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SHAZA
LEIGH
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‘Country Music’s Golden Girl’
During
the Tamworth Country Music Festival the National Gold Medallion Awards were
presented to artists to acknowledge excellence on the Australian airwaves
throughout the past year. Shaza Leigh won the ‘QLD Female Vocalist of the
Year’ for the 5th consecutive year.
The World Alliance for Radio Presenters (WARP) went national for the first
time in 2010, recognizing all states and territories and also introduced
three national awards including ‘Most Popular Female Artist of the Year on
Radio’. Shaza was ecstatic to win this award amongst an incredibly high
standard of talent including Dianne Lindsay (NSW Female Vocalist of
the Year), Lynette Guest (South East Female Vocalist of the Year) and
Sandra Humphries (Central West Female Vocalist of the Year).
Shaza regards these ladies as being amongst the finest vocalists in the
country and was honoured to be presented the national award, excitedly
thanking her marketing team and producer Lindsay Butler in front of her
peers on the evening.
Her third Gold Medallion Award for the evening was the ‘Listeners Choice
Artist of the Year’ which saw Leigh almost speechless. This was an award
she had viewed as one earmarked by the males for sure. ‘This is a tough
award for a female to win’ she exclaimed. A statement justified considering
it was against a field including Troy Cassar-Daley (NSW Male Vocalist
of the Year), John McSweeney (QLD Male Vocalist of the Year), Paul
Costa (South East Male Vocalist of the Year) and Brian Letton
(Central West Male Vocalist of the Year & Most Popular Male Artist of the
Year on Radio). Her excitement was paramount at collecting this award
judged by the fans.
Shaza has been a favourite with the national media due to her many years on
the road as one of our leading female touring artists. She has toured with
many of the greats throughout her career, conducts countless interviews in
any given year and has established a firm friendship with many presenters
around the country. These awards signify her popularity within the
Australian music business.
The Gold
Medallion Awards proved beyond doubt that the media representatives on radio
judging the awards, showed no prejudice with winners coming from the major
labels and independent ranks of the music industry. The awards were a
refreshing addition to the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Shaza tours annually with Lindsay Butler who was also awarded ‘NSW
Musician of the Year’ at the awards. Lindsay won this category for the
fourth time and has always been considered one of Australia’s best musicians
and greatest guitar players of his generation.
Shaz and Lindsay have just returned home to Tamworth from performances at
the Bungendore Country Muster, near Canberra where Shaza also had the
privilege of presenting The National Bush Ballad Awards with country music
legend Ted Egan.
Shaza was born and raised in North Queensland on her family’s cane and
cattle property, hence Qld being her state of origin. Now proudly residing
in Tamworth, country music capital, Shaza possesses one of the most
dedicated work ethics of any performer and exudes positive energy at all
times. It is just deserts for one who puts in tireless hours not only
promoting her career but is always there to lend a helping hand to her
fellow artists at all times.
Shaza
Leigh is truly one of Country Music’s Golden Girls and deserves all
accolades that may come her way and her new album Seasons continues to grace
our Australian airwaves.
(Photo Courtesy of June
Underwood)
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