Joanne Lynn Shenandoah, born on June 23, 1957, in Syracuse, New York, was a Native American singer and multi-instrumentalist from the Oneida Indian Nation. She grew up on the Oneida Reservation, learning traditional songs and various instruments. Shenandoah started performing locally and recorded her first solo CD in 1989. Her music blended traditional melodies with modern instrumentation, focusing on nature, women's lives, and Iroquois culture. Throughout her career, she made 23 recordings, including Once In A Red Moon (1994), Life Blood (1995), and Peacemaker's Journey (2000). Shenandoah performed at notable venues such as Carnegie Hall and The White House, and collaborated with numerous artists. She won a Grammy Award for her contribution to the album Sacred Ground: A Tribute to Mother Earth (2005) and received over 40 music awards. Shenandoah died from idiopathic liver failure on November 22, 2021, in Scottsdale, Arizona.
