Terry Blade

Blade was born and raised in Washington, DC. His family heritage is rooted in the American South; his grandparents were from the region, and his grandfather specifically hailed from Colerain, North Carolina.{{Cite web |last=Frazier |first=Preston |date=2024-03-10 |title=Terry Blade on 'Ethos: Son of a Sharecropper': Something Else! Interview |url=https://somethingelsereviews.com/2024/03/10/terry-blade-ethos-son-of-a-sharecropper/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=Something Else! |language=en-US}} His great-grandfather was a sharecropper, and his grandfather was taken out of school at a young age to work.

By age 12, Blade had regularly experienced homophobia. 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".

Blade relocated to Chicago, Illinois. He later began keeping a private journal, and in 2020, began turning his journal entries into songs.{{Cite web |last=FVMusicBlog |date=2021-02-05 |title=Music Interview: Terry Blade - 'American Descendant of Slavery' Release |url=https://fvmusicblog.com/music-interview-terry-blade-american-descendant-of-slavery-release/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=FVMusicBlog |language=en-US}}

On April 3, 2020, Blade debuted his acoustic demo "The Unloveable". The release earned a singer-songwriter nomination at the 11th Hollywood Music in Media Awards.{{Cite web |title=2020 MUSIC GENRE NOMINEES |url=https://www.hmmawards.com/2020-music-genre-nominees/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121212040/http://www.hmmawards.com/2020-music-genre-nominees/ |archive-date=2021-01-21 |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Hollywood Music in Media Awards |language=en-US}} "The Unloveable" appeared as the opening track on Blade's six-track EP demo, Misery, which was released on May 8, 2020.{{Cite web |last=Cullen |first=Rebecca |date=May 9, 2020 |title=Terry Blade – Misery (Mastered For Headphones) |url=https://stereostickman.com/music/terry-blade-misery-mastered-for-headphones/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112233406/https://stereostickman.com/music/terry-blade-misery-mastered-for-headphones/ |archive-date=2023-01-12 |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=Stereo Stickman |language=en-GB}}

Also in 2020, Blade released his a cappella single "The 'Karen' Blues", which musician Adeem the Artist described as "witty and biting".{{Cite web |last=Bingham |first=Adeem |date=2020-12-18 |title=Buried Treasure, December 18 • Country Queer |url=https://countryqueer.com/stories/column/buried-treasure-december-18/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930184235/https://countryqueer.com/stories/column/buried-treasure-december-18/ |archive-date=2023-09-30 |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=Country Queer |language=en-US}}

On February 5, 2021, Blade released his debut studio album, American Descendant of Slavery, the Album.{{Cite web |last=Cullen |first=Rebecca |date=2021-03-05 |title=Terry Blade – American Descendant Of Slavery, The Album |url=https://stereostickman.com/music/terry-blade-american-descendant-of-slavery-the-album/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109064858/https://stereostickman.com/music/terry-blade-american-descendant-of-slavery-the-album/ |archive-date=2023-01-09 |access-date=2023-01-09 |website=Stereo Stickman |language=en-GB}} The album incorporated public domain audio recordings of formerly enslaved African-Americans and won a Summit Creative Award for audio.{{Cite web |date=2021-02-01 |title=8 questions a Terry Blade |url=https://blenderbookmagazine.com/2021/02/01/8-questions-a-terry-blade/ |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Blender Bookmagazine |language=en}} The Archives of African American Music and Culture also included the album in its selection of February 2021 Black Music Releases of Note.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-20 |title=February 2021 Black Music Releases of Note {{!}} BLACK GROOVES |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420044548/https://blackgrooves.org/february-2021-black-music-releases-of-note/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=web.archive.org}} On April 2, 2021, musician Adeem the Artist highlighted "MTF" as one of their favorite songs from the album, noting that it reminded them of CeCe McDonald because "it details the story of a trans sex worker who is trying desperately to finance gender confirmation surgery and after defending herself from the violence of a client, ends up in a prison for men."{{Cite web |date=2021-04-02 |title=Buried Treasure, April 2 |url=https://countryqueer.com/stories/column/buried-treasure-april-2/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |language=en-US}}

On January 14, 2022, Blade released his second studio album, Neo Queer. On January 24, 2022, Frankie Francis featured Blade on his Amazing Afternoons broadcast on Amazing Radio UK.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-24 |title=Amazing Afternoons {{!}} Monday January 24, 2022 {{!}} Radio Shows |url=https://amazingradio.us/shows/amazing-afternoons-with-frankie-francis/archive/22313 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231229062047/https://amazingradio.us/shows/amazing-afternoons-with-frankie-francis/archive/22313 |archive-date=2023-12-29 |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=Amazing Radio |language=en}}

On January 6, 2023, Blade released his blues single "Won't Be Around".{{Cite web |last=The Boot Staff |date=2023-02-09 |title=The Boot's Weekly Picks: Willie Jones, Mya Byrne + More |url=https://theboot.com/the-boot-weekly-picks-feb-9-2023/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211061843/https://theboot.com/the-boot-weekly-picks-feb-9-2023/ |archive-date=2023-02-11 |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=The Boot |language=en}} The song earned a Hollywood Independent Music Award nomination and entered the Country Up & Coming Chart on New Music Weekly after receiving national radio airplay.{{Cite web |title=2023 WINNERS {{!}} Hollywood Independent Music Awards |url=https://himawards.com/2023-winners/ |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Hollywood Independent Music Awards |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=McCoy |first=Buck |title=Sammy Hagar: Living the Dream |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/fullscreen/68696067/sammy-hagar-living-the-dream |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725104831/https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/68696067/sammy-hagar-living-the-dream |archive-date=2024-07-25 |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=yumpu.com |publisher=New Music Weekly |page=33 |language=en |publication-date=2024-05-03 |via=Yumpu}} The song's video premiered at the Tribeca Festival.{{Cite web |title=Shorts: Course Correction {{!}} 2024 Tribeca Festival |url=https://tribecafilm.com/films/shorts-course-correction-2024 |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=Tribeca Festival}} It earned a nomination at the 14th Hollywood Music in Media Awards{{Cite web |last=Neglia |first=Matt |date=2023-11-16 |title=The 2023 Hollywood Music In Media Awards (HMMA) Winners |url=https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2023-hollywood-music-in-media-awards-hmma-winners/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203043028/https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2023-hollywood-music-in-media-awards-hmma-winners/ |archive-date=2023-12-03 |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=Next Best Picture |language=en-US}} and was shortlisted for a Cresta Award. The video also won the awards for Best Music Video at the Bare Bones International Film Festival, Moondance International Film Festival, Prague Independent Film Festival, and the Vienna Independent Film Festival.

On February 3, 2023, Blade released his third studio album, Ethos: Son of a Sharecropper. {{Cite web |last=Liebig |first=Lorie |date=2023-05-01 |title=Most Wanted Music: 2023's Country, Americana, Bluegrass and Folk Album Releases |url=https://theboot.com/new-country-americana-bluegrass-folk-albums-2023/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103191038/https://theboot.com/new-country-americana-bluegrass-folk-albums-2023/ |archive-date=2023-01-03 |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=The Boot |language=en}} The album earned a nomination for Album of the Year: Folk/Americana at the 2023 Josie Music Awards.{{Cite web |title=2023 NOMINEES |url=https://www.josiemusicawards.com/2023-nominees.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510221624/https://www.josiemusicawards.com/2023-nominees.html |archive-date=2023-05-10 |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=Josie Music Awards |language=en}} Richard Marcus of Country Queer wrote, "Listening to the ten tracks, you’ll hear elements of every type of roots music incorporated within. Blues, gospel, and country are all part of Blade’s experience, and they provide the glue that binds the sometimes disparate themes he expresses over the course of the album."

On April 10, 2024, American Songwriter Magazine announced Blade as the Blues First Place Winner of the 2023 American Songwriter Song Contest for his song "Won't Be Around". On June 24, 2024, he was featured on the Glastonbury Festival 2024 Festival Pass broadcast on Amazing Radio UK.https://amazingradio.us/shows/festi-friday/archive/30311 On September 24, 2024, he won his second and third Summit Creative Award for the "Won't Be Around" music video.

On January 3, 2025, Blade released his blues single "Tell 'Em".{{Cite web |title=Terry Blade - Tell 'Em (self-released) |url=https://bigtakeover.com/recordings/terry-blade-tell-em-self-released |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=The Big Takeover |language=en}} Dave Franklin of The Big Takeover wrote, "Tell ‘Em' walks a sure-footed line between established traditions and future potential, between familiarity and freshness, and between comfort zones and adventure."

On February 28, 2025, Blade released his fourth studio album, Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues.{{Cite web |last=Mineo |first=Mike |date=2025-02-13 |title=New Album: Terry Blade - 'Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues' |url=https://www.obscuresound.com/2025/02/terry-blade-chicago-kinfolk-the-juke-joint-blues/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Obscure Sound |language=en-US}} The album was published by Paris-based music company Groover, and selected by Médiathèque départementale de Isère in Isere, France, to be included in its digital collection.{{Citation |last=Blade |first=Terry |title=Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues |date=2025 |url=https://mediatheque-departementale.isere.fr/NUM/doc/MUSICME/3701565834099/chicago-kinfolk-the-juke-joint-blues |access-date=2025-05-09 |publisher=IDOL / Groover Spark}} The album incorporated archival recordings from interviews with Chicago Blues figures such as Theresa Needham and Lefty Dizz.{{Cite web |last=Fairbrother |first=Edwin |date=2025-03-21 |title=Terry Blade's ‘Chicago Kinfolk’: Remembering Old Blues Heroes |url=https://soundsightmag.com/terry-blade-chicago-kinfolk-juke-joint-blues-extended-review/ |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=SoundScout Magazine |language=en-US}} Mike Mineo of Obscure Sound wrote, "Blade crafts a consumingly atmospheric blues sound on his latest album Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues, intertwining the past and present with its infusions of archived interviews, original songwriting, and tributes to past greats."

On May 21, 2025, Blade was featured on the Download Festival Festival Pass broadcast on Amazing Radio UK.https://amazingradio.com/shows/festi-friday/archive/32583

Blade resides in the Chicago metropolitan area. He is queer.{{Cite web |last=Treacy |first=Christopher |date=2023-01-05 |title=Q&A With Terry Blade • Country Queer |url=https://countryqueer.com/stories/interview/qa-with-terry-blade/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118152722/https://countryqueer.com/stories/interview/qa-with-terry-blade/ |archive-date=2023-01-18 |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=Country Queer |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Treacy |first=Christopher |date=2023-01-04 |title=CQ ROUNDUP WITH KEEP FOR CHEAP, TERRY BLADE AND EVER MORE NEST |url=https://countryqueer.com/stories/list/cq-roundup-with-keep-for-cheap-terry-blade-and-ever-more-nest/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105052321/https://countryqueer.com/stories/list/cq-roundup-with-keep-for-cheap-terry-blade-and-ever-more-nest/ |archive-date=2023-01-05 |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=Country Queer}}

|https://www.projectchicago.com/saturday-nov-9th--2024

|-

|Cyprus International Film Festival

|{{Flag|Greece}}

|Music Video

|All Ways - An Ode to Black Women

|style="background: #9EFF9E; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: {{{align|center}}}; {{{style|}}}" class="no table-no2 notheme" |{{{1|Selected}}}

|{{Cite web |title=MD All Ways – An Ode To Black Women – Terry Blade, USA, 2024, 3’38” – CYIFF |url=https://cyprusfilmfestival.org/md-all-ways-an-ode-to-black-women-terry-blade-usa-2024-338/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |language=en-GB}}

|-

|Los Angeles Shorts International Film Festival

|{{Flag|US}}

|Music Video

|Won't Be Around

| style="background: #9EFF9E; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: {{{align|center}}}; {{{style|}}}" class="no table-no2 notheme" |{{{1|Selected}}}

|{{Cite web |title=JULY 24 Program 41 |url=https://www.lashortsfest.com/july-24-program-41 |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=LA Shorts |language=en}}

|-

|Leeds International Film Festival

|{{Flag|UK}}

|Music Video

|Won't Be Around

| style="background: #9EFF9E; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: {{{align|center}}}; {{{style|}}}" class="no table-no2 notheme" |{{{1|Selected}}}

|{{Cite web |title=Leeds Music Video Competition |url=https://www.leedsfilm.com/whats-on/117//leeds-music-video-competition |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=www.leedsfilm.com |language=en}}

|-

|Northeastern Film Festival

|{{Flag|US}}

|Music Video

|Won't Be Around

|style="background: #9EFF9E; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: {{{align|center}}}; {{{style|}}}" class="no table-no2 notheme" |{{{1|Selected}}}

|{{Cite web |title=2024 Films |url=http://www.nefilmfestival.com/2024-films.html |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=Northeast Film Festival |language=en}}

|-

|Orlando Film Festival

|{{Flag|US}}

|Music Video

|Won't Be Around

|style="background: #9EFF9E; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: {{{align|center}}}; {{{style|}}}" class="no table-no2 notheme" |{{{1|Selected}}}

|{{Cite web |title=Schedule |url=https://www.offvirtual.com/schedule |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=Offvirtual |language=en}}

|-

|Sidewalk Film Festival

|{{Flag|US}}

|Music Video

|Wasn't Mine

| style="background: #9EFF9E; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: {{{align|center}}}; {{{style|}}}" class="no table-no2 notheme" |{{{1|Selected}}}

|{{Cite web |title=Shorts: Music Videos |url=https://sidewalkfest.com/events/shortsmusicvideos/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Sidewalk Film Center & Cinema |language=en-US}}

|-

|Thin Line Fest

|{{Flag|US}}

|Music Video

|Won't Be Around

| style="background: #9EFF9E; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: {{{align|center}}}; {{{style|}}}" class="no table-no2 notheme" |{{{1|Selected}}}

|{{Cite web |title=Event Details |url=https://www.thinline.us/event-details?id=Terry%20Blade,%20%22Won't%20Be%20Around%22 |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=www.thinline.us}}

|-

|Wales International Film Festival

|{{Flag|UK}}

|Music Video

|Won't Be Around

|style="background: #9EFF9E; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: {{{align|center}}}; {{{style|}}}" class="no table-no2 notheme" |{{{1|Selected}}}

|{{Cite web |title=Wales International Film Festival 2017 |url=https://walesfilmfestival.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250215121601/https://walesfilmfestival.com/ |archive-date=2025-02-15 |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=walesfilmfestival.com |language=en-GB}}

|-

| rowspan="5" |2025

|Boomtown Film and Music Festival

|{{Flag|US}}

|Music Video

|Won't Be Around

|style="background: #9EFF9E; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: {{{align|center}}}; {{{style|}}}" class="no table-no2 notheme" |{{{1|Selected}}}

|{{Cite web |title=BooMTV Music Videos – Boomtown Film Society |url=https://www.boomtownfestival.com/sessions/music-videos/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |language=en-US}}

|-

|Brussels Independent Film Festival

|{{Flag|Belgium}}

|Experimental Film

|Won't Be Around

| style="background: #9EFF9E; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: {{{align|center}}}; {{{style|}}}" class="no table-no2 notheme" |{{{1|Selected}}}

|{{Cite web |title=Streaming Experimental, 26 Jan - 16 Feb {{!}} Brussels Independent Film Festival |url=https://www.brusselsfilmfestival.org/streaming-experimental |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Brussels Independent |language=en}}

|-

|Jaipur International Film Festival

|{{Flag|India}}

|Music/Song/Album

|Won't Be Around

|style="background: #9EFF9E; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: {{{align|center}}}; {{{style|}}}" class="no table-no2 notheme" |{{{1|Selected}}}

|{{Cite web |title=Jaipur International Film Festival-JIFF |url=https://www.jiffindia.org/jiff2025.php |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=www.jiffindia.org |via=}}https://www.jiffindia.org/images/JIFF2025_19Jan_Screening_Schedule_Day3.pdf

|-

|Magnolia Film Festival

|{{Flag|US}}

|Music Video

|Won't Be Around

|style="background: #9EFF9E; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: {{{align|center}}}; {{{style|}}}" class="no table-no2 notheme" |{{{1|Selected}}}

|{{Cite web |title=Festival – The Magnolia Film Festival |url=http://magnoliafilmfest.com/festival-2/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |language=en}}

|-

|Poppy Jasper International Film Festival

|{{Flag|US}}

|Best Music Video

|Won't Be Around

|style="background: #9EFF9E; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: {{{align|center}}}; {{{style|}}}" class="no table-no2 notheme" |{{{1|Selected}}}

|{{Cite web |title=PJIFF Programming Schedule |url=https://pjiff.org/schedule/film-screenings/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=Poppy Jasper International Film Festival |language=en-US}}

|}

{{reflist}}

{{Sister project links|wikt=no|s=no|v=no|b=no|c=no|n=no|q=no|d=yes}}

• {{Official website|https://www.terryblademusic.com/}}
• {{IMDb name|id=nm11727205}}
• {{MusicBrainz}}
• {{Discogs artist|artist=Terry Blade}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blade, Terry}}

{{Authority control|state=collapsed}}

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:Singer-songwriters from Illinois

Category:American LGBTQ singers

Category:American LGBTQ songwriters

Category:African-American LGBTQ people

Category:African-American musicians

Category:American baritones

Category:African-American male singer-songwriters

Category:African-American male singers

Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people

Category:21st-century African-American male singers

Category:21st-century American male singers

Category:Singer-songwriters from Washington, D.C.

Category:Singers from Chicago

Category:LGBTQ people from Washington, D.C.

Category:American singer-songwriters

Category:American lyricists

Category:African-American singers

Category:American songwriters