Pura Fé

Pura Fé is a Native American singer/songwriter/poet/musician, best known for founding the renowned women's trio, Ulali and for creating her own style and genre that blends traditional native music and contemporary styles. Pura Fe has changed music throughout Indian Country. The musician Taj Mahal, once described Pura Fé: "With her voice soaring, footstomping, this beautiful songbird transcends time and brings the message of our Ancestors who have sewn this beautiful seed, that makes powerful music." She was born in New York City and raised by her mother, Nanice Monk Lund, whose parents are Tuscarora Indian, Black and Scot-Irish from North Carolina. Her mother was a classically trained opera singer who toured with Duke Ellington and his Sacred Concert Series. Her father Juan Antonio Crescioni-Collazo was from Puerto Rico, of Taino Indian, Spanish and Corsican ancestry. He named her Pura Fé which translates as "Pure Faith" in Spanish.

As an adolescent, Pura Fé studied and performed with the American Ballet Theatre company,briefly trained at Martha Graham school and performed in several Broadway musicals, including " The Me Nobody Knows," "Ari," and "Via Galactica." She also sang with the Mercer Ellington Orchestra. She attended a small professional school,Lincoln Square Academy,where Lawrence Fishburn, Ben Stiller, Robbie Benson, Stephanie Mills, Gion Carlo Esposito, Pia Zadora, Scott Jacoby and her childhood friend, Irene Cara all attended. In the late '70s, she worked as a waitress at the famous club Max's Kansas City in New York.

Career

In 1994, she was nominated for a Juno Award for Best Global Recording for "Kanatan Aski & Pura Fé." She released the popular CD, "Mahk Jchi" with Ulali the same year on Corn, Beans and Squash Music and she appeared with Ulali on Robbie Robertson’s ‘Red Road Ensemble.' In 1995, she released her first solo album, the R n B inspired, "Caution to the Wind," on Shanachie Records. She also appeared on Jay Leno’s ‘The Tonight Show’ with Ulali and Robbie Robertson.

She has appeared on many recordings, including the Indigo Girls, "Shaming of the Sun," Miramax’s ‘Smoke Signals’ soundtrack, the Turner Documentary series ‘The Native Americans’, ‘1 GIANT LEAP’ DVD/CD, ‘The World Festival of Sacred Music’ concert/DVD for the Dalai Lama.

Pura Fe moved to North Carolina in the 90's to be closer to her Tuscarora roots and communities. She volunteered to teach Native American youth in the rural Indian communities of Robeson County, North Carolina. She won the Community Spirit Award from the First Peoples Fund of the Tides Foundation, for her volunteered contributions.

In Indian Country, Pura Fe is a Smoke Dance Champion.

After hearing guitarist Kelly Joe Phelps perform, Pura Fe was inspired to pick up the acoustic lap slide guitar. This is also a dying tradition and style that was once strong in her native community and perfect accompaniment to her songs. After only 3 months of 10 and 12 hours a day of teaching herself, her own songs on guitar, she recorded her 2nd solo album, "Follow Your Heart's Desire," released on the Music Maker label. The album was a collection of anthems, stories and protest songs, that all clearly stated the influence of Indigenous music on Blues music and history.One year later, she opened for Niel Young in Berkley,CA.,singing 'Rise Up Tuscarora Nation' and 'Find the Cost of Freedom'.

Pura Fe' won a NAMMY (Native American Music Award) for Best Female Artist in 2006. She also won a L'Académie Charles Cros Award (France's Grammy) for Best World Album.

In 2006, her second album Follow Your Hearts Desire, was released and renamed "Tuscarora Nation Blues" under the French Blues Label, Dixie Frog. 2007 Pura Fe's third album, "Hold The Rain," was released on Dixie Frog records with Seattle-based guitarist, Danny Godinez. This album includes an upbeat cover of the song "Summertime." 2008, "Hold the Rain was released in the states through the Music Maker Relief Foundation blues label. Pura Fe is currently working on her 4th for a 2009 release on Dixie Frog and touring extensively throughout Europe.