Charly Lowry, a Pembroke native, first received national recognition on American Idol in 2004. She grew up singing in church, where she learned the spirituality and conviction she has today. She also performed in the Lumbee Homecoming pageants after voice lessons from Lumbee tribe member Lorna McNeill Ricotta. She currently sings in her band Dark Water Rising. Though the band isn’t solely a Native American band, she says, “‘I’ve done it the right way, with integrity and pride, and that I never forget my people, always bring my people with me and uplift our native people’” (para. 13).