Kevin Locke was an acclaimed Native American musician and hoop dancer who worked to preserve native musical traditions.
- Died: September 30, 2022 (Who else died on September 30?)
- Details of death: Died in Hill City, South Dakota of an asthma attack at the age of 68.
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Keeping traditions alive
Locke developed an interest in music while growing up on the Standing Rock Reservation. He learned to play and make traditional wooden flutes, arts that were close to dying out. Also waning was the art of hoop dancing, and Locke learned it as well. He began performing and touring in the 1970s, sharing the traditions of his Lakota ancestors with a worldwide audience. He recorded albums, both of his flute music and of storytelling, and he wrote several books. In 1990, Locke was honored with the National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Notable quote
“Holy souls walk upon this land, the great teachers that inspire the people. And that inspiration was expressed by them long ago through their music and dancing. It comes down intergenerationally. So, even though the ancestors are not here, we can fulfill their dreams on their behalf. And that comes through our own artistic expressions.” —from a 2021 interview for First Peoples Fund
Tributes to Kevin Locke
Full obituary: The New York Times
