Jill Paquette-DeZwaan (born 1979) is a Canadian

folk music Folk music is a music genre that includes #Traditional folk music, traditional folk music and the Contemporary folk music, contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be ca ...

ian and

Christian pop Contemporary Christian music (CCM), also known as Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music, is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Christian media, which is lyrically focused on matters related to the Christian faith a ...

singer. She launched her music career in 2003 with her first studio album, ''Jill Paquette'', released by

Reunion Records Reunion Records is a contemporary Christian record label based in Brentwood, Tennessee, that operates under the Provident Label Group. It was founded in 1982 by Dan Harrell and Mike Blanton. History The label was formed by Amy Grant's manager ...

Early life

Jill Paquette-DeZwaan was born in

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, Canada in 1979. She is of French-Canadian and Native American ancestry. Raised in a musical family, Paquette first played piano at age three and began taking classical lessons that extended into her teenage years, eventually learning to play guitar as well. At 17 she attended Prairie Bible College in Alberta where she planned to study

ethnomusicology Ethnomusicology is the multidisciplinary study of music in its cultural context. The discipline investigates social, cognitive, biological, comparative, and other dimensions. Ethnomusicologists study music as a reflection of culture and investiga ...

. An impromptu performance during an

open-mic An open mic or open mike (shortened from "open microphone") is a live show at a venue such as a coffeehouse, nightclub, comedy club, strip club, or pub, often taking place at night (an open mic night), in which audience members may perform on ...

night at a local coffeehouse during her first year led her to join a band fronted by classmate

Matt Brouwer Matt Brouwer (born February 28, 1976) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. While in college, he and fellow students founded the band Monday Night Worship (MNW). Because of the spiritual content of his lyrics he was 'discovered' by a Nashville r ...

. Paquette and the band began playing dates around Alberta, and eventually she recorded a demo that made its way to Nashville.

Music career

Her music recording career began in 2003 with her first studio album, ''Jill Paquette'', released July 22, 2003, from

Christianity Today ''Christianity Today'' is an evangelical Christian media magazine founded in 1956 by Billy Graham. It is published by Christianity Today International based in Carol Stream, Illinois. ''The Washington Post'' calls ''Christianity Today'' "eva ...

named her as one of the Best New Christian Artists of 2003. She was nominated for two

Dove Awards A Dove Award is an accolade by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the Christian music industry. The awards ceremonies presented annually and have been held in Nashville, Tennessee excep ...

and her debut album was awarded the 2004

Juno Award The Juno Awards (stylized as JUNOS), or simply known as the Junos, are awards presented by Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences to recognize outstanding achievements in Canada's mu ...

for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year."CARAS Scores A Hit With 2004 Juno Awards"
. ''Soul Shine''. April 5, 2004 Paquette wrote two songs for the 2014 romantic drama The Song –"All I Wanna Be" and the film's title song, "The Song (Awaken Love)." She appears in the film singing "

I Love You Truly "I Love You Truly" is a parlor song written by Carrie Jacobs-Bond. Since its publication in 1901 it has been sung at weddings, recorded by numerous artists over many decades, and heard on film and television. History Carrie Jacobs-Bond began to ...

," which is also featured on the film's soundtrack.

Discography

*''Jill Paquette'' (July 22, 2003, Reunion) *''Word of Mouth'' (2005, Self-release) *''Coming Home'' (February 23, 2010, Catapult) *''Crimson'' (March 21, 2018, Catapult)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Paquette, Jill 1979 births Living people Canadian women folk singers Canadian performers of Christian music Musicians from British Columbia Reunion Records artists Canadian folk singers Juno Award for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year winners 21st-century Canadian women singers