Tommy Wildcat (b. May 3, 1967) is a Native American flutist, storyteller, lecturer, and traditionalist. He is a fullblood Native American of Cherokee, Muscogee Creek, and Natchez ancestry.[1]
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Wildcat lives in Park Hill, Oklahoma and is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation. His parents are Annie and the late Tom Webber Wildcat, and he has a twin sister named Tammy. He graduated from Sequoyah High School in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.[2] He is a hereditary member of the Wolf Clan.[3]
Since 1988, Wildcat has educated the public about traditional Cherokee cultural. He and his family performed demonstration stomp dances in the past.[3] His father, Tom Wildcat was designated a Cherokee National Treasure in 1995 for his skill in making stomp dance regalia, especially turtle-shell shackles.[4] Tommy Wildcat is a founding member of the Cherokee Honor Society.[1]
Wildcat learned traditional songs of his tribes from his father, Tom M. Wildcat, who was one of the last speakers of the Natchez language.[1]
Tommy hand makes authentic five-hole Cherokee river cane flutes. He was awarded flutist of the year in 2002 at the Native American Music Awards (Nammys).[2]
Tommy Wildcat's company, A Warrior's Spirit Productions, has produced four full length albums. His first was released in 1997.[2] His albums are distributed through several Native American distributors. Tommy has performed throughout the United States and Europe.
In the past, Tommy Wildcat has appeared in the Discovery Channel's Native American Series "How the West Was Lost (The Trail of Tears)" (1993); Schlegendger's production of "The Cherokee People"; Greystone Productions' "The Trail of Tears" (1994); Arkansas Educational Television Network's "The Cherokee People"; TNT World Premiere of "Tecumseh, The Last Warrior"; and special credits in Lee Johnson's "The Trail of Tears"; A New World Symphony Orchestra Platinum Entertainment Records, and Tom Richard's "The Real Outdoors" on the Nashville Network.[5]