I discovered a little-known Americana artist, Grant Maloy Smith. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_Maloy_Smith
He started in rock, early 80s eventually transitioning to Americana.  His style reflects somewhat of Johnny Cash, Wood Guthrie and Bob Dylan.  I first heard him on Song of the Mountains and Woodsongs, both on PBS TV, Saturday nights but no longer being broadcast.  One song that caught my ear was "Isht A Lhampco (Have Strength)."  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w97Ab9AblI
Though the title is Native American (Choctaw I believe), none of the lyrics include any Native American language.  The song theme reflects on the Trail of Tears, a bad time in American history, maybe closely akin to the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WW II.  Smith worked with the Choctaw Tribal Council in his writing of the song.  Instruments: acoustic guitar, mandolin, fiddle and flute; the flute definitely captures a tinge of Native American culture.  Very eerie sound but very beautiful, evocative.
About a year or so ago, Smith teamed up with Kevin Lucas with a slight change to Smith's style to include a marimba and an aluphone.  They just released (August 4) an interesting song entitled Scarborough Fair.  They captured some of the lyrics of Simon & Garfunkel's original with most of the amended lyrics reflective of more current times.  Very different!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEmrX_LhgXY



 

Last edited by Little Rich (August 8, 2023 2:02 am)