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Left: Rita Coolidge, whose group Walela received Best Duo/Group of the Year. Right: Oneida recording artist Joanne Shenandoah, who received Best New Age Recording of the Year.

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO - Cherokee recording artist Rita Coolidge was one of a number of Cherokees honored at the Native American Music Awards. Coolidge's group, Walela, received a Native American Music Award for Best Duo/Group of the Year.

While accepting the award with the other members of Walela (her sister Priscilla and niece Laura Satterfield), Coolidge said "We accept the award also on behalf of my father who just had open heart surgery, and also on behalf of the Cherokee Nation."

The Neville Brothers' music scored a NAMMY for the video documentary, "Black Indians," produced by Cherokee owned Rich-Heape Productions. Steven Heape accepted the award.

Also being honored at the NAMMY's was Cherokee Crystal Gayle, who was inducted to the Native American Music Hall of Fame.

Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma employee Lisa LaRue-Stopp, attended the awards as an invited Alternate Presenter and to promote the release of the Cherokee Nation's latest CD, "Children's Songs in the Cherokee Language." Native American musicians such as R. Carlos Nakai, Joanne Shenandoah, Arigon Starr and Paul LaRoche received copies of the CD with excitement. Copies of the recently released Cherokee National Choir (featuring Rita Coolidge) CD were distributed to all VIP's and industry professionals along with the children's songs.