Shane Yellowbird
Yellowbird in 2009
Yellowbird in 2009
Background information
Born(1979-07-07)July 7, 1979
Maskwacis, Alberta, Canada
(now Maskwacis, Alberta)
DiedApril 25, 2022(2022-04-25) (aged 42)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Years active2005–2022
Labels306 Records, On Ramp

Shane Yellowbird (July 7, 1979 – April 25, 2022) was a Canadian country music singer-songwriter from Maskwacis, Alberta.[1] A Cree, in 2007, he was named the Aboriginal Entertainer of the Year at the Aboriginal People's Choice Music Awards, Chevy Trucks' Rising Star of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Awards and his song "Pickup Truck" was one of the year's ten most played country songs.

Early life

Yellowbird was born in Hobbema, Alberta,[2] on 7 July 1979.[3] He attended Ponoka Composite High School.[3] He suffered a severe stuttering problem as a child, for which he attended a speech therapist who suggested he sing his sentences. This method proved successful in treating him, and led to an interest in music.[4][5]

Career

Yellowbird was signed by O'Reilly International in 2003.[3] Three years later, he released his debut album titled Life Is Calling My Name.[6] The album includes the singles "Beautiful Concept," "They're All About You," "Pickup Truck" and "I Remember the Music." In November 2006, Yellowbird won three awards at the Aboriginal People's Choice Music Awards ceremony, including Best New Artist, Single of the Year ("Beautiful Concept") and Best Video ("Beautiful Concept").[7]

Yellowbird opened for Emerson Drive on their cross-Canada tour,[8] and was chosen to represent his native Canada by performing at the Fourth Annual Global Artist Party at the CMA Music Festival in June 2007.[9] Yellowbird was named the Chevy Trucks Rising Star of the Year at the 2007 Canadian Country Music Awards.[4][10]

"Pickup Truck," Yellowbird's third single, also became his first Top 5 song on the Canadian Country Singles chart in the summer of 2007. The song also peaked at No. 64 on the all-genre Canadian Hot 100, while the video topped the CMT Chevy Top 20 in July.[11] It was one of the ten most played country music songs of the year in Canada.[12] Yellowbird opened the 2007 Aboriginal People's Choice Music Awards, starring with Lorne Cardinal and Gabrielle Miller of Corner Gas.[13] Later that evening, he was named the Aboriginal Entertainer of the Year.[14] He also won awards for Best Country CD (Life Is Calling My Name) and Best Music Video ("Pickup Truck").[15] Yellowbird later won three trophies at the 2007 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, including Best Male Artist, Best Country Album and Best Album of the Year (Life Is Calling My Name).[16] He was also nominated for the 2008 Juno Award for Country Recording of the Year, for Life Is Calling My Name.[17]

Yellowbird's second album, It's About Time was released on November 17, 2009, featuring the single, "Bare Feet on the Blacktop".[5] In the United States, the video received a nomination from the Native American Music Association. Yellowbird won two Native American Music Awards for Best Country Recording for "Life Is Calling My Name" in 2011 and won Best Country Recording for "It's About Time" in 2012.[18][19]

Personal life

At the time of his death, Yellowbird was in a domestic partnership with fiancée Sarah Garrow.[20] The couple announced their engagement hours before his death was announced. He had four children.[5] He suffered from epilepsy and had occasional seizures.[5][4][10]

Yellowbird died on April 25, 2022, in Calgary. He was 42 years old.[5][4]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details
Life Is Calling My Name[21]
  • Release date: October 24, 2006
  • Label: 306 Records
It's About Time[21]
  • Release date: November 17, 2009
  • Label: On Ramp Records

Singles

Year Single Peak positions Album
CAN Country
[22] 		CAN
[23]
2005 "Beautiful Concept" 29 — Life Is Calling My Name
2006 "They're All About You" 13 —
2007 "Pickup Truck" 5 64
"I Remember the Music" 4 85
2008 "Drive Me Home" 11 —
"Life Is Calling My Name" 21 —
2009 "Bare Feet on the Blacktop" 10 99 It's About Time
2010 "Watching You Walk Away" 16 —
"I Get That a Lot These Days" 35 —
2011 "I Can Help You with That" 32 —
2012 "Sedona Arizona" 46 —
2013 "I'm Not Wearing Boots Today"[24] — — Non-album single
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

Year Video Director
2005 "Beautiful Concept"[25] Antonio Hrynchuk
2006 "They're All About You"[26]
2007 "Pickup Truck"[27] Stephano Barberis
2010 "Watching You Walk Away"[28]

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Result Ref(s)
2007 Canadian Country Music Association Chevy Trucks Rising Star Award Won [4][29]
Album of the Year – Life Is Calling My Name Nominated [29]
Single of the Year – "Pickup Truck" Nominated [29]
CMT Video of the Year – "Pickup Truck" Nominated [29]
Independent Male Artist of the Year Nominated [29]
2008 Juno Awards Country Recording of the Year – Life Is Calling My Name Nominated [17][30]
Canadian Country Music Association Male Artist of the Year Nominated [29]
2010 CMT Video of the Year – "Watching You Walk Away" Nominated [29]
2011 Single of the Year – "Watching You Walk Away" Nominated [29]

References

  1. ^ "Shane Yellowbird Official Website :: Bio". Archived from the original on January 31, 2010. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  2. ^ True, Chris. "Shane Yellowbird – Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Banks, Torrence (April 27, 2022). "42-year-old Country music singer Shane Yellowbird passes away". WSMV-TV. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e "'Trailblazer' Cree country artist Shane Yellowbird dead at 42". CBC News. April 26, 2022. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e Mertz, Emily (April 26, 2022). "Alberta country music singer-songwriter Shane Yellowbird passes away". Global News. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  6. ^ Yellowbird Releases Debut Album Archived February 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Yellowbird Ropes 3 APCMA Awards Archived February 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Shane Yellowbird to Tour with Emerson Drive Archived February 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Yellowbird to Perform at CMA Music Festival in June Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ a b Amato, Sean (April 26, 2022). "'A truly beautiful soul': Alberta country artist Shane Yellowbird dies at age 42". CTV News. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  11. ^ Shane Yellowbird's "Pickup Truck" No. 1 Video in Canada Archived December 12, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ R&R Top Canada Country Songs Archived March 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Shane Yellowbird to Open the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards with the "Corner Gas" crew Archived January 15, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ Shane Yellowbird Grabs "Aboriginal Entertainer of the Year" and More at the 2007 APCMA's Archived December 6, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ "Dion, LaBelle honoured". Toronto Star. November 5, 2007. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  16. ^ Shane Yellowbird Big Winner at Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards Archived December 6, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ a b Germano, Daniela (April 26, 2022). "'Trailblazer' Cree country singer Shane Yellowbird dead at age 42". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  18. ^ "Eleventh Annual Award Winners". Native American Music Awards. Archived from the original on August 13, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  19. ^ "The 12th Annual Native American Music Awards". Native American Music Awards. Archived from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  20. ^ "Tributes and candlelight vigils for Cree country singer Shane Yellowbird". edmontonjournal. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  21. ^ a b "Shane Yellowbird – Album Discography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  22. ^ Peak chart positions for country singles of Shane Yellowbird in Canada:
  23. ^ "Shane Yellowbird – Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  24. ^ "Shane Yellowbird – Albums". iHeartRadio. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  25. ^ "Aboriginal music front and centre in November". Aboriginal Multi-Media Society. 2006. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  26. ^ "One Hit Song After Another". Bart McKay. Archived from the original on November 9, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  27. ^ "Shane Yellowbird Wins Chevy Rising Star of the Year at 2007 Canadian Country Music Awards". NationTalk. September 11, 2007. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  28. ^ Bliss, Karen (July 28, 2011). "Johnny Reid Leads 2011 Canadian Country Music Award Nominations". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h "Past CCMA Award Winners And Nominees". Canadian Country Music Association. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  30. ^ "Past Nominees + Winners". Juno Awards. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.

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