Gaming fosters music studio

Only one Short Dawg Tha NativeRaymond "Shorty" Galvan, 30, began his journey as a singer at the tender age of 5, learning Cahuilla bird songs from his grandmother. Galvan is a member of the San Manuel Tribe of Mission Serrano Indians, and is also part Cahuilla Indian.

"I am not really using the rez life to influence my music, but I am using my music to educate about what's going on on the rez and what's going on in the world, and how I see it through my eyes," he said.

Thanks to his tribe's success in gaming and multiple business investments, he has invested his income into his love of music as the owner of Voodoo Nation Records Inc., located on the San Manuel reservation near Highland. The first notable improvement to life on the rez was the implementation of running water and electricity, he said.