About Papa
Papa Coyote is a traveler of soul and space. An artist of sound and light, he has charted a course that connects the world in a tapestry of harmony and unity.
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Papa produces and performs a blend of traditional folk from around the world and original contemporary fusions of global dance music.
From Afropop to Zydeco, Bluegrass to Cumbia, the sound evokes a Parisian café, a sweaty creole nightclub, or a festival under the stars.
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Through their artistry, Papa Coyote invites listeners to join them on this journey, to see the world not just as it is, but as it could be, a place of love, peace, and connection.
The latest chapter in Papa's story is one of struggle and resilience.
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In August of 2025, he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS.
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This terminal illness will leave Papa paralyzed and is now affecting his walking and breathing. Eventually it will take his ability to sing or play, but in the meantime he has A LOT of music to record and release!
Papa has shared the bill with luminaries like Little Feat, reggae founders The Wailers & Toots and the Maytals, and jam legends like Melvin Seals & JGB. From Ken Kesey's flatbed truck stage in the Oregon forest to a blue-ribbon winning Mardis Gras Parade Float in Louisana, Papa has moved bodies and lifted souls.
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Papa has homesteaded off grid, moved his family of 14 from coast to coast, performed throughout the US, produced recordings from 4 continents, created training completed by millions, studied and performed with African, Turkish, Brazilian masters, sailed the Columbia river for 10 years.
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