Leela Gilday
Encyclopedia
Leela Gilday is a Dene
/Canadian
singer and songwriter born and raised in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
. From a very young age, Leela was immersed in music, and by the age of 8 had already begun her singing career. Today she is one of the North's better known performing artists.
with the release of her second album Sedzé
. Up Here Magazine named Leela as Northerner of the Year in 2007. Her third release Calling All Warriors debuted in 2010.
In 2010 Ms. Gilday was chosen to represent in CBC Radio's Great Canadian Song Quest 2010 her home territory of Northwest Territories by writing a song dedicated to a specific road, which was the theme for that year. A web-based poll conducted over the summer allowed fans to nominate and vote for their favorite road in each province and/or territory. The Deh Cho, or Mackenzie
, a river, was the thoroughfare chosen by fans for NWT, and Gilday's song Safe Passage first aired on CBC Radio 2 Drive
with Rich Terfry
on October 22, 2010 to commemorate it.
in 1997.
Dene
The Dene are an aboriginal group of First Nations who live in the northern boreal and Arctic regions of Canada. The Dené speak Northern Athabaskan languages. Dene is the common Athabaskan word for "people" . The term "Dene" has two usages...
/Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
singer and songwriter born and raised in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Yellowknife is the capital and largest city of the Northwest Territories , Canada. It is located on the northern shore of Great Slave Lake, approximately south of the Arctic Circle, on the west side of Yellowknife Bay near the outlet of the Yellowknife River...
. From a very young age, Leela was immersed in music, and by the age of 8 had already begun her singing career. Today she is one of the North's better known performing artists.
Career
Ms. Gilday has released three solo albums to date. Since her early start in music, she has been honored with many awards, beginning in 2002 as Best Female Artist, Best Folk Album and Best Songwriter at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards for her first release Spirit World, Solid Wood. She was also named in Maclean’s Magazine Top 50 Under 30 in that same year. In 2003 she was nominated at the Juno Awards for "Best Music of Aboriginal Canada", and in 2007 won for Aboriginal Recording Of The YearJuno Award for Aboriginal Recording of the Year
The Juno Award for Aboriginal Recording of the Year, formerly known as Best Music of Aboriginal Canada Recording, is an annual award presented by Canada's Juno Awards for the best album by a Aboriginal peoples in Canada....
with the release of her second album Sedzé
Sedzé
Sedzé is an album by Leela Gilday that won the 2007 Juno Award for Aboriginal Recording of the Year. The title means "my heart" in the North Slavey language.-Track listing:#"Dene Love Song" – 4:55#"Time Rushes By" – 2:35#"Avoid the Undertow" – 3:52...
. Up Here Magazine named Leela as Northerner of the Year in 2007. Her third release Calling All Warriors debuted in 2010.
In 2010 Ms. Gilday was chosen to represent in CBC Radio's Great Canadian Song Quest 2010 her home territory of Northwest Territories by writing a song dedicated to a specific road, which was the theme for that year. A web-based poll conducted over the summer allowed fans to nominate and vote for their favorite road in each province and/or territory. The Deh Cho, or Mackenzie
Mackenzie River
The Mackenzie River is the largest river system in Canada. It flows through a vast, isolated region of forest and tundra entirely within the country's Northwest Territories, although its many tributaries reach into four other Canadian provinces and territories...
, a river, was the thoroughfare chosen by fans for NWT, and Gilday's song Safe Passage first aired on CBC Radio 2 Drive
Radio 2 Drive
Radio 2 Drive is the afternoon program on CBC Radio 2 in Canada, launched September 2, 2008.On air from 3:30-7 pm, it is hosted by Rich Terfry, also known as Buck 65. The program airs a "mix of current singer-songwriters, roots and urban music."...
with Rich Terfry
Buck 65
Richard Terfry , who uses the stage name Buck 65, is a Canadian experimental artist, MC and turntablist. Underpinned by an extensive background in abstract hip hop, his more recent music has extensively incorporated blues, country, rock, folk and avant garde influences.Terfry is also a radio host,...
on October 22, 2010 to commemorate it.
Education
Leela Gilday received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of AlbertaUniversity of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
in 1997.
Discography
- Spirit World, Solid Wood (2002)
- SedzéSedzéSedzé is an album by Leela Gilday that won the 2007 Juno Award for Aboriginal Recording of the Year. The title means "my heart" in the North Slavey language.-Track listing:#"Dene Love Song" – 4:55#"Time Rushes By" – 2:35#"Avoid the Undertow" – 3:52...
(2008) - Calling All Warriors (2010)