Shakura S'Aida is a Canadian blues vocalist, songwriter and actress. She is sometimes credited Shakura.
Shakura S'Aida | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Blues |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actress |
| Labels | Electro-Fi, Ruf |
History edit
Shakura S'Aida was born in Brooklyn and lived in Switzerland before moving to Canada.[1][2]
S'Aida was lead singer of the 13-piece world music ensemble Kaleefah,[1] before embarking on her solo career. She has also performed as a backing vocalist for Rita MacNeil and Patti LaBelle, as well as with jazz musicians such as Jimmy Smith and Ruth Brown. She has also been nominated for several Juno Awards for her music.[3]
S'Aida independently released her first solo album, Blueprint, in 2008.[2] Her second album, Brown Sugar, was released in 2010[2] on Ruf Records. In 2012, she released a double CD, Time,[2] on Electro-Fi Records.
As an actress, she starred in a Toronto production of George Boyd's Consecrated Ground in 2004,[4] as well as Sudz Sutherland's Doomstown in 2006[5] and Sharon Lewis's film Brown Girl Begins in 2018.[6]
In 2013, she was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the 'Contemporary Blues Female Artist' category.[7]
Discography edit
- Time (2012, Electro-Fi)
- Brown Sugar (2010, Ruf)
- Blueprint (2008, independent)
Filmography edit
Film edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | First Degree | Ella Rodie | |
| 1996 | Talk to Me | Scarecrow | |
| 1996 | Critical Choices | Mother | |
| 1999 | A Map of the World | Guard | |
| 2000 | Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story | Backup Singer (as Shakura S'Aida) | |
| 2006 | Doomstown | Karen Twisleton | |
| 2007 | A Winter Tale | Charmaine | |
| 2017 | Whitewash | The Narrator (voice) | Video documentary |
| 2017 | Brown Girl Begins | Mami |
Television edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Falcone | The Waitress | Series |
| 2005 | Kevin Hill | Jury Foreman | Series |
| 2007 | The Jane Show | Lillian | Series |
| 2008 | Flashpoint | Jackie | Series |
| 2009 | 'Da Kink in My Hair | Shirley Andrews | Series |
| 2010-2011 | Turbo Dogs | Marlene | Series |
| 2012 | The Firm | Researcher | Series |
| 2013 | CBC Music Festival | Herself | TV special |
| 2010-2015 | Lost Girl | Dark Fae Elder | Series |
| 2015 | Saving Hope | Cora Boullot | Series |
| 2016-2017 | Schitt's Creek | Lena | Series |
| 2021–Present | Batwoman | Cora Lewis | Season Two |
Theatre edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | The Destruction of Eve (by Svetlana Zylin and Connie Kaldor) | Unknown | with Company of Sirens | [8] |
Awards and nominations edit
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Juno Awards of 1993 | Best World Music Artist/Band | Nominated | [9] |
| 2004 | Maple Blues Award | Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | [10] |
| 2005 | Maple Blues Award | Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | [11] |
| 2007 | Maple Blues Award | Entertainer of the Year | Nominated | [12] |
| Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | |||
| 2008 | Maple Blues Award | Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | [13] |
| 2009 | Maple Blues Award | Entertainer of the Year | Nominated | [14] |
| Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | |||
| 2010 | Maple Blues Award | Entertainer of the Year | Nominated | [15] |
| Female Vocalist of the Year | Won | |||
| Recording of the Year (for Brown Sugar (Ruf Records)) | Nominated | |||
| 2011 | Maple Blues Award | Entertainer of the Year | Nominated | [16] |
| Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | |||
| 2012 | Maple Blues Award | Entertainer of the Year | Nominated | [17] |
| Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | |||
| Songwriter of the Year (with Donna Grantis) | Nominated | |||
| Recording of the year
(for Time (Electro-Fi Records), with Howard Ayee) |
Nominated | |||
| 2013 | Juno Awards of 2013 | Best Blues Album of the Year | Nominated | [18] |
| Blues Music Awards | Contemporary Female Artist | Nominated | [19] | |
| Maple Blues Award | Entertainer of the Year | Nominated | [20] | |
| Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | |||
| 2014 | Maple Blues Award | Entertainer of the Year | Nominated | [21] |
| Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | |||
| 2015 | Maple Blues Award | Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | [22] |
| 2016 | Maple Blues Award | Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | [23] |
| 2017 | Maple Blues Award | Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | [24] |
| 2023 | Juno Awards of 2023 | Best Contemporary Roots Album of the Year | Nominated | [25] |
References edit
- ^ a b Ruhlman, William. "Shakura S'Aida: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Travelling blues; How Shakura S'Aida's globe-trotting past and present helped shape her musical direction" by Eric Volmers, Calgary Herald (24 July, 2021) Retrieved from ProQuest 2554669126
- ^ "Shakura S'Aida News". www.shakurasaida.com. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- ^ "The wrong way to honour Ground" by Richard Ouzounian, Toronto Star (13 May, 2004) Retrieved from ProQuest 438704029
- ^ "Turning the lens on gun violence" by Gayle MacDonald, The Globe and Mail (10 June, 2006) Retrieved from ProQuest 383544772
- ^ "Production wraps on Brown Girl in the Ring" by Jordan Pinto at playbackonline.ca
- ^ "Blues Music Awards Nominees - 2013 - 34th Blues Music Awards". Blues.org. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
- ^ "[Stage]: [1 Edition]". Toronto Star. May 7, 1998. p. 1. ISSN 0319-0781.
- ^ "1993 | Best World Beat Recording | Kaleefah | The JUNO Awards". The JUNO Awards. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "Toronto Blues Society | » 2004 Maple Blues Awards". torontobluessociety.com. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "Toronto Blues Society | » 2005 Maple Blues Awards". torontobluessociety.com. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "Toronto Blues Society | » 2007 Maple Blues Awards". torontobluessociety.com. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "Toronto Blues Society | » 12th Annual Maple Blues Awards". torontobluessociety.com. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "Toronto Blues Society | » 13th Annual Maple Blues Awards". torontobluessociety.com. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "Toronto Blues Society | » 14th Annual Maple Blues Awards". torontobluessociety.com. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "Toronto Blues Society | » 15th Annual Maple Blues Awards". torontobluessociety.com. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "Toronto Blues Society | » 16th Annual Maple Blues Awards". torontobluessociety.com. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "2013 | Blues Album of the Year (Sponsored by Stingray Music) | Shakura S'Aida | The JUNO Awards". The JUNO Awards. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "2013 Indies Honour The Best In Independent Music With Awards And An Exclusive Headline Performance By Metric - Jim Beam INDIES with INDIE88". Jim Beam INDIES with INDIE88. January 23, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "Toronto Blues Society | » 17th Annual Maple Blues Awards". torontobluessociety.com. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "Toronto Blues Society | » 18th Annual Maple Blues Awards". torontobluessociety.com. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "Toronto Blues Society | » 19th Annual Maple Blues Awards". torontobluessociety.com. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "Toronto Blues Society | » 20th Annual Maple Blues Awards". torontobluessociety.com. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "Toronto Blues Society | » Nominees". torontobluessociety.com. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "The Weeknd Wins Big at 2023 Juno Opening Night Awards" by Karen Bliss at variety.com