Album Notes

Spirit Wind is Paula Burris, Vito de la Cruz, Ken Daniels, Steve Brennan and Stan Sanchez. The individual members of the band have been making music over the past 30 years.

Paula Burris is a member of the Cherokee Nation from Oklahoma. She grew up singing rock and folk in Southern California and later moved to Northern Nevada where she has entertained audiences with many different musical acts. Paula plays 12-string guitar, native flutes and percussion and is the band's lead vocalist. Paula has a distinctive vocal style which traces its influences to Bonnie Raitt and Melissa Etheridge. Paula's flute melodies are woven into many of Spirit Wind's songs and are an intimate part of the original sound produced by the band.

Vito de la Cruz is Yaqui/Chicano. He plays 6 and 12-string guitar, native flutes and harmonica on the band's compact disc. With Paula, Vito shares some of the lead vocal work for the band. Paula and Vito are the principle songwriters for the band.

Ken Daniels is Spirit Wind's bass player and acoustic lead guitar player. Ken has been making music for many years with a wide variety of musical ensembles. His bass playing is both subtle and distinctive. His acoustic lead work is ethereal and penetrating. Ken and Paula have played together before and bring a warm cohesion and familiarity to the band's sound.

Steve Brennan is the band's multi-talented drummer/percussionist and back-up vocalist. Steve brings a steadiness to Spirit Wind born out of years playing with Northern Nevada bands and, more so, playing with Ken and Paula.

Stan Sanchez is a member of the Walker River Paiute Tribe from Northern Nevada. Stan's influences draw from hard driving blues guitarists to Santana. Stan's lead work on "Free" transformed several of the songs into well-rounded compositions.

"Music has been such an integral part of our lives. At some point in our journeys, music has helped us to laugh, to cry and to express our inner-most feelings, no matter what they were. We would like to share with you a few of our experiences through the gift of music. Heart to heart."
~Spirit Wind~