Micki Free
Encyclopedia
Micki Free is a Grammy-winning Native American
guitar
ist and singer, and a two-time Native American Music Award winner. He is also the director of Promotions & Special Events for the Seminole Tribe of Florida
, owners of Hard Rock
International.
of KISS
. He joined Shalamar
in 1984, just in time for some of that band's big successes, most notably a #17 position in U.S. Top 20 in 1984 with "Dancing In The Sheets" from the Footloose
soundtrack, and a Grammy for "Don't Get Stopped In Beverly Hills" from the Beverly Hills Cop
soundtrack in 1985. With Shalamar, he was nominated for a Grammy three times.
After Shalamar, Free and Jean Beauvoir
(of The Plasmatics) founded AOR
band Crown of Thorns. He later founded (and still tours with) "The Micki Free Electric Blues Experience," with Jon Brant
(formerly of Cheap Trick
) on bass, and Curly Smith (formerly of Boston
) on drums. Recognition for his musical career after Shalamar came from the Native American Music Awards, where he won Male Artist in 2002 and Pop Rock artist in 2004.
In 2002, he was cast to play Tonto
in a new production of The Lone Ranger
. Most recently, his manner of dress and appearance during the late 1980s was parodied in the Chappelle's Show
sketch Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories: Prince
. He was scheduled to appear as part of an all-star cast of Native American musicians at the American Indian Inaugural Ball in Arlington, Virginia, on the occasion of president Barack Obama
's inauguration. The event, "Native Music Rocks," was sponsored by Hard Rock International and the Seminole Tribe of Florida
.
, an actress and Playboy pinup girl. They have a daughter named Anastasia.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist and singer, and a two-time Native American Music Award winner. He is also the director of Promotions & Special Events for the Seminole Tribe of Florida
Seminole Tribe of Florida
The Seminole Tribe of Florida is a federally recognized Seminole tribe based in the U.S. state of Florida. Together with the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, it is one of three federally recognized Seminole entities...
, owners of Hard Rock
Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Americans Peter Morton & Isaac Tigrett. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2006, Hard Rock was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and...
International.
Biography
Free, African American and part Native American, was discovered by Gene SimmonsGene Simmons
Gene Simmons is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, actor, and rock bassist. Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/vocalist of Kiss, a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s.-Early life:...
of KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
. He joined Shalamar
Shalamar
Shalamar was an American music group, primarily of the 1970s and 1980s, that was originally a disco-driven vehicle created by Soul Train booking agent Dick Griffey and show creator Don Cornelius. They went on to be an influential dance trio, masterminded by Soul Train producer Don Cornelius...
in 1984, just in time for some of that band's big successes, most notably a #17 position in U.S. Top 20 in 1984 with "Dancing In The Sheets" from the Footloose
Footloose (soundtrack)
Footloose is the original soundtrack of the Paramount motion picture Footloose. The original nine-track album was released in 1984 and reached Number One on the Billboard 200 Pop Album chart on April 21, 1984, where it stayed until June 30, 1984. When it was re-released in 1998, four bonus tracks...
soundtrack, and a Grammy for "Don't Get Stopped In Beverly Hills" from the Beverly Hills Cop
Beverly Hills Cop
Beverly Hills Cop is a 1984 American comedy-action film directed by Martin Brest and starring Eddie Murphy, Lisa Eilbacher, John Ashton, Judge Reinhold, and Ronny Cox...
soundtrack in 1985. With Shalamar, he was nominated for a Grammy three times.
After Shalamar, Free and Jean Beauvoir
Jean Beauvoir
Jean Beauvoir is an American singer bassist, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist.Beauvoir was born in Chicago to parents of Haitian background. He played drums as a child and switched to bass as a teenager. He was Gary U.S. Bonds's musical director at age 13; following this he sang in the doo wop...
(of The Plasmatics) founded AOR
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
band Crown of Thorns. He later founded (and still tours with) "The Micki Free Electric Blues Experience," with Jon Brant
Jon Brant
Jon Brant was the bass player for the band Cheap Trick from 1981 to 1987. In addition to his work with that band, Brant has also played with artists including Chris Spedding, Micki Free, Robert Gordon, Lou Reed, and Diana Ross...
(formerly of Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
) on bass, and Curly Smith (formerly of Boston
Boston (band)
Boston is an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts that achieved its most notable successes during the 1970s and 1980s. Centered on guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and producer Tom Scholz, the band is a staple of classic rock radio playlists...
) on drums. Recognition for his musical career after Shalamar came from the Native American Music Awards, where he won Male Artist in 2002 and Pop Rock artist in 2004.
In 2002, he was cast to play Tonto
Tonto
Tonto may mean:* Tonto, a band of Apache native Americans.* Tonto, the fictional sidekick to the Lone Ranger.* "Tonto", a song by the American math rock band Battles, from their album Mirrored.** "Tonto+", the EP centered around said song....
in a new production of The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked Texas Ranger who, with his Native American companion Tonto, fights injustice in the American Old West. The character has become an enduring icon of American culture....
. Most recently, his manner of dress and appearance during the late 1980s was parodied in the Chappelle's Show
Chappelle's Show
Chappelle's Show is an American sketch comedy television series created by comedian Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan, with Chappelle hosting the show as well as starring in various skits. Chappelle, Brennan and Michele Armour were the show's executive producers. The series premiered on January 22,...
sketch Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories: Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
. He was scheduled to appear as part of an all-star cast of Native American musicians at the American Indian Inaugural Ball in Arlington, Virginia, on the occasion of president Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's inauguration. The event, "Native Music Rocks," was sponsored by Hard Rock International and the Seminole Tribe of Florida
Seminole Tribe of Florida
The Seminole Tribe of Florida is a federally recognized Seminole tribe based in the U.S. state of Florida. Together with the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, it is one of three federally recognized Seminole entities...
.
Marriage
Micki Free once married Teri CopleyTeri Copley
Teri Copley is an American actress. She was best known for her roles on the American television series We Got it Made and I Had Three Wives. She posed nude for Playboy for the November 1990 issue....
, an actress and Playboy pinup girl. They have a daughter named Anastasia.