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Singer, and songwriter, Etana is a powerhouse vocalist she is now a recognized and respected entertainer in her native Jamaica and is also well-known worldwide. Born Shauna McKenzie, the young talent migrated to the United States for the opportunity. Briefly, she pursued a pop music career before rediscovering her roots as an adult and adopting the moniker Etana, The Strong One, in Swahili. The return home spurred the evolution of her sound, and its evident in her body of work expressed as the fusion of folk, soul, jazz, and Reggae. In 2008 Etana debuted the album, The Strong One, featuring various musicians and producers. Lyrical hits Warrior Love and I Am Not Afraid made a lasting impression, as did Free and Happy Heart from the second album, Free Expressions, notably a repeat Reggae Billboard chart climber. Her fourth album, I Rise to much acclaim, nabbing the #1 spot on the iconic chart, marking the first female artist out of Jamaica to earn such a designation for seventeen years. In 2018, Etana released her first Independent album, Reggae Forever. The album soared to #1 on the reggae billboard charts. Etana became the first female to receive back-to-back #1 albums on the Billboard Reggae Charts. Reggae Forever was nominated for the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. The nomination by The Recording Academy marked the first time in over 20yrs a woman was nominated in the category.
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