Shane Yellowbird

Bengough, SK - Growing up as a "poor kid on a ranch," Shane Yellowbird never dreamed he would one day be a country singer. In fact, it wasn't even something he aspired to. Instead, he dreamed of being a hockey player. His parents competed on the rodeo circuit, as did Yellowbird when he got a little older. He grew up listening to country music, but never thought he'd be a part of the industry. "It just kinda happened," said Yellowbird.
He eventually ended up at Red Deer College pursuing a degree in Fine Arts. He entered a karaoke contest and won, much to his surprise. The host of one of the karaoke bars Yellowbird often frequented told him that he had what it takes to make it in the country music industry. At first, Yellowbird recalls, "I thought he was nuts." The host introduced him to some industry people, and Yellowbird was quickly signed onto O'Reilly Management.
That was just a few short years ago. His debut album "Life is Calling My Name" was released in November of 2006 and has produced four Top Ten hits as well as racking up an impressive collection of awards and nominations including: 2007 Aboriginal Entertainer of the Year at the Aboriginal People's Choice Awards, Chevy Truck's Rising Star of the Year in 2007, and in 2006 he won Best New Artist, Single of the Year and Video of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Awards, as well as being nominated for a Juno.
He's been touring extensively ever since. "I'm the busiest artist in Canada right now," declared Yellowbird during the lead-up to his performance at the Gateway Festival in Bengough, SK on July 26th. "We just travelled 20,000 kilometres in 5 days." The day after his performance in Bengough, Yellowbird and his band immediately headed for Edmonton. He has performed all over North America, and hopes to tour in Europe and Australia in the near future.
So far the highlight of Yellowbird's career was performing at the Grand Ole' Opry in June of 2007 where he got to meet some of his inspirations, Mel Tillis and Charley Pride.
Despite his incredible success, Yellowbird is refreshingly humble and down to earth. "I don't think of it as fame," said Yellowbird. "It doesn't really affect me."
One well known incident last year occurred on a flight to Vancouver when a flight attendant recognized Yellowbird and announced to all of the passengers that a celebrity was onboard. Yellowbird remembers the incident with a chuckle. "I was looking around wondering who the celebrity was - I thought it was like a movie star or something."
Yellowbird hopes to complete his sophomore album by the end of the year, and is currently recording it in Nashville. Yellowbird will lend his name to the songwriting credits on the new album. Yellowbird's songwriting inspiration comes from real life experiences, and he usually prefers songs with a positive message. "When you're in a good mood, you wanna write," he said simply.
Yellowbird, who grew up near the small town of Hobbema, AB, has some advice for kids growing up in small towns who have big dreams. "You have to leave town," he says bluntly. "A lot of people stay, but you have to go if you want to make it somewhere. You can always come back."
The most important thing in Yellowbird's life is not his music, but his family. "They keep me grounded and they're always there when things are tough," says Yellowbird. "When the music isn't there anymore... I'll still have family."
The country singer was nearly mobbed by fans after his performance at the Gateway, and it's reactions like that that surprise him the most about his sudden fame. "I didn't expect that... all the people, the fans. All of the support. It's great," he says, then adds, "but I won't let it go to my head."
With his latest single "Life is Calling My Name" just released and already climbing up the charts as well as a recent nomination for Best Video at the Aboriginal People's Choice Awards, Yellowbird's success is continuing to accelerate. The 29 year old seems poised on the brink of superstar status.