R. Carlos Nakai

Raymond Carlos Nakai (born April 16, 1946) is a Native American flute player of Navajo/Ute heritage. Ray Carlos Nakai was born in Flagstaff, Arizona on April 16, 1946 and now resides in Tucson, Arizona. He began his musical career as a freshman at Northern Arizona University studying brass instruments and playing in the NAU marching band. In his second year, he enlisted in the US Navy with the hope of eventually playing in the Armed Forces Band.