Born in Hobbema, Alberta, Canada, Cree Shane Yellowbird was dead set on becoming a cowboy, before his stuttering condition indirectly landed him the rare privilege of being one of Canada's youngest premier country singer/songwriters. He grew up immersed in Canadian cowboy culture, learning to ride and rope and attending and participating in many rodeos. Ironically, his treatment for said stuttering problem led him to a more musical future. Encouraged to sing his sentences rather than speak them, his talent for the vocal art took him away from the rugged life on the plains, instead leading him to vocal and singing contests, which he had no problem winning. Eventually spotted by management group O'Reilly International, Yellowbird scored a record deal and released his debut, Life Is Calling My Name, in November of 2006. The album was a hit, spawning a number of singles and winning him the Aboriginal Entertainer of the Year Award at the 2007 Aboriginal People's Choice Music Awards. In 2007, Yellowbird's single "Pickup Truck" hit the Top Five, and in 2008 he earned a Juno Award nomination for Canada's best in country music. Shane Yellowbird died on April 25, 2022 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada; he was 42 years old. ~ Chris True