Robert Mirabal, a Grammy Award-winning musician and composer best known for presenting a contemporary view of American Indian life through his work, will give a talk at the University of Colorado at Boulder on March 19.
Part of the CU-Boulder Center of the American West's Modern Indian Identity Series, the talk will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 1421 Spruce St., in Boulder. The event is free and open to the public.
"When it comes to representing the vitality of Indian traditions and their adaptability to the 20th century, Robert Mirabal is a very important figure in the American West and, in truth, in the whole world," said history Professor Patricia Limerick, faculty director of the Center of the American West. "It is a real honor for the Center of the American West to host him in Boulder."
Known for his flute music, Mirabal often blends traditional American Indian music sounds with rock 'n' roll. Described by some as a "Native American Renaissance Man," Mirabal has traveled extensively and performed his music all over the world. He also is a composer, painter, master craftsman, poet, actor, screenwriter, horseman and farmer.
His recent honors include a Grammy Award in 2008 for the best Native American music album. In October 2007 he won the Best Male Artist and Record of the Year at the Native American Music Awards.
Mirabal was born and raised in Taos Pueblo, an American Indian community just north of Taos, N.M., where he currently lives with his wife and three daughters.
The mission of the CU-Boulder Center of the American West is to explore the distinctive character and issues of the region and to help Westerners become well-informed, participating citizens. For more information visit the center's Web site at / or call 303-492-4879.