Ardell saluted with SCMA Rising Star Award

Will Ardell launched himself into the spotlight at the 24th Annual Saskatchewan Country Music Association Awards Gala by winning the SCMA's 2013 Rising Star of the Year.

Ardell was the top nominated Southwest musician in this year's nominee list, winning the Rising Star Award on the strength of his debut double album All About the Ride (country) and Leaving (rock) which has raised eyebrows and generated buzz on both sides of the border since its release in March 2012

Ardell was also one of five finalists for Male Vocalist of the Year, he was nominated for Song of the Year for his tune Save Me, his debut album All About The Ride was one of five finalists for Album of the Year, plus his video Save me was nominated in the Video of the Year category.

He joins a long list of upand-coming artists to have earned this recognition, with Blake Berglund earning the award in 2011 while Steve Gibson won in 2012. Pre 2002 the award was known as the Most Promising Entertainer with the most recognizable name the Johner Brothers winning in 1991.

Ardell has been a break out artist since leaping onto the music scene just over a year ago. The music video Ardell created for Make Me a Man has had more than 415,000 hits on You Tube, while his SCMA nominated Video of the Year, Save Me, has over 124,000 You Tube views.

Saskatchewan's top country music acts were saluted during a gala at the Dakota Dunes Casino in Saskatoon this past week. Donny Parenteau led the way with four awards by earning Album of the Year, Aboriginal Artist of the Year, plus selected for the All Star Band as both Fiddle and Specialty. Codie Prevost, the 2006 Rising Star award winner, was a double winner at the SCMA Awards, claiming Fan’s Choice Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. Wyatt, the last Saskatchewan group to win the SCMA Rising Star in 2008, were also double winners by claiming Group of the Year and Single of the Year.

Previous Rising Star winners are as follows: 2012 - Steve Gibson. 2011 - Blake Berglund. 2010 - Samara Yung. 2009 - Ashley St. Denis. 2008 - Wyatt (group). 2007 - Kal Hourd. 2006 - Codie Prevost. 2005 - Marny DuncanCary.

2004 - Melanie Charpentier.

2003 (group).

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