Roy Pina local artist

LOCAL ARTIST

Music- Guitar, Singing, Native American Folk Songwriting

Roy Piña has been singing since he was 5 years old -and recalls those early days, singing gospel songs in church on Sundays with his grandmother. By age thirteen, he remembers learning to play the guitar- being in a fierce sibling rivalry with his brother about who could play the guitar better. In hindsight, Roy says that it wasn't a bad way to learn!

By the time he graduated from Chico Senior High School, he was being inspired by Buffy Saint-Marie (who was singing folk songs in her own native Indian language,) Peter,Paul and Mary, Joan Baez, and Bob Dylan. Over the years, Roy has been influenced by a great variety of music and has been constantly integrating these influences with his own Native American Heritage. He refers to his music as "Indigenous Folk Music."

Roy has always had family ties here in Covelo and spent time back and forth between Covelo and Chico growing up. He has been living in Covelo for the past two years with his family and has played an active role in the Arts Alive Program, sharing his songs and techniques and love for music.

He currently enjoys working at the Eel River Charter School (as well as through Indian Education) with students - Second Grade through Eighth Grade. Roy is also actively the Vice President of the Western Jurisdictional Center for Native American Ministries- a political body formed to help the Methodist Church in the Native American Ministries.