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,[6][8] 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][14]

Early life

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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.[15]

Career

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Blade debuted his acoustic demo “The Unloveable” on April 3, 2020; the track received a nomination at the 11th Hollywood Music in Media Awards[16] and later appeared as the opening song on his EP Misery, released on May 8, 2020.[17] That same year, he released the a cappella single “The 'Karen' Blues,” which was described by musician Adeem the Artist as “witty and biting.”[18]

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][19] 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.[20] Adeem the Artist highlighted the album track “MTF” for drawing parallels to real-world cases involving violence against transgender women.[21]

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.[22]

Blade released the blues single “Won’t Be Around” on January 6, 2023.[2] The song received a Hollywood Independent Music Award nomination[23] and entered the New Music Weekly Country Up & Coming chart following national radio airplay.[24] Blade directed and produced the song’s music video, which premiered at the Tribeca Festival.[25] It was later selected for screening by the Mill Valley Film Festival.[3] The video received a nomination at the 14th Hollywood Music in Media Awards[26] and was shortlisted at the Cresta Awards.[27] The video won Best Music Video awards at the Bare Bones International Film Festival,[28] Moondance International Film Festival,[29] Prague Independent Film Festival,[30] and the Vienna Independent Film Festival.[31]

His third studio album, Ethos: Son of a Sharecropper, was released on February 3, 2023.[32] The album received a nomination for Album of the Year: Folk/Americana at the Josie Music Awards.[33] 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 Magazine 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.[34] On September 24, 2024, he won two additional Summit Creative Awards for “Won’t Be Around”.[19]

On January 3, 2025, Blade released the blues single “Tell ’Em.”[35] The track was distributed by Paris-based companies Groover and IDOL,[36] and later added to the digital collection of the Médiathèque départementale de l'Ain in France.[37] In The Big Takeover, reviewer Dave Franklin described “Tell ’Em” as balancing blues tradition with contemporary innovation.[35]

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,[38] and it was distributed by Groover and IDOL.[39] French public libraries later added the album to their digital collections, including the Médiathèque départementale de Isère,[39] the Bibliothèque départementale de la Vienne,[40] the Médiathèque départementale du Pas-de-Calais,[41] the Réseau des médiathèques de Toulon[42] and the Médiathèque départementale de l'Ain.[43] While critics highlighted the album for its juke joint atmosphere, musician Ryan Cassata described the project as "a historical preservation effort".[44]

On May 21, 2025, Blade was featured on the Download Festival Festival Pass broadcast on Amazing Radio.[45] Two months later, the album received a nomination for Historical or Vintage Recording at the 2025 Blues Blast Music Awards.[46]The album went on to win a Shorty Impact Award for Arts & Culture,[12] an Anthem Award for Education, Art & Culture: Special Projects,[47] and a Cresta Award for Innovative Use of Sound/Audio.[48]

On November 21, 2025, Blade was included in Music Connection's "Top 25 New Music Critiques of 2025."[49]

Musical style and influences

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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][17] 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][50]

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,[35][51] citing Tracy Chapman, Ben Harper, and Isaac Hayes as influences of his work.[52]

Personal life

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Blade resides in the Chicago metropolitan area.[2] He is queer.[5][53]

Discography

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Studio albums

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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

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Title Details Ref.
Misery [17]
The 4 Miseries [54]
Unmastered: The Demo Sessions [55]

Singles

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Title Year Album Ref.
"The Unloveable" 2020 Misery [17]
"The Karen Blues" Non-album single [18]
"Black Hurts" 2021 American Descendant of Slavery, the Album [4]
"For You" 2022 Non-album single [22]
"Won't Be Around" 2023 Ethos: Son of a Sharecropper [2]
"Tell 'Em" 2025 Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues [35]

Videography

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Music videos

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Year Title Director Ref.
2023 Won't Be Around Terry Blade [11]
2024 All Ways - An Ode To Black Women Terry Blade [56]
2025 Railroad Tracks Terry Blade [57]
For You Terry Blade [58]

Awards and nominations

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Music awards

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Year Organization Category Work Result Ref.
2020 Hollywood Music in Media Awards Best Music: Singer-Songwriter The Unloveable Nominated [16]
2023 American Songwriter Magazine Song Contest: Blues Won't Be Around Won [14]
Hollywood Music in Media Awards Best Music Video (Independent) Won't Be Around Nominated [59]
Hollywood Independent Music Awards Americana/Roots Won't Be Around Nominated [23]
Josie Music Awards Album of the Year: Folk/Americana Ethos: Son of a Sharecropper Nominated [33]
Unsigned Only Music Awards Vocal Performance Won't Be Around Won [60]
2024 International Acoustic Music Awards Open Won't Be Around Runner-up [61]
2025 Blues Blast Music Awards Historical or Vintage Recording Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues Nominated [62]
Josie Music Awards Social Impact Video of the Year All Ways - An Ode To Black Women Nominated [63]
Unsigned Only Music Awards Blues Won't Be Around Runner-up [64]
Unsigned Only Music Awards Male Vocal Won't Be Around Runner-up
Unsigned Only Music Awards Music Video Won't Be Around Runner-up

Film festival awards

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Year Organization Country Category Work Result Ref.
2024 Bare Bones International Film Festival File:Flag of the United States.svg US Best Music Video USA Won't Be Around Won [28]
Los Angeles Shorts International Film Festival File:Flag of the United States.svg US Music Video Won't Be Around Official Selection [65]
Leeds International Film Festival File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK Music Video Won't Be Around Official Selection [66]
Midwest Film Festival File:Flag of the United States.svg US Best Original Music Won't Be Around Won [67]
Moondance International Film Festival File:Flag of the United States.svg US Music Video Won't Be Around Won [29]
Prague Independent Film Festival File:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic Best Music Video Won't Be Around Won [30]
Regina International Film Festival and Awards File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Best Music Video Won't Be Around Nominated [68]
Tribeca Festival File:Flag of the United States.svg US Music Video Won't Be Around Official Selection [25]
Vienna Independent Film Festival File:Flag of Austria.svg Austria Best Music Video Won't Be Around Won [31]
2025 Berlin Commercial Festival File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany Cultural Impact All Ways - An Ode To Black Women Shortlisted [69]
Berlin Commercial Festival File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany Cultural Impact For You Official Selection [70]
Berlin Commercial Festival File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany Cultural Impact Railroad Tracks Official Selection [71]
Berlin Commercial Festival File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany Craft: Idea Railroad Tracks Official Selection [72]
Berlin Commercial Festival File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany Craft: Costume Styling Railroad Tracks Official Selection [73]
Berlin Commercial Festival File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany Craft: Use of Sound & Music For You Official Selection [74]
Mill Valley Film Festival File:Flag of the United States.svg US Music Video Won't Be Around Official Selection [3]
Sarajevo Fashion Film Festival File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina Best Set Design Railroad Tracks Won [75]

Communication, design, and media awards

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Year Organization Category Work Result Ref.
2021 Summit International Awards Summit Creative Award: Audio American Descendant of Slavery, the Album Bronze [19]
2024 Summit International Awards Summit Creative Award: Video under $5,000 Won't Be Around Gold [19]
Summit International Awards Summit Creative Award: Direction/Editing Won't Be Around Silver
2025 Anthem Awards Education, Art & Culture Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues Silver [47]
Cresta International Advertising Awards Innovative Use of Sound/Audio Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues Bronze [76]
Digiday Greater Good Awards Education Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues Finalist [77]
Digiday Greater Good Awards Racial Equality Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues Finalist
Epica Awards Best Use of Music Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues Shortlisted [78]
Graphis Graphis Design Award: Music - Print American Descendant of Slavery, the Album Silver [20]
International Design Awards Multimedia Design Terry Blade: Portfolio and Cultural Archive Bronze [79]
Shorty Impact Awards Arts & Culture Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues Won [12]
Shorty Impact Awards Audio & Music Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues Gold [80]
Summit International Awards Summit Creative Award: Public Awareness & Advocacy Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues Silver [81]
Summit International Awards Summit Marketing Effectiveness Award: Social Media Marketing For You - A Study in Creative Efficiency Platinum [82]
The One Club Awards Denver Radio & Audio: Custom Content Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues Silver [83]
The One Club Awards Denver Radio & Audio: Sound Design Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues Silver [84]
The One Club Awards Denver Radio & Audio: Use of Music Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues Bronze [85]

References

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