Lance Canales (Yaqui/Mayo/Cora)

is a Native American flute player, singer-song writer and accomplished recording artist.    

 Lance’s is known for bringing forth a different sound from the Native American wood flute and reed flute.  His flute playing style is said to be representative of the old traditional sounds of California Native culture.   Lance has brought this sound with him through out California, on a tour that covered the United States, to the Native American Television Network and PBS and has been featured on many national radio stations including the international Native American radio program “Earth Songs”.

  Lance is also an accomplished singer song writer and recording artist.  He is said to carry the deep soulful vocals of the ancestors in many of his songs accompanied by guitar, flute and various other percussion instruments.  He is known for his Cigar Box Guitar Delta blues originals that go back to the roots of blues slide music.  He has opened up for many great performers including Native American artists, Rita Coolidge, Branscom Richmond, Floyd Red Crow Westerman and has performed at numerous music festivals. 

 Lance was also a co-founder with NAFTA of a program designed to reintroduce the flute and other traditional instruments to the native youth of California.

It was first told to him by his elders that he was to put his music out into the world, but no matter where he plays or who he plays with it is when playing at home, in the Central Valley foothills of California, where he feels most at home.

Photo by Dera Cooke