Nashville, TN. (Top40 Charts/ RCA Nashville Records) - RCA Nashville recording artist Crystal Shawanda's album, Dawn Of A New Day, entered the Billboard Country Albums Chart at No 16 making Shawanda the highest charting full-blooded Native American country artist in the SoundScan era. The album features her emotional debut single and Top 20 hit, 'You Can Let Go,' which continues to climb the country radio charts.
Michael McCall of the Associated Press writes 'Dawn Of A New Day suggests Nashville has discovered another strong female vocalist capable of establishing her own point of view.'
Crystal grew up on the Wikwemikong reservation on Canada 's Manitoulin Island where she and her family found daily comfort and hope through music. Shawanda means 'Dawn of a New Day' in Crystal 's native Ojibwe language, and a new day is what music has given Crystal . A citizen of both the U.S. and Canada , Crystal has always turned to her music, which she credits for saving her life. Dawn Of A New Day, which was produced by Scott Hendricks, is dedicated 'To Those In Need Of Hope.'
Randy Bachman and Crystal Shawanda to Perform at Canadian Country Music Association Awards
The Board of Directors of the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) announced today that International music legend Randy Bachman and up and coming artist Crystal Shawanda have been added as performers for the Canadian Country Music Awards in Winnipeg, Manitoba on September 8, 2008.
Country music sensations Adam Gregory, Aaron Pritchett and Lisa Brokop have been added as award presenters, along with former Canadian Idol contestant Tara Oram. Country music songwriter and recording artist Jimmy Wayne will also be on hand to present, along with CMT Canada's Paul McGuire and Elissa Lansdell.
Born in Winnipeg, Canadian music icon Randy Bachman has over 120 Gold and Platinum singles internationally and over 40 million records sold. Bachman continues to tour throughout North America and Europe with his own band and under Bachman/Cummings with Burton Cummings.
Manitoulin Island and Native American country music newcomer Crystal Shawanda's debut disk Dawn of a New Day was released in summer 2008 in both Canada and The US. Her single You Can Let Go is the fastest climbing single by a Canadian in the history of the BDS Country Charts and is currently Top 25 on American charts.
The 2008 CCMA Awards will be broadcast nationally on CBC Television at 8pm with encore broadcasts on CMT Canada. Terri Clark will host the show, which will feature previously announced performers Gord Bamford, Dierks Bentley, George Canyon, Doc Walker, Emerson Drive, Jessie Farrell, Kellie Pickler and Johnny Reid, with special guest presenters Michelle Wright, W. Brett Wilson and Jim Treliving from CBC's The Dragons' Den and songwriter Bill Anderson.
Tickets for the CCMA Awards are on sale now and range in price from $39.50 - $79.50. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.ca, by phone at 204.780.3333 or at any Ticketmaster location.
All CCMA Award nominees are available online at www.ccma.org
For details about Country Music Week and the CCMA Awards, visit www.ccma.org.
