OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF OTTERTRAIL
WELCOME TO THE HOME OF OTTERTRAIL!
ABOUT US:
Formed in 1992 in the northeast by Alexander Santos, Will Mosley, Matt Harmon, Urie Ridgeway, Benjamin Roldan, Mark Hicks, Steve Perez, and Harry J. Gould, this intertribal southern style powwow singing group eventually grew to include many singers from many areas of the U.S. They received their name from a suggestion given to them by the late Johnny Hughes. That name was to symbolize some aspect of southern style plains culture. The name Ottertrail was born and it indeed represents a very important item of clothing worn by the southern straight dancer, the otter drag or trail. They have been invited to participate as Host Drum at many gatherings as well as entering many drum contests all across powwow country. Along the way they have garnished many winnings and most importantly, many friendships. They were recipients of a N.A.M.A. (Native American Music Awards) nomination in 1997 for their "Family Songs, Southern Style" album and a 1998 award for a compialation c.d. entitled "Various Drums at Gathering of Nations" under the S.O.A.R. label. They have been nominated by the GRAMMY Awards for "Best Producer of the Year" as well. Their last recording is entitled "Brotherhood" released in 2008. Al Santos has also been featured on many recordings as guest artist for "Brule", The motion picture theme song for Tom Cruise's "Mission Impossible" just to name a few.
First and foremost, all the glory goes to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, thank you Lord for blessing us with the gift of music.
To all the powwow committees, organizations and individuals who have helped in the contracting of our group and for considering us for your events; Shakopee, Cherokee 4th of July and Memorial Day Powwows, Gathering of Nations, Schemitzun, Cabazon Band of Mission Indian's Indio Powwow, Seminole Tribal Fair, DeAnza College Powwow, Apache Gold Casino's San Carlos Powwow, Southern Ute Fair, Taos Pueblo Powwow, Alabama-Coushatta Powwow, Tunica-Biloxi Powwow, Coushatta Powwow, Sioux Valley Powwow, Tushkahoma, Mississippi Choctaw Celebration, New Orleans Jazz Fest, Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Powwow, Onieda Nation's Salamanca Powwow, Hozhoni Days, Red Earth, Lumbee Powwow, Ute Mountain's Towaoc Powwow, White Bear Celebration, Bernalillo New Year's Eve Powwow and to all the many others, we say THANK YOU!
Don't forget to check O.T. out at our home away from home...WWW.MYSPACE.COM/OTTERTRAILSINGERS
RECORDINGS:
Live at Hunter Mountain, New York!- 1995- Big Witch Records
Live at Gathering of Nations!-1996 (Various Artists)-SOAR Records
Family Songs, Southern Style-1997 (N.A.M.A. Nominated)-SOAR Records
Live at Gathering of Nations!-1998 (Various Artists, N.A.M.A. Award Winner)-SOAR Records
The Next Chapter-1999-Red Rock Records
Live at Tulsa!-2002-Red War Pony Productions
Red River Crossing-2005-S.O.A.R. Records (GRAMMY nominated "Best Producer of the Year" Tom Bee that year!)
Brotherhood-2008 (Ottertrail and Sioux Nation Singers)-Red Lightning Records
Trailblazin!-2009-Red Blanket Records
Shout outs to... COZAD, BLACKLODGE, SIZZORTAIL, SMOKEYTOWN, YELLOWHAMMER, MEDICINE TAIL, WISCONSIN DELLS, MIDNITE X-PRESS, SOUTHERN THUNDER, SIOUX NATION, SOUTHERN BOYS, LITTLE EAGLE, EAGLE POINTand all the other drum groups and individual singers out there that have helped us and encouraged us throughout the years. Thank you and God bless!
Check out the pics ya'll!
Singers:Alex Santos (Taino Arawak)Alex Santos Jr. (Taino Arawak)Lance Hill (Oneida,Kiowa,Comanche)Lorenzo Garcia (Mexican)Josh Smith (Ponca,Korean)Richard Attocknie (Comanche,Kiowa)J.T. Liles (Comanche,Seminole,Creek)R.C. Knox (Comanche,Kiowa)Jay Blackowl (Cheyenne,Caddo,Apache)Antonio Dominguez (Mexican)Cedric Ketcheshawno (Kickapoo,Choctaw)Brock Jacobs (Lumbee)Joshua Huntinghorse (Kiowa,Taino)Joe Conklin (Ponca,Cheyenne)Dustin Prentiss (Kiowa,Alabama Coushatta)Ladies:Randi L. Attocknie-Santos (Comanche,Kiowa)Cynthia Surey Santos (Taino Arawak)Sally Kerchee-Hill (Comanche,Wichita)Shannon Montgomery (Kiowa, Navajo)Donna Jim (Navajo)
Credits:We thank the following individuals for their help in singing with us throughout our travels; Dave/Delbert/Herbert Johnson, Lucas Davis, Nico and Mark Pena, Mark Lewis, Chris Bowne, Cecil Gray, Nick Behan, August "Cocoa" Creppel, Rusty Cozad, Joe "Buck" Blanchard, Gene Bates, Gabe and Roland "Ro Ro" Castillo, Jerry Towne, Tahlee Redbird, Ron Gibson, Don and Pete Neconie, Dan Addi, Paige Burgess, Ray Silva, Cherie Siebert, Judy Gibson, Missy Hawthorne, Auntie Georgia Noble, Auntie Julia Tiger, Tayna Bass, Bebe Liles, Nina Burgess, Janaye Toppah, Shamaray and Rataeva Yazzie, and all the many others. To Urie Ridgeway, Matt Harmon, Mark Hicks, Will Mosley, Harry J. Gould, Benjamin Roldan, Steve Perez, thanks for helping to start it all! Also to the Johnson Family, Attocknie/Yellowfish Family, Tso Family, Roberts Family, Cozad family, Iron Family, Essie Family, Sammy "Tonekei" White, Vince Beyl, Rob Dougherty and a host of other people, we thank you for being an important part of our begginings and for all you've done for us in the past. Special thanks to Gaylon Motah and Geoff Essie for your drums and Dad Charles Smith and family for all the love and support.

