XIT (Crossing of Indian Tribes) is a
Native American rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
band that released two albums in the 1970s on the
Rare Earth label. The band had previously released an LP as "Lincoln Street Exit" on the Mainstream label in early 1970. They also released many later albums in the 2000's.
History
XIT, originally based in
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque ( ; ), ; kee, Arawageeki; tow, Vakêêke; zun, Alo:ke:k'ya; apj, Gołgéeki'yé. abbreviated ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Its nicknames, The Duke City and Burque, both reference its founding in ...
was founded by A. Michael Martinez (singer and lead guitar on ''Plight''), Mac Suazo (narrator and bass on ''Plight''), Lee Herrerra (drums on ''Plight''), and R. C. Gariss (2nd lead guitar on ''Plight''). The most recent members of XIT were, Willie Bluehouse Johnson (Lead guitar) P.J. West (Drums, percussion to include timpani), Louie Running Wolf (bass guitar) and Jim Boyd (lead guitar). Original Xit has released 6 CDs since 2006, "eXit From the REZ" (2006), "No eXit" (2007), "eXit nOw" (2008), "neXt eXit" (2009), "The Red Album" (2010) and "Forty Years" (2011). Obie Sullivan played keyboards 1971-1975.
"XIT" stands for "crossing of Indian Tribes", according to
Tom Bee
Tom Bee is the CEO and founder of Sound of America Records (SOAR), the first Native American owned record label.
XIT
Adopted at birth, Tom Bee was born and raised in the reservation border town of Gallup, New Mexico. Best known as founder and fea ...
.
Their music often addresses themes of historic and contemporary Native American issues. Their initial recording, 1972's ''Plight of the Redman'', is a
concept album
A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Som ...
about the changes in Native American life since the arrival of
Columbus
Columbus is a Latinized version of the Italian surname "''Colombo''". It most commonly refers to:
* Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), the Italian explorer
* Columbus, Ohio, capital of the U.S. state of Ohio
Columbus may also refer to:
Places ...
.
Albums
*''Plight of the Redman'', 1972 (Rare Earth 536)
*''Silent Warrior'', 1973 (Rare Earth 545)
*''Entrance'', 1974 (early work from the sixties as Lincoln Street Exit) (Canyon 7114)
*''Backtrackin, 1976 (Canyon 7115)
*''Relocation'', 1977 (Canyon 7121)
*''Drums Across the Atlantic'', 1985 (Recorded February 6, 1981 - The Tropica Club, Luzern, Switzerland) (Commander 39003)
*''Without Reservation'', 2002 (SOAR)
*''eXit From the REZ'', 2006
*''No eXit'', 2007
*''eXit nOw'', 2008
*''neXt eXit'', 2009
*''Wanted Alive'', 2009
*''The Red Album'', 2010
*''Forty Years'', 2011
References
External links
Tom Bee's Sound of America Records*
XIT on Allmusic.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Xit
Native American musical groups
Rock music groups from New Mexico
Culture of Albuquerque, New Mexico