XIT (Crossing of Indian Tribes) is a Native American rock band that released two albums in the 1970s on the Rare Earth label.
[2] Circa 1972, they banned their first album from radio airplay[3] and threatened Motown Records unless they defunded promotion of Plight of the Redman.
[2] Despite this, XIT toured Europe three times[4] and opened for ZZ Top, Joe Cocker, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Steve Martin, Floyd Red Crow Westerman , Black Oak Arkansas , Three Dog Night, Rare Earth, Zephy, Buffy St. Marie, Redbone and the Beach Boys.
Lincoln St. Exit was formed, a psychedelic rock garage band in Albuquerque, New Mexico's Valley High School.
"[8] The group consisted of musicians : Siegi Chavez,Frank Viramontes,Paul Chapman, Michael Martinez, Mac Suazo, Larry Leyba, and Lee Herrera.
[7][10] Circa 1970, members A. Michael Martinez, Mac Suazo, Lee Herrerra, and R. C. Gariss lived together in a log cabin on the east side of the Sandia Mountains.
"[11] Around 1970, producers Mike Valvano and Ralph Terrana of Motown Records visited the cabin to see a rough draft performance of Plight of the Redman.
The album ends with a denunciation of present-day conditions, such as Native American suicide, poverty, diseases, and poor access to healthcare in the "ghettos of reservations.
[citation needed] It features a chorus, orchestral instruments, guitar solos, and a recurring melodic theme throughout the album.
"[14] Michael Martinez stated, "Our message was a political statement about how Natives were treated in the U.S. We affiliated ourselves with the American Indian Movement.
"[2] Meanwhile, after the album release, XIT toured the country, opening for ZZ Top, Joe Cocker, The Beach Boys,[3]Three Dog Night, Zephyr, Redbone, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Steve Martin, Buffy St. Martin, Floyd Redcrow Westerman, Johnny Otis, Dewey Martin, Crow, and Black Oak Arkansas Their second album Silent Warrior (1973) resulted in a European hit single "We Live," which sold millions of units according to Suazo.
"[15] Despite success in Europe, Motown Records ended its relationship with the band, possibly under the persuasion of the United States government.
[17][1] In a 2000 documentary, Tom Bee's The SOAR Corporation claimed XIT "carried a message of unity, hope, and truth to Indian people across America.
In 2020, Tha 'Yoties held a tribute performance featuring 10 covers of XIT songs, live-streamed from the Orpheum Theater in Flagstaff, Arizona.