- country:USA
- style(s):Native American, Songwriter
- label:not signed
- type:Duo
- gender:male, female
- instrumentation:vocal, percussion, woodwind, singer songwriter, guitar
- artist contact:Riot Artists
Line up
- Fabian Fontenelle (Dance, Storytelling, Drum)
- Shelley Morningsong (Vocal, Guitar, Native Flute)
Links
With an alto voice that pulls from the depths of her cowboy boots, and original songs with lyrics that cut to the heart, singer-songwriter Shelley Morningsong’s music will appeal to those who enjoy Buffy Sainte-Marie and Bonnie Raitt. Shelley learned to play guitar and classical flute as a youngster, later redirecting her flute skills to the native flute, with which she adds heartfelt instrumentals to several of her songs.
Shelley often writes theme songs for organizations that she believes in, such as one in Colorado Springs called One Nation Walking Together (featured in the promotional video for One Nation Walking Together.) One Nation is committed to helping Native American families in need across the United States. She also wrote the theme song for Electro-Magnetic Health, a group of scientists who are working hard to bring awareness of the effects of micro-magnetic waves on the earth, humans, and nature.
Awards and honors:
Debut Artist of the Year for her first album “Out of the Ashes“ in 2006
5 Native American music awards since then, including
2011 Record of the Year for “Full Circle”
2017 Artist of the Year for “Love Medicine”
2019 Best Blues Recording for “Simple Truth”
2019 Artist of the Year
Shelley’s husband and musical partner, Fabian Fontenelle (Zuni/Omaha), adds a breathtaking and beautiful element to their performance with his traditional dancing, storytelling and drumming. Fabian is part Omaha and dances in the Northern Plains style to bring honor to his Omaha family and people. He grew up dancing with his family dance group from Zuni Pueblo, the Zuni Rainbow Dancers, founded by his grandparents in the early 1900’s. He has recorded the album “Songs of our Ancestors/Songs of the Zuni People“ to honor his beloved Zuni/Ashiwi family and people, which includes songs written by his grandmother in the year 1919. Fabian is also an original member of the American Indian Dance Theater.
He has been a choreographer, educator, and historian on Native American culture for many years:
Educator at several museums, including the Buffalo Bill Center of the West Museum of the Northern Plains in Cody, Wyoming. His projects have included:
Actor and cultural advisor on several History Channel episodes
Actor in the famous Stephen Spielberg series “Into the West“ and “Comanche Moon“.
Shelley and Fabian met in 2001 when they toured together with Robert Mirabal’s “Music from a Painted Cave”, a long-running PBS special. Shelley and Fabian live in the Village of Zuni Pueblo in Northwestern New Mexico, where Fabian was born and raised. As independent artists they hope to promote education, peace, love and unity among all through their music, stories and dance.
As of June 2024, Shelley and Fabian have a featured song in the new Kevin Costner movie called Horizon.