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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Hi Crystal, Thanks for adding me. I've always been a big fan. Hope you have a great weekend and stop by anytime for some of that good ol' Southern Hospitality.
Hi Crystal, I have just had a new song of mine demoed in Nashville "Text Ex" and it needs a new home .It reminds me of Brad Paisley. Please take a listen to it on my music profile player and have a happy thanksgiving. Denise Beaty Ky songwriter......
HEY CRYSTAL, WOW, I HAD SO MUCH FUN WEDNESDAY NIGHR YOUR NIGHTCONCERT AT NIKE!! YOU HAVE SO MUCH ENERGY ON STAGE, THANKS SO MUCH ALL THE AUTOGRAPHS AND PICTURE CRYSTAL. SEE YA AGAIN ON FEB. 27 HERE IN PORTLAND!! TAKE CARE CRYSTAL, YOUR FRIEND NATASHA;)
Thanks 4 adding me! I just wanted to say it was great to see you in Portland,Or on Thursday 11/20/08. Your show was great! Did an awesome job and it was great to meet you after the show! Cant wait for you to come back!! :) Enjoy!
Congratulations on your Aboriginal People's Choice Music Awards, Crystal! You are an incredible singer and I love the way you handle a guitar on stage! You might be country but you still ROCK in my world! Great to meet you in Winnipeg! Veronica Johnny
HEY CRYSTAL, WOW, I HAD SO MUCH FUN LAST NIGHT AT YOUR CONCERT AT NIKE!! YOU HAVE SO MUCH ENERGY ON STAGE, I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU AGAIN WHEN YOU TOUR WITH BRAD PAISLEY NEXT YEAR. THANKS SO MUCH ALL THE AUTOGRAPHS AND PICTURE CRYSTAL. SEE YA AGAIN ON FEB. 27 HERE IN PORTLAND!! TAKE CARE CRYSTAL, YOUR FRIEND RANDY
i have no idea if you read these comments or not but i just want you to know i love every song on your cd for so many different reasons....my dream is to see you live...thank you for touching and breaking my heart every time i listen to your music.... dawn
HI CRYSTAL, I WAS LUCKY TO BE INVITED AS A GUEST TO YOUR PRIVATE SHOW AT NIKE TODAY!! I'M HOPING THAT I WILL ALSO GET TO MEET YOU AS WELL? I WOULD LIKE YOU TO AUTOGRAPH MY CD IF YOU WOULD BE SO KIND TO DO. THANKS CRYSTAL, YOUR FRIEND RANDY
I love you music. When are you coming to Las Vegas. I would give about anything to see you you concert. About time we ot someone that can touch your heart and soul with what they have to ay in a song. eppit up my friend. i am a fan for life
I went to your concert @ in flint Michigan it was Awesome also my Mom had your daddy u can let go played at my Papa's Funeral. It is such a Beautiful song.
