Of the musical traditions of ... North Carolina ... those that have been here the longest are Cherokee [and other Native American] song and instrumental music. Many Cherokee songs have ceremonial meaning and accompany dances. ... Handmade drums, flutes, and rattles have been important instruments in ceremonial and sacred music for many generations and are still played by Cherokee [and other Native American] musicians today. These ancient instrumental traditions exist alongside more recently introduced instruments of European and African origin like the guitar, fiddle, and banjo.

Today, members of the Native American tribes in North Carolina continue to make music, reaching beyond their ancestral music to participate in the broader musical landscape. Pop, Rock, Blues, and Soul music flow from these Native Voices as effortlessly as their traditional music does.

Click the picture to the left to learn more about Native American Music, or visit the pages below to learn more about all the recognized tribes in North Carolina.