A paul ortega biography of albert

A. Paul Ortega, Native Music Legend, Passes On

By Doug George-Kanentiio I had the great fortune to know A.

Paul Ortega, the Apache musician and traditional healer who died on May 17 at his home in Mescalero Territory, New Mexico.Paul was a legendary musician who gave three historic albums to the world: Two Worlds(1964), Three Worlds(1969) and Loving Ways(1992).

The last was with my wife Joanne Shenandoah and from that came a deep friendship characterized by humor, creativity and respect.Paul was one of the few Native musicians from the past generation who had their songs heard across the country, primarily by word of mouth since most commercial record companies would not promote indigenous artists.

As teenagers on the Akwesasne Mohawk territory we were desperate to find a performer who spoke to our experience as Natives and it was Paul, Buffy St. Marie, Floyd Westerman, Willie Dunn and Peter Lafarge who were bol