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Terry Blade

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For the Finnish soccer player, see Terry Ablade.
Terry Blade
Terry Blade during 2022 recording session in Washington, DC.
Terry Blade during 2022 recording session in Washington, DC.
Background information
Born
Washington, DC
OriginSchaumburg, Illinois
GenresSinger-songwriter, Blues[1]
OccupationsSinger, songwriter, lyricist, music video director
Instrument
  • Vocals
Years active2020–present
Websiteterryblademusic.com

Terry Blade is an American singer-songwriter and music video director based in the Chicago metropolitan area.[2][3] He has released multiple studio albums, including American Descendant of Slavery, the Album (2021),[4] Neo Queer (2022),[5] Ethos: Son of a Sharecropper (2023),[6] and Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues (2025).[7]

His work frequently incorporates archival audio, explores themes of race, sexuality, and inter-generational memory,[8][6] and has been highlighted by reviewers for its minimalist production and baritone vocal delivery.[9][10]

His work has also received recognition, premiering at Tribeca Festival[11] and winning the Shorty Impact Award for Arts & Culture,[12] and First Place in the Blues category of the 2023 American Songwriter Song Contest.[13]

Early life

[edit]

Blade was born and raised in Washington, DC.[9] His family heritage is rooted in the American South; his grandparents were from the region, and his grandfather specifically hailed from Colerain, North Carolina.[8][5] His great-grandfather was a sharecropper, and his grandfather was taken out of school at a young age to work.[8]

By age 12, Blade had regularly experienced homophobia.[8] He has stated that growing up Black, gay, and gender non-conforming was "rough" and "one of the most painful experiences" he "didn't think [he] would survive".[8]

Blade relocated to Chicago, Illinois.[9] He later began keeping a private journal, and in 2020, began turning his journal entries into songs.[14]

Career

[edit]

Blade debuted his acoustic demo “The Unloveable” on April 3, 2020; the track received a nomination at the 11th Hollywood Music in Media Awards[15] and later appeared as the opening song on his EP Misery, released on May 8, 2020.[16] That same year, he released the a cappella single “The 'Karen' Blues,” which was described by musician Adeem the Artist as “witty and biting.”[17]

His debut studio album, American Descendant of Slavery, the Album, was released on February 5, 2021.[4] The album incorporated public domain audio of formerly enslaved Black Americans and won a Summit Creative Award for audio.[9][18] It was listed among the Archives of African American Music and Culture’s “Black Music Releases of Note,” and its cover design later won a Graphis Design Award.[19] Adeem the Artist highlighted the album track “MTF” for drawing parallels to real-world cases involving violence against transgender women.[20]

On January 14, 2022, Blade released his second studio album, Neo Queer.[5] Days later, he was featured on Frankie Francis’s Amazing Afternoons broadcast on Amazing Radio.[21]

Blade released the blues single “Won’t Be Around” on January 6, 2023.[2] The song received a Hollywood Independent Music Award nomination[22] and entered the New Music Weekly Country Up & Coming chart following national radio airplay.[23] Blade directed and produced the song’s music video, which premiered at the Tribeca Festival.[11] It was later selected for screening by the Mill Valley Film Festival.[3] The video received nominations at the 14th Hollywood Music in Media Awards[24] and the Cresta Awards,[25] and won Best Music Video awards at the Bare Bones International Film Festival,[26] Moondance International Film Festival,[27] Prague Independent Film Festival,[28] and the Vienna Independent Film Festival.[29]

His third studio album, Ethos: Son of a Sharecropper, was released on February 3, 2023.[30] The album received a nomination for Album of the Year: Folk/Americana at the Josie Music Awards.[31] Critics noted the work’s blending of blues, gospel, and country to explore themes of family history and Southern Black identity.[6]

On April 10, 2024, American Songwriter announced Blade as the Blues First Place Winner of the 2023 American Songwriter Song Contest for “Won’t Be Around.”[13] On June 24, 2024, he appeared on the Glastonbury Festival 2024 Festival Pass broadcast on Amazing Radio.[32] On September 24, 2024, he won two additional Summit Creative Awards for “Won’t Be Around”.[18]

On January 3, 2025, Blade released the blues single “Tell ’Em.”[33] The track was distributed by Paris-based companies Groover and IDOL,[34] and later added to the digital collection of the Médiathèque départementale de l'Ain in France.[35] In The Big Takeover, reviewer Dave Franklin described “Tell ’Em” as balancing blues tradition with contemporary innovation.[33]

His fourth studio album, Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues, was released on February 28, 2025.[7] The album incorporated archival interviews with Chicago blues figures, including Theresa Needham and Lefty Dizz,[36] and it was distributed by Groover and IDOL.[37] French public libraries later added the album to their digital collections, including the Médiathèque départementale de Isère,[37] the Bibliothèque départementale de la Vienne,[38] the Médiathèque départementale du Pas-de-Calais,[39] the Médiathèque départementale de Toulon[40] and the Médiathèque départementale de l'Ain.[35] While critics highlighted the album for its juke joint atmosphere, musician Ryan Cassata described the project as "a historical preservation effort".[41]

On May 21, 2025, Blade was featured on the Download Festival Festival Pass broadcast on Amazing Radio.[42] Two months later, the album received a nomination for Historical or Vintage Recording at the 2025 Blues Blast Music Awards.[43]The album went on to win a Shorty Impact Award for Arts & Culture,[12] an Anthem Award for Education, Art & Culture: Special Projects,[44] and a Cresta Award for Innovative Use of Sound/Audio.[45]

On November 21, 2025, Blade was included in Music Connection's "Top 25 New Music Critiques of 2025."[46]

Musical style and influences

[edit]

Blade’s recordings draw from blues, soul, gospel, country, and folk traditions,[6][7] often arranged with sparse instrumentation and minimal production to emphasize his vocal delivery and narrative focus.[9][16] Critics have described his work as rooted in Black American musical forms while incorporating contemporary singer-songwriter elements,[6][9] and several reviews note his use of documentary-style audio, including archival interviews and spoken-word recordings.[4][47]

Blade's projects frequently reference the historical experiences of Black Americans in both the rural South and urban Chicago, drawing thematic continuity from generational memory and regional identity.[8][6] Reviewers have highlighted his baritone vocal timbre and introspective writing as defining characteristics of his artistic style,[33][48] citing Tracy Chapman, Ben Harper, and Isaac Hayes as influences of his work.[49]

Personal life

[edit]

Blade resides in the Chicago metropolitan area.[2] He is queer.[5][50]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Title Details Ref.
American Descendant of Slavery, the Album [4]
Neo Queer [5]
Ethos: Son of a Sharecropper [6]
Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues [7]

Extended plays

[edit]
Title Details Ref.
Misery [16]
The 4 Miseries [51]
Unmastered: The Demo Sessions [52]

Singles

[edit]
Title Year Album Ref.
"The Unloveable" 2020 Misery [16]
"The Karen Blues" Non-album single [17]
"Black Hurts" 2021 American Descendant of Slavery, the Album [4]
"For You" 2022 Non-album single [21]
"Won't Be Around" 2023 Ethos: Son of a Sharecropper [2]
"Tell 'Em" 2025 Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues [33]

Videography

[edit]

Music videos

[edit]
Year Title Director Ref.
2023 Won't Be Around Terry Blade [11]
2024 All Ways - An Ode To Black Women Terry Blade [53]
2025 Railroad Tracks Terry Blade [54]
For You Terry Blade [55]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2020 Hollywood Music in Media Awards Best Music: Singer-Songwriter The Unloveable Nominated [15]
2021 Summit Awards Summit Creative Award: Audio (Bronze Award) American Descendant of Slavery, the Album Won [18]
2023 American Songwriter 2023 Song Contest: Blues Won't Be Around Won [56]
Hollywood Music in Media Awards Best Music Video (Independent) Nominated [57]
Hollywood Independent Music Awards Americana/Roots Nominated [22]
Josie Music Awards Album of the Year: Folk/Americana Ethos: Son of a Sharecropper Nominated [31]
Unsigned Only Music Awards Vocal Performance Won't Be Around Won [58]
2024 Bare Bones International Film Festival Best Music Video USA Won [26]
Midwest Film Festival Best Original Music Won [59]
Moondance International Film Festival Music Video Won [27]
Prague Independent Film Festival Best Music Video Won [28]
Regina International Film Festival and Awards Best Music Video Nominated [60]
Summit Awards Summit Creative Award: Video under $5,000 (Gold Award) Won [18]
Summit Creative Award: Direction/Editing (Silver Award) Won
Tribeca Festival Shorts: Music Video Nominated [11]
Vienna Independent Film Festival Best Music Video Won [29]
2025 Anthem Awards Education, Art & Culture Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues Won [44]
Berlin Commercial Festival Music Video: Cultural Impact All Ways - An Ode To Black Women Nominated [54]
Blues Blast Music Awards Historical or Vintage Recording Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues Nominated [61]
Cresta International Advertising Awards Innovative Use of Sound/Audio (Bronze Award) Won [62]
Digiday Greater Good Awards Education Nominated [63]
Racial Equality Nominated
Graphis Graphis Design Award: Music - Print (Silver Award) American Descendant of Slavery, the Album Won [19]
Josie Music Awards Social Impact Video of the Year All Ways - An Ode To Black Women Nominated [64]
Shorty Impact Awards Arts & Culture Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues Won [12]
Audio & Music (Gold Honoree) Won [65]
Summit Awards Summit Creative Award: Public Awareness & Advocacy (Silver Award) Won [66]
The One Club Awards Denver Radio & Audio: Custom Content (Silver Award) Won [67]
Radio & Audio: Sound Design (Silver Award) Won [68]
Radio & Audio: Use of Music (Bronze Award) Won [69]

Film festival selections and screenings

[edit]
Year Film Festival Country Category Work Ref.
2024 Los Angeles Shorts International Film Festival US Music Video Won't Be Around [70]
Leeds International Film Festival UK Music Video [71]
2025 Berlin Commercial Festival Germany Craft: Costume Styling Railroad Tracks [72]
Craft: Idea
Music Video: Cultural Impact
Craft: Use of Sound & Music For You
Music Video: Cultural Impact
Personal Work: Cultural Impact
Mill Valley Film Festival US Music Video Won't Be Around [73]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Callwood, Brett (2025-05-30). "New Music Critique: Terry Blade". Music Connection Magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  2. ^ a b c d "The Boot's Weekly Picks: Willie Jones, Mya Byrne + More". The Boot. 2023-02-09. Archived from the original on 2023-02-11. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  3. ^ a b The California Film Institute. "Mill Valley Film Festival". app.mvff.com. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  4. ^ a b c d e Cullen, Rebecca (2021-03-05). "Terry Blade – American Descendant Of Slavery, The Album". Stereo Stickman. Archived from the original on 2023-01-09. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  5. ^ a b c d e Treacy, Christopher (2023-01-05). "Q&A With Terry Blade • Country Queer". Country Queer. Archived from the original on 2023-01-18. Retrieved 2023-01-21.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Marcus, Richard (2023-01-24). "Album Review: Terry Blade Schools Us On His 'Ethos...'". Country Queer. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  7. ^ a b c d Mineo, Mike (2025-02-13). "New Album: Terry Blade - 'Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues'". Obscure Sound. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Frazier, Preston (2024-03-10). "Terry Blade on 'Ethos: Son of a Sharecropper': Something Else! Interview". Something Else!. Retrieved 2025-06-03.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "8 questions a Terry Blade". Blender Bookmagazine. 2021-02-01. Retrieved 2024-12-29.
  10. ^ Treacy, Christopher (2023-01-04). "CQ ROUNDUP WITH KEEP FOR CHEAP, TERRY BLADE AND EVER MORE NEST". Country Queer. Retrieved 2023-01-18.
  11. ^ a b c d "Shorts: Course Correction | 2024 Tribeca Festival". Tribeca Festival. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
  12. ^ a b c "Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues - The Shorty Awards". shortyawards.com. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  13. ^ a b Whalen, Shane (2024-04-10). "American Songwriter 2023 Song Contest Winners Announced". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
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  15. ^ a b "2020 MUSIC GENRE NOMINEES". Hollywood Music in Media Awards. Archived from the original on 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
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  20. ^ "Buried Treasure, April 2". 2021-04-02. Retrieved 2025-06-03.
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  22. ^ a b "2023 WINNERS | Hollywood Independent Music Awards". Hollywood Independent Music Awards. Retrieved 2024-12-29.
  23. ^ McCoy, Buck. "Sammy Hagar: Living the Dream". New Music Weekly. p. 33. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  24. ^ Neglia, Matt (2023-11-16). "The 2023 Hollywood Music In Media Awards (HMMA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Archived from the original on 2023-12-03. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  25. ^ "Cresta Awards 2024 Winners". Cresta International Advertising Awards. Retrieved 2024-12-29.
  26. ^ a b "Winners & Nominees". 26th Annual Bare Bones International Film & Musical Festival. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
  27. ^ a b "2024 Moondance Winners Announced". Moondance International Film Festival. 2025-02-15. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
  28. ^ a b "PIFF 2024 Winners | PIFF 2025". Prague-film-festival.com. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
  29. ^ a b "VIFF 2024 Winners | VIFF 2025". Vienna-film-festival.com. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
  30. ^ Liebig, Lorie (2023-05-01). "Most Wanted Music: 2023's Country, Americana, Bluegrass and Folk Album Releases". The Boot. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  31. ^ a b "2023 NOMINEES". Josie Music Awards. Archived from the original on 2023-05-10. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  32. ^ "Amazing Radio US". Amazingradio.us.
  33. ^ a b c d "Terry Blade - Tell 'Em (self-released)". The Big Takeover. Retrieved 2025-06-03.
  34. ^ Tell 'Em, IDOL / Groover Spark
  35. ^ a b Blade, Terry (2025), Tell 'Em, IDOL / Groover Spark, retrieved 2025-11-14
  36. ^ Fairbrother, Edwin (2025-03-21). "Terry Blade's 'Chicago Kinfolk': Remembering Old Blues Heroes". SoundScout Magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  37. ^ a b Blade, Terry (2025). "Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues". Mediatheque-departmentale.isere.fr. Retrieved 2025-05-09.
  38. ^ "Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues".
  39. ^ Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues, IDOL / Groover Spark
  40. ^ Blade, Terry (2025), Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues, IDOL / Groover Spark, retrieved 2025-11-23
  41. ^ Pigeon, Rock the (2025-03-11). "Terry Blade's Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues is A Masterful Tribute to the Blues". Rock the Pigeon. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  42. ^ "Amazing Radio". Amazingradio.us.
  43. ^ "Blues Blast Music Awards 2025". Le blues dans tous ses éclats !. 2025-07-15. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  44. ^ a b "Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues". Anthem Awards. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  45. ^ "Cresta Awards 2025 Winners". Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  46. ^ Connection, Music (2025-11-21). "Top 25 New Music Critiques of 2025". Retrieved 2025-11-24.
  47. ^ Fairbrother, Edwin (2025-03-21). "Terry Blade's 'Chicago Kinfolk': Remembering Old Blues Heroes". SoundScout Magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  48. ^ Callwood, Brett (2025-05-30). "New Music Critique: Terry Blade". Music Connection Magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  49. ^ "In Search of the Heart of Chicago: The Blues Story in Terry Blade's New Album «Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues»". Voxwave Magazine: Music, Culture, Interview, Fashion. 2025-02-15. Retrieved 2025-11-24.
  50. ^ Treacy, Christopher (2023-01-04). "CQ ROUNDUP WITH KEEP FOR CHEAP, TERRY BLADE AND EVER MORE NEST". Country Queer. Archived from the original on 2023-01-05. Retrieved 2023-01-18.
  51. ^ "ACE Repertory – The 4 Miseries". ASCAP. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  52. ^ "ACE Repertory – Unmastered: The Demo Sessions". ASCAP. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  53. ^ "MD All Ways – An Ode To Black Women – Terry Blade, USA, 2024". Cyprus Film Festival. Retrieved 2025-06-03.
  54. ^ a b "Railroad Tracks". Berlin Commercial. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  55. ^ "For You". Berlin Commercial. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  56. ^ Whalen, Shane (2024-04-10). "American Songwriter 2023 Song Contest Winners Announced". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2025-05-09.
  57. ^ "2023 HMMA Nominations". Hollywood Music in Media Awards. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  58. ^ "Unsigned Only Music Awards". Unsigned Only.
  59. ^ "Best of the Midwest Awards 2024". Midwest Film Festival. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
  60. ^ "2024 Nominees". 2024-07-26. Retrieved 2025-05-09.
  61. ^ Magazine, Blues Blast (2025-07-07). "2025 Blues Blast Music Award Nominees Announced". Blues Blast Magazine. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
  62. ^ "Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues". Cresta Awards. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  63. ^ Awards, Digiday (2025-09-23). "Babylist, Lush and Vox Creative are 2025 Greater Good Awards finalists". Digiday. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  64. ^ "2025 Official Nominees". Josiemusicawards.com. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  65. ^ "Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues - The Shorty Awards". Shorty Awards. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  66. ^ "Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues". Summit Awards. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  67. ^ "Terry Blade – Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues". The One Club. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  68. ^ "Terry Blade – Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues". The One Club. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  69. ^ "Terry Blade – Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues". The One Club. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  70. ^ "JULY 24 Program 41". Lashortsfest.com. Retrieved 2025-05-09.
  71. ^ "Leeds Music Video Competition". Leedsfilm.com. Retrieved 2025-05-09.
  72. ^ "Berlin Commercial 2025 Winners". Berlin Commercial. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  73. ^ "Won't Be Around". app.mvff.com. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
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