R. Carlos Nakai (born Raymond Carlos Nakai on April 16, 1946) is a Native American flutist of Navajo and Ute heritage. He is recognized for bringing the traditional cedar flute into contemporary instrumental music, releasing over thirty albums primarily through Canyon Records.
Nakai began his musical training on brass instruments in high school and continued in college, later auditioning for the Armed Forces School of Music after serving two years in the United States Navy. An accident that prevented him from playing the trumpet led him to the Native American cedar flute, an instrument he taught himself to play. His first solo album, *Changes*, was released in 1983, after which he signed with Canyon Records, a label dedicated to Native American music.
Nakai’s music blends original compositions with motifs drawn from traditional Native American melodies. He often incorporates ambient and new‑age textures, and has collaborated with artists across genres, including composer Philip Glass, pianist Peter Kater, and guitarist Keola Beamer. His work is noted for its meditative quality and emphasis on the expressive capabilities of the flute.
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R. Carlos Nakai records and performs as a solo artist; no permanent band members are listed.
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Nakai has received eleven Grammy Award nominations for his recordings, underscoring his impact on both Native American and broader instrumental music scenes. His collaborations with artists such as William Eaton, Peter Kater, Philip Glass, Nawang Khechog, Paul Horn, and Keola Beamer have expanded the reach of the cedar flute into diverse musical contexts.