WINDSOR—The Crystal Shawanda album Midnight Blues has been nominated in the 27th annual Maple Blues Awards.
“This album was extra special because it was a family affair, with our daughter Zhaawande co-writing one of the songs and singing backgrounds, so it’s very close to my heart,” said Ms. Shawanda. “Also, a big congratulations to my husband Dewayne Strobel, who produced, engineered and mixed this album.”
Ms. Shawanda was nominated for the Maple Blues Awards in the female vocalist of the year category along with songwriter of the year. The album was also nominated for recording/producer of the year, Dewayne Strobel.
When The Expositor caught up to Ms. Shawanda last week, her family was in Windsor putting on a Blues in Schools program in schools in the community. “I make a presentation on the history of blues and how it influences all of us. I also tell the students about how music is like a medicine to me, how it changed my life and music can also change the students’ lives as well. We played a few songs, and then Zhaawande (who is six years old) got up to sing a song, and the students in the school sing along with her,” said Ms. Shawanda. “The students get so into it, and they scream so loud it feels like the roof is going to blow up.”
Ms. Shawanda explained that for the Maple Blues Awards, “people can vote for us online by going on to www.mapleblues.ca.”
She also mentioned that the Jade Turner song ‘Deadweight’, that Ms. Shawanda co-wrote with Ms. Turner, won both the Fay Walker song of the year (songwriters) award and the single of the year award, at the recent 2023 Manitoba Country Music Awards. “Jade is another outstanding musical artist I have been fortunate to have worked with.”
