Verdell Primeaux & Johnny Mike
Verdell Primeaux is of Oglalla/Yankton Sioux and Ponca heritage and was born
in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Verdell represents the Seven Council Fires of the
Lakota and the Eagle Clan of the Ponca Nation. VerdelTs mother, Delores
Arapahoe, an Ogllala Lakota, is a descendant of Chiefs Many Horses, Red Cloud
and Crazy Horse.
At birth Verdell was diagnosed with a combination of spinal meningitis and
yellow meningitis. VerdelTs father, Francis Primeaux, Sr., traveled to Texas
where he harvested, with the help of Amanda Cardenas and family, peyote,
which at the time was illegal to possess even for religious reasons. Francis
returned home with the peyote and through prayer and songs of the Native
American Church, cured VerdelTs illness. Today, Verdell considers himself a
living testimony to the healing power of God and Peyote.
At the age of two, Verdell received Holy Baptism which was performed by his
great grandfather, Solomon Red Bear, Sr. By the time he was five, Verdell began
singing and learning Lakota culture and tradition. When he was thirteen,
Verdell recorded four albums with his father and at the age of sixteen he began
composing lyrics and rhythms.
Verdell believes that God has enabled him to help restore and maintain balance,
peace, harmony and beauty for all people though his prayer music. In
conjunction with colleague, Johnny Mike, Verdell developed healing chants or
'Two in One" music, which are peyote melodies and harmonies sung without
drum or rattle accompaniment. This newer style of songs from the Native
American Church attracted the attention of Robbie Robertson who included
Verdell and Johnny as featured guest artists on the Capitol Records production,
''Contact from the Underworld of Redboy." In harnessing the musical power of
prayer, Verdell seeks to reach young people everywhere and guide them to safe
and happy lives.
Johnny Mike is a Dine (Navajo) from Kitsili, Black Mesa, Arizona. His maternal
clan is Near the Water People and on his father's side he represents the Salt Clan.
He has two children, Rachael and Shane, and resides in Chinle, Arizona. Both
sides of his family have been prominent in the Native American Church.
Johnny's grandfathers and grandmothers were some of the first to use peyote
within the Navajo nation and at a time when people went to jail for using peyote
as part of the worship of the Native American Church. From these roots, Johnny
was brought up in the ways of the Church and looks back at his life with great
appreciation towards his elders who led him on the peyote road. Their prayers
helped Johnny survive hard times growing up and helped to shape his life.
Johnny hopes, with his brother, Verdell, to in turn help out friends and relatives
with their songs and prayers.