* The Beginning *
In late September of 1997, a dear friend of the family, Mr.
Cephas Thomas had a personal request. Cephas was in the
hospital at this time and diagnosed with cancer. On one of
Deal's visits, Cephas asked him a personal request. A request
was brought to mind and a questions asked, "Can you and your
family sing at my funeral?"  Deal at the time was unsure of
what was just spoken.  At that time, Sandra was the church
song leader and Harrison played the guitar and Deal played
bass for the family church.This was at their father's church,
Communtiy Bible Church on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa
Indian Community in Scottsdale, AZ.

On October 3rd, 1997, our dear friend went home to be with
Jesus.

On October 10th, 1997- Without a band name, we honored that
personal request and played at his funeral in Parker, Arizona.

The band later known as "Native Praise" began. The band
started out with makeshift instruments. Harrison and Sandra
solderd and rewired several old microphones. Deal used a rough
looking wooden boombox (the one for a car) as his bass amp.
Deana played the church drums with cardboard head covers
(Ducktape works Wonders!) Harrison played lead guitar and
used his own amp that had a short and needed to be kicked once
in a while to stay on. Sandra and Virnae sang their hearts out
together trying to harmonize.
With what we had...we knew it had to be GOD! God's annointing
was so great that day that we knew it was the beginning.  It
was an obligation that was turned around  to  commitment in
serving God!

Thanks to Harrison's father, Harrison Silversmith Sr, who later
handed down and blessed us with some old great Fender and
Peavey Amps and Speakers.
To this day, we are still praising God with the talents he has
blessed us with.
We will forever,"PRAISE HIS NAME!"
NATIVE PRAISE