Beginnings (1989–1993) Blackfire was founded in 1989 in
Flagstaff, Arizona by siblings Jeneda, Klee, and Clayson Benally. Their mother was a
folk singer-songwriter of
Russian-
Polish Jewish descent, while their father, Jones Benally, was a traditional
Navajo medicine man. The siblings have been playing music since "their instruments were bigger than they were." Jones and his children perform as the Jones Benally Family."
Release of EPs (1994–1999) In 1994,
C.J. Ramone produced a five-song
EP that became their debut album released on their label Tacoho Productions. It also included musical contributions by their father Jones and
Robert Tree Cody. In 1999, they received a
NAMA nomination for Best Independent Release.
One Nation Under and Woody Guthrie Singles (2001–2003) By the end of 2001, they released their first
LP One Nation Under. Featuring their father doing traditional vocals, the album is described as "15 passionately burning songs of struggles, resistance, and hope." The song "No Control" was used in "New Mexico, Old Monster," the 13th episode of the 2nd season of ''
What's New, Scooby-Doo?''. It is also the last project that
Joey Ramone, who dubbed Blackfire's music as "fireball punk-rock," contributed to before he died due to
lymphoma. On the album, he provided additional voicing for the songs "What Do You See" and "Lying to Myself." That same year, they won the NAMA Best Pop/Rock Album award. Fleming was also nominated for Best Producer.
One Nation Under is available through
Canyon Records. In 2003, they journeyed to Essakne, Mali in northern
Africa. Their performance was included in the compilation album
Festival in the Desert. By next year, they released a two-track EP titled
Woody Guthrie Singles. The songs on the EP are called "Mean Things Happenin' in this World," a protest song dealing with issues like wars waged for fortune and encroachment of rights by the federal government, and "Indian Corn Song," a song about "political and big business corruption, the poor economy, and ends with a plea to feed the homeless and orphans."
Death of Klee Benally Vocalist and guitarist Klee Benally died on December 30, 2023, at the age of 48. == Band members ==