Four Saskatchewan artists, including one born in North Battleford, have been nominated for the Native American Music Awards this year.
The 15th annual awards will be held Nov. 14 in Salamanca, N.Y. The Native American Music Awards (also known as the NAMMYs) are considered the equivalent of the Grammy Awards for the Native American music community.
North Battleford-born Joey Stylez, currently residing in Los Angeles, has been nominated for best pop recording for Feather + Rosary. Stylez, an award winning hip hop, rap and pop artist, was born Joseph Laplante. He is a member of the Moosomin First Nation and grew up in Saskatoon.
Feather + Rosary is a continuation of his musical growth with the Juno nominated 2011 album Blackstar, named after his grandmother. Stylez has been featured on Much Music and his songs have crossed over from aboriginal music stations to mainstream radio, while winning numerous awards from the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards to the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards. He also mentors established and up-and-coming hip-hop acts through his label, Stressed Street Entertainment.
Up for best country recording is Métis artist Donny Parenteau of Prince Albert for Bring It On. Over his career, Parenteau has garnered numerous provincial and national music nominations and awards including a 2007 Juno nomination for Aboriginal Recording of the Year. He is a multi-instrumentalist who performs on the fiddle, mandolin, acoustic and electric guitars and the unique mandocaster.
He toured for 12 years with country star Neal McCoy, and has performed with numerous country artists and genuine music icons such as Charlie Daniels, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Shania Twain and Reba McEntire.
Parenteau also tours Saskatchewan on an anti-bullying campaign. He has made his anti-bully presentation in the Battlefords on several occasions.
Singer, songwriter and percussionist, Donna Kay, originally from Ministikwan Lake, has been nominated for best female artist.
Regina's George Leach has been nominated for best rock recording with his album Surrender. Surrender has already won a best rock CD award at the Aboriginal People's Choice Music Awards 2013.
Big River Cree, from Big River First Nation in northern Saskatchewan, are nominated for best pow wow recording for In Harmony Again. The group consists of extended family members who have been singing together since the early 1990s.
This year's NAMMY awards feature a diverse group of nominees from across North America in 30 categories. The Native American Music Association and Awards is the leading membership-based Native American music association for American indigenous and original roots music initiatives, comprised of industry professionals, musicians, programmers, producers, engineers and other professionals, dedicated to the advancement and recognition of Native American music expressions.
According to SaskMusic, voting is open to the general public and is underway now via http://www.nativeamericanmusicawards.com/vote-now.
The Nov. 14 awards will be streamed live on www.FNX.org
