Brule' and AIRO, Featured Western Performer Page

Paul LaRoche (aka Brule') began performing at age 15. His early bands played a variety of musical styles and traveled the Midwest. His recording career was launched in 1975 with the release of his first solo LP. The 70's and 80's were scattered with musical ventures, engineering jobs, and years of raising his family with wife Kathy. For many of these years, Paul turned his attention to audio engineering and recording with a heavy emphasis on computer aided recording and music sequencing. As technology improved, Paul became proficient with analog and on digital audio recording software and hardware. In and out of over 15 bands over 20 years, Paul finally took a leave of absence from music in 1989. As fate would have it, Paul was reunited with biological Lakota family in 1993. His family, along with wife Kathy, encouraged Paul to re-enter the music industry this time as a cultural role model and "Brulé" was born.

Tribal Affiliation: Lakota, Lower Brule Sioux
Instrument: Piano, Electronic keyboards


Nicole began playing the flute at age 11. She was a member of the Eden Prairie junior high school band and studied under the well-known flute instructor Judy Ranheim during high school. Nicole was accepted to perform with the Minneapolis Youth Symphony where she gathered her early stage experience. Classical music lost its appeal soon after high school, and Nicole teamed up with her father at Brule?s debut performance in St. Paul to a crowd of 20 patrons. Nicole has been performing with the band for the past six years, and her unique flute sound combines classical and traditional styles with a contemporary edge that has become the signature sound to the Brulé catalog.

Tribal Affiliation: Lakota (Lower Brule Sioux)
Instrument: Classical flute


Shane joined Brule' and AIRO in 2002 after graduating from the University fo Hawaii-Hilo with a Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology. During Shane's college years his interests were baseball, music, and cultural studies. Shane played competitive baseball all through high school and college, but his love for music brought him back to Brulé and AIRO. Self-taught on classical guitar and well versed in many genres, Shane brings a new sound to the group, as well as many new fans from the younger generation.

Tribal Affiliation: Lakota, Lower Brule Sioux
Instrument: Acoustic guitar

Find CDs and DVDs by Brule' & AIRO on our "Western Music" page.