John Trudell, a native-american (Sioux) singer-songwriter from Nebraska, a political activist to whom fascists killed wife and three children, debuted with Tribal Voice (1983). The ballads of Ask Grafitti Man (Peace Company, 1986), when he was playing in a duo with Jesse Ed Davis billed as Grafitti Bird, and on This Isn't San Salvador (1987) and on Heart Jump Bouquet (1988), merge the rawest Neil Young and the coldest Lou Reed in a sermon-like style.

He then released Fables & Other Realities (1991) and Child's Voice and Children of the Earth (1992).

His style began changing with Johnny Damas And Me (Rykodisc, 1994), which is almost a blues album,, and Rant & Roll, See The Woman, Baby Dolls Blues reached a new maturity with Bone Days (Daemon, 2002).

Later albums include: Blue Indians (1999), Bone Days (2001), and Descendant Now Ancestor (2001).

John Trudell & Bad Dog released Crazier Than Hell (2011) and Wazi's Dream (2015).