from places where I have played before and they have asked me to return…like at Saigon's in San Diego. But again like I said above, I want to play and speak at specific places, and I am looking for an agent! Are you available? Laughs!

Lisa: If you could hook up and tour with one group who would it be and why?

Thunderhands: Oh somebody else that is into the Native American thing. Someone like Bill Miller or Robert Mirabel would be nice! Or maybe Randy Weaver....Carlos Nakai wow! I would have to think on that! But he is one of the best, and so is Gary Stroutsos!

Lisa: What instrument would you least like to have in the band - why?

Thunderhands: Well like I say it's just flute and drums, very tribal and uncomplicated… but I wouldn't rule out anything really, you never know? I don't think a tuba would really fit! Laughs! 

Lisa: What other names did you consider before setting in on your current name?

Thunderhands: None! I use my Native American name which is Thunderhands, but people call me Thunder that are my friends! The Lakota for thunder is Wakiya and I use that sometimes. I have a special relationship with the Thunderbeings or Wakinyan as did Crazy Horse.