In just a few short years, Shane Yellowbird has gone from quietly
pursuing a Fine Arts degree at college to one of Canadian country
music’s brightest country stars.
On a recent trip to Nashville the flight attendant recognized
Yellowbird from his music videos and announced to her fellow workers
that a celebrity was onboard. Though uncomfortable with the attention,
the shy Yellowbird obliged his fans with autographs.
It’s been like that since the release of his music in Canada...
creating quite a stir! He’s had two hot selling record, five Billboard
Top 10s and videos hits, and a number of major awards and nominations,
including the coveted CCMA award for “Rising Star of the Year,” the
“Best Country Recording” award at the Native American Music Awards (for
North America), and the “Aboriginal Entertainer of the Year” award at
the Aboriginal People’s Choice Awards (for North America).
On October 10th, 2011, Yellowbird released his first single and video
in the United States, “Bare Feet on the Blacktop”, a lively up-tempo
number, with striking guitar licks, witty lyrics, and smooth country
harmonies.
“I look forward to sharing my music with listeners south of the
Canadian border,” commented Yellowbird. “I have lots of fan’s there and
it’s time I get the music out and see them.”
Growing up in Hobbema, Canada, Yellowbird, who is Cree, was a typical
cowboy. His parents participated in the rodeo circuit and their son
learned early on to rope and ride, fully embracing the cowboy lifestyle
and accepting that it would one day be his future.
A strange twist of circumstances, however, put Yellowbird on the
country music path. Born with a severe stuttering problem, he began
seeing a speech therapist who suggested that he sing his sentences to
help him speak clearly. The technique proved successful. So successful,
in fact, that Yellowbird began entering and winning several singing
contests. The life of this cowboy quickly turned away from roping and
riding and moved toward that of another dream, being a successful
country music artist.
Yellowbird is proud of his country roots and still breaks horses and
competes in calf-roping whenever he can. But given the exceptional fan
response to his music, his future seems destined to deliver more
outstanding country music on both sides of the border.
