I’m Native American. We’re automatically country … joined to the land and the real stories of everyday people. A long time ago, we traditionally used music as our daily prayer and as our way of giving thanks. To Native Americans, music is our everything. It’s our storytelling, our history, and our dance. We use it to remember and to forget. It’s how we celebrate life and mourn death.
I wrote my first song at 9, not knowing that songwriting would become my way of coping with the hopelessness I saw around me on the reservation. Growing up, I watched too many people lose hope and leave this earth … including cousins and many friends of mine. I watched as my brothers lost almost every childhood friend before they were 16. But music was my hope. It saved me, and it became a doorway for me to find freedom from the hopelessness that we all felt on the reservation. Loretta Lynn was my childhood hero … and she continues to be that for me today. I grew up watching her be a friend to my mom through her music. Mom would sing along with those records like finally someone understood her. I want to be that for someone. I was born a country music singer. I was driven to sing, and I drove my parents nuts about it.
I’m a citizen of both the U.S. and Canada, though I was born in Ontario and grew up on a reservation called Wikwemikong on Canada’s Manitoulin Island. My daddy drove a truck from Michigan straight through Nashville on his North-South run, so I had a ride whenever they would let me go. I started my trips to Nashville at the age of 11. We stood on the sidewalk in front of Nashville’s famed Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and watched through the window. I was scared I would be told I wasn’t good enough. By 12, I had written enough songs to do my own little demo album which I sold back home to pay for more trips to Nashville. Country music had become my full time way of relating to my world. If I couldn’t write and sing, I couldn’t talk and feel.
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So, did they actually tell you where Houghton, MI was when you agreed to play here? Anyway I look forward to seeing you in October, hopefully there isn't a lot of snow yet.
hey crystal.. i met u in perso at the pink fest last year.. and i just wanted to let u kno i sang ur song u can let go now at my high school showcse and made everyone cry.. thank u for makin such amazing music.. cant wait to see u again!!
btw Willie Mack has a really funny song about Canada called Howdy Eh! its really funny! and im doing great! i've been home one day and i'm already bored hahah but i'll find something to do!! hope your great!! Luv always PS: it rained while you guys would've been on stage so ya :P that just means you HAVE to go back there!!! LOL PSS: thank ya'll sooooo much for the tickets!!!!!!!! :) y'all are awesome!
www.williemack.com hes a country singer :P and hes sooo cute!! LOL i dont get how people can get your name wrong!?!!? its so simple haha! i geuss to me anyway :D 24 days till we can see each other!!!! yay! OMG i almost forgot your CD in nova scotia. i was on my way to go through security and i almost yelled at my dad MY CRYSTAL CD!!! ITS IN THE CAR!!! lol so we had to run back and get it!!! thank god i didnt forget it :P well have a great time relaxing!! ~luv always
Hi Crystal It was terrific to hear 'Dawn Of A New Day' in glorious FM on a new Country Show ( John Baron 18:00-20:00 UK Time) in my area BAY 102.8. Its attracting listeners on The Internet from all over too! Brilliant your music is getting heard in this way via a Radio Show in my hometown in England. Your song sounded FABULOUS! http://www.thebayradio.com/
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