Spirit Winds
Native American Style Flutes, Drums & Ensemble
Robin Clark Guthrie, Stuart Cardwell & Warren Perkinson together are Spirit Winds.
Associate Members; Michael Cloud-Butler & Pernell Richardson.
“Many times when I am trying to connect with the Creator, I will feel a breath of wind or hear a sound. That is where my music comes from; it is the voice of the Creator.” - Robin Clark-Guthrie of Spirit Winds.
Guthrie, Iroquoian through her father's family, says the flute called her in 2005. Guthrie is an active member, in good standing, of INAFA, The International Native American Flute Association since 2007. She has recorded several CD's to include: Journey Within, Mother Earth Cries and with Cardwell, Visions in 2006, Shaman Warrior a track from John Catney's CD; THE RACERS EDGE, in 2008, Eagles' Wings in 2010 and Prayer Songs in 2011. Cardwell began his recordings in 2007 with his first CD, "From A Crow's Heart". He worked with Karen Sargent on the CD "Cactus Flower, and then a solo CD "Spirit Dancer", both of which Guthrie was also a featured guest. In 2010, Warren Perkinson joined the group and the trio worked to create "Back to Back, a Gathering of Spirit" in 2010, "Half Moon Rising" in 2011 and “Warrior‘s Ride completed in 2013 and being released spring 2014. Stuart’s most recent solo CD "Traveler" was released in 2013. Together they have recorded with Robin Robins Studio in Halifax, Steve Scheffler in New Port News, Va. and with Hubert Dean at Snow Hill Music in Hillsborough, NC.
According to Guthrie, “Our Creator sends the music to us by Him or through our ancestors on the wind. The wind carries so much sound, so much natural music, and the Native American Flute echoes that music. To me, it is like the Breath of Life.” Stuart Cardwell added "We feel our music is a gift to us from Creator and sharing it with all who wish to listen is our way of giving thanks for His Blessing."
Cardwell and Guthrie have performed together as Spirit Winds’-“Crow & Butterfly duo”, at multiple Pow-Wows along the east coast over the last several years and with Perkinson opened for three-time Nammy Winner Michael Bucher in June 2011 and January 2012 provided an evening of Native American Drum, Flute and Stories at White Horse Black Mountain in Black Mountain, NC. May of 2012, Spirit Winds performed at South Boston-Halifax County Museum of Fine Arts and History and then June 2012 performed in Ocean Front, Virginia Beach, VA as the opening concert, and joining "Tonemah", for Sky Fest Evening Concerts . Spirit Winds was joined by special guest Moses Brings Plenty during the 2012 Sky Fest Concert. September 2012, Labor Day weekend Spirit Winds back at White Horse Black Mountain, Black Mountain, NC. Guthrie and Cardwell's trip to NY State September 2012, brought an unexpected surprise and invitation by Joanne Shenandoah to open for her Equinox Concert - Fundraiser with The Shenandoah Trio at The Beattie Sanctuary & Arboretum in Cazenovia, NY. In 2013 Spirit Winds again performed at Sky Fest, opened for the premier of (Cherokee Word For Water (CW4W ) and provided a series of educational performances for Norfolk Public Libraries as well performed at ODU during Native American Indian Heritage Month along.
Spirit Winds members Guthrie and Cardwell are also honored members of the Eastern Sky Healing Drum, a Native American drum group based in Virginia Beach, VA - led by Drum Keeper Michael Cloud-Butler of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Ojibwe. Perkinson and Richardson are members of Youghtanund Drum Group another Native American Drum group from Virginia.
Guthrie mentioned the addition of Perkinson to the group. “As Crow & Butterfly, Stuart and I have a natural affinity to playing flutes together, but we needed a percussionist to round out our music. Warren Perkinson began playing with us, bringing his knowledge of drum and chants and we became Spirit Winds.” Cardwell’s wife Karen Kimbrel and Perkinson’s wife Lynn, often join in with percussion extras and added vocal. September 2012, Michael Cloud-Butler (Ojibwe) was invited to become part of Spirit Winds group and Pernell Richardson, April 2013, the latest to be invited to become part of Spirit Winds.
