ShannaCrooks1

Shanna Crooks is that rare talent that freely crosses musical boundaries to create a sound and style uniquely her own. Crooks' eagerly awaited debut album -- due later this year -- captures her dazzling blend of pop, rock, and soul, performed with extraordinary heart and enthusiasm and a voice that is confident, strong, and truly individual. That distinctive style brings vibrant life to self-penned songs like "Wakin' Up To Love" -- her new digital single, featured in Clean & Clear's current national TV campaign -- songs that are a lot like Shanna her ownself, rich with exuberance and yearning, alive with character and experience.

"It's not really the fame that I yearn for," says Crooks, "it's the respect. I set a big goal for myself when I got into music. It was that someday I would be a respected songwriter and vocalist. That when someone hears my name, they quote a lyric I wrote, or sing one of my melodies that's moved them. I feel that's the biggest compliment any artist could get."

The Florida-born songstress' gift for conveying real, raw emotion stems from what she herself describes as a complicated childhood, complete with multiple homes, step-parents and an array of step- and half-siblings. Shanna discovered her life's path singing "Wind Beneath My Wings" at her eighth grade talent show. Moved by his daughter's passion, her father devoted himself to her career, driving her long distances for voice lessons and always encouraging her to pursue her dream. Crooks performed anywhere and everywhere throughout her teens, singing on stages across the Sunshine State.

At 18, Shanna packed her bags and moved to Nashville, where she discovered a knack for songwriting. It wasn't long before her songs -- fraught with frank emotions and irresistible melodies -- caught the ear of country music superstar John Rich, who signed Crooks to a publishing deal in 2005. "(Shanna is) one of the best songwriters I've run into in a long time," Rich enthused, "and one of the most impressive people I have ever met." She was soon invited to join MuzikMafia, an informal collective of Nashville-based musicians and artists co-founded by Rich and his multi-platinum collaborator, Big Kenny Alphin.

All the while, Crooks kept at her chosen craft, writing constantly and performing weekly shows in Nashville. She also made a number of trips to Cuba, where she sang for troops stationed at Guantanamo Bay. As if that weren't enough, Shanna performed backing vocals for a truly diverse rang