Buffy Sainte-Marie

The Profile

Buffy Sainte-Marie is a Canadian Cree singer-songwriter, active since the 1960s, known for folk and protest songs and for experimenting with electronics on records such as Illuminations.

Born 1941; of Cree heritage; acclaimed for protest songs and for blending traditional folk songwriting with experimental sounds. The DeBaser review emphasizes Illuminations (1969) as a pioneering use of voice and guitar processed with electronics.

The DeBaser review praises 1969's Illuminations as a pioneering fusion of folk songwriting and electronic experimentation. The album is described as mystical, prophetic and rooted in protest tradition while manipulating Buffy Sainte-Marie's voice and guitar. The reviewer highlights the album's innovation and cult status.