Silverbird is a Native American musical ensemble consisting mainly of members of the Ortiz / Silverbird family that has been around for more than 40 years. The above album, Broken Treaties was released in 1972 or 1973 on Capitol Records and is (according to Gil Silverbird) the first album by a Native American band to be released on a major record label. A more obscure album by the same band called Getting Together could have been their first (it was released in 1972) on CBS Records and Columbia Records, though this album might have been released mainly in Europe. A third album, Silverbird was released in 1973, on Bravo Records.
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Meanwhile, the four teenaged children of the bandmembers in the Coronados – who sometimes appeared with their parents on stage – were being attracted to rock music and began singing and performing together as the Real Americans. Gilbert Ortiz (now known as Gil Silverbird), Perry Ortiz and Mark Ortiz are the sons of Reuben Ortiz and Ginger Ortiz; Joerey Ortiz is the son of Steven Ortiz. Reuben Ortiz encouraged them in this endeavor, and he recorded the songs that they were writing using a company that he had formed earlier having the innocuous name of Recording Artists, Inc. Ginger Ortiz began singing with the Real Americans as well, supplying the high vocals that Perry Ortiz was beginning to lose as he matured.
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Another former bandmember in Silverbird, Gil Silverbird is active as a musician and also an author. His musical works include a 2004 album, World Peace, plus two 12-inch singles in 1986, “Fool’s Paradise” and “We Can’t Go On (Without Love)”.
Gil Silverbird and his brother Tim Silverbird (Navaho/Apache) are now performing under the name 2 CRAZY Indians. Their Facebook page is at www.facebook.com/Silverbird2CrazyIndians .
(August 2013)
