D. PATRICK KLAYBOR is a singer songwriter with an Earth friendly, conscience inspiring message, wrapped in a fun fusion of all music genres style.  He appeared here in a concert for the Sacred Sites Run.

Soaring from Menominee Indian Reservation roots, WADE FERNANDEZ  knows how to both soothe and rock. With versatility, he honors tradition while forging ahead in an ever expanding world of music. Award-winning vocals, guitar, songwriting, native flute & drumming, all flow from deep within a rich blood memory, echoing his words, “Music is a very powerful gift to be returned and shared in a good way.”

“Your life is all that you’ve touched, all that has touched you and all that came before you. You only really live it when you learn to listen to its music.”

Born on the Menominee Indian Reservation in Wisconsin, USA. Wade grew up in a house surrounded by dense forest. “I could walk through the trees for maybe 6 miles behind the house and not see another human being. After crossing the road in front of the house, I could probably walk another 10 miles and once again, see only forest and animals.” The Menominee Reservation is over 95% forest and the roots of Wade’s inspiration. 

Wade’s first attempt at playing music came at the age of 5. His dad sat him down in front of a record player, handed over a “huge” acoustic guitar and said try to figure out this song. It was “Apache” by the Shadows. Young Wade thought cool an Indian song, but after 10 minutes of having no clue, he decided to give it up. But then at 11 years old, Wade decided to pick up the guitar and started a band on the rez with his cousin Quint. Since then he has won several national/international awards and scholarships for music and other forms of artistic expression (including video and writing). Wade toured Europe several times, played and produced CDs, and played many styles of music before he decided to go to college and further his study of music. Currently, Wade has a degree in Music Education with a teacher’s certification, manages an active music career, works a GEAR UP job for students on the Menominee Indian Reservation, is a member of the Menominee Indian School Board, working on several film projects, writing a play, teaches native flute/guitar/bass/rock band classes, and is raising a beautiful family of 5 children with his wife on the reservation.

PERFORMANCES
As a well-established performer shows include; The Honor The Earth Tour, Woodstock ’94, The Reebok Human Rights Awards (2002 Winter Olympics), Ed McMahon’s Next Big Star, Chicago’s World Music Festival, Canada’s Aboriginal People’s Choice Awards, and Germany’s Tollwood Festival. Wade jammed stages with many artists including Jackson Browne and The Indigo Girls and continues to tour. 

AWARDS & HONORS
2010 national Community Spirit Award 
With the “diversatility” of Wade’s CD “4 the People” he won the 2007 “Best Contemporary Instrumental” and believe it or not, best “Country” from the North American ISMA awards while also being in the Top 5 for best “Classic Rock”, “Pop”, “Flute”, and “Blues” recording of the year. 4 the People also had Wade nominated for “Artist of the Year” and “Best Rock Recording” from the NAMMYs. The recording even made it into the GRAMMY voting process for “Best Rock Instrumental Performance”, “Record of the Year”, and “Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album”. 

2006 Wade won “Best Male Artist of the Year” award from the NAMMYS and was among the Top 5 for “Best Pop/Rock Recording” and best “Long/Short Form Video”.

2004 & ’06 nominations “Best Male Artist,” “Songwriter of the Year,” “Blues/Jazz Recording of the Year” “Pop/Rock Recording of the Year” “Classic Rock” “Contemporary Instrumental” nominee from the Native American Music Awards (Nammys) and/or the Indian Summer Music Awards (ISMA)

2001 “Writer of the Year”, Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers 

2005-6 numerous awards and screenings for Wade’s music video Commodity Cheese Blues

Medal of Honor from the Menominee Nation