George "Woogie" Watchetaker

• Active: '30s, '40s
• Genres: World

Biography

A performer of powwow music as a vocalist, drummer, and award-winning fancy dancer, George "Woogee" Watchemaker was above all a spiritual leader for Comanche people. Watchetaker was a five-time world-champion fancy dancer, a style of American Indian dances regularly performed at powwows throughout the Indian nations. He was often involved in effective lobbying for recognition of Native Americans within his community, and in the '90s, he helped spearhead the Crowell, OK, Chamber of Commerce decision to change the name of its annual spring festival to Cynthia Ann Parker Days in honor of the great female Comanche chief Cynthia Ann Parker, or Qanah Parker. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide