Aretha Franklin once said, “Being a singer is a natural gift. It means I’m using to the highest degree possible the gift that God gave me to use.”

Not only does Shanna Crooks use her vocal talents to impress and inspire, she sings in a way that lends to only one description. She is a freak of nature. I mean that in an extremely positive way…as in no human being should be as talented in the art of music as this woman. Shanna is vocally superior, has an extreme amount of songwriting talent and she’s gorgeous. I should hate her.

It has been three years since I first heard Shanna sing. That night she tore into a song co-written by James Otto called “Shut Up Girl” (which will always be one of my all-time favorites) and earned herself another fan.

Signed to Atlantic Records (home of artists like P. Diddy, Death Cab For Cutie, James Blunt, Jason Mraz, Metallica, Lupe Fiasco, Rob Thomas, Flo Rida, Kid Rock and MATCHBOX TWENTY…to name a few), Shanna is a quadruple threat in the music industry.

Threat Number 2 = The Voice. No one sounds quite like the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida native. Shanna is a combination of Joss Stone (vocal depth), Pat Benatar (sass), Aretha Franklin (soul), Christina Aguilera (power) and Whitney Houston (vocal styling). However, keep in mind the final sound is all her own. It’s a voice is like no other. Sha is and has always been a “one name” singer.

Threat Number 2 = The Songwriting. Shanna writes for both women and men. Songs like “I’ll Be Your Escape” let men know what a good woman will do for them, while “Shut Up Girl” delivers some independent woman sass. “Wakin’ Up To Love” is the fun, lighthearted tune that provides a soundtrack to the Clean and Clear Morning Burst national advertising campaign.

Although Shanna is known for the fun and sass in her music, she can also write and deliver songs that are touching and heart-wrenching. One of her most recent soon-to-be hits, “Go” (co-written with Richard Marx) delivers freeing and sound advice. “It’s like tryin to fix a broken dream or save a heart that doesn’t beat. Only one left hangin on. Let it fall. Let it fall. When no one’s there to pick you up and you think you’ve had enough. When things are out of your control, let it all. Let it all go.”

Shanna also has songwriting credit on a cut by the very, first American Idol. Check out the Kelly Clarkson song “Can We Go Back.”

Threat Number 3 = The Entertainer. When someone walks into a venue where Shanna is singing, they can hear each song perfectly. That is because every person in attendance is focused on the singer and the tune she is singing. Shanna pulls the listener in and holds them in the palm of her hand, because she is in command of everything she does on a stage. The message is delivered effectively because the listener wants to hear the end of the story.

If you want proof, take it to YouTube. Check out THIS live performance or THIS rehearsal or one of the best performances I’ve heard out of Shanna HERE. I’ll let you be the judge.

Threat Number 4 = The Heart. There are artists out there who really do love the music and the people who surround them. They are chasing the dream because they believe in it and have a gift…period. Shanna is one of those artists. Shanna is someone you cheer for to make it not just because of her massive talent, but also because of her impressive character and heart.

I could go on and on about this artist, but there is nothing I can say that will get the point across quite like a quote from another one-named talent named Whitney Houston.

“God gave me a voice to sing with, and when you have that, what other gimmick is there?”

Check out music by Shanna Crooks on MySpace, Twitter, Facebook or YouTube.

Shanna Says

1. Water Balloons or Snowballs: 
WATER BALLOONS

2. Miley Cyrus or Hannah Montana: 
HANNA MONTANA

3. Peanut Butter or Jelly: 
PEANUT BUTTER

4. iPod or Cell Phone: 
CELL PHONE

5. The Smurfs or Chipmunks: 
THE SMURFS

6. David Cook or Chris Daughtry: 
BOTH? ;O) OK FINE, CD

7. Angelina or Jennifer: 
JENNIFER

8. TomKat or Bennifer: 
BENNIFER

9. Blue or Red: 
RED

10. Keyboard or Guitar: 
GUITAR

1. If you could have composed any single piece of music that already exists, which would you choose? ”R-E-S-P-E-C-T”

2. If you were invited to join one current musical group, which group would you want to be a member of, and what instrument would you play? “HEART/ SINGER”

3. If you could have a song written about you, what musician would you want to compose it, who would perform it, and what would it be called?  ”ROB THOMAS, ROB THOMAS, WHATEVER HE WANTS TO CALL IT…AS LONG AS HE’S SINGING IT TO ME. ;O)”

4. If you could arrange a rock concert with any three musicians or groups to play on the same bill, who would you invite?  ”MAROON 5, MATCHBOX TWENTY, NO DOUBT”

5. If you could be a contestant on any game show, which one would it be?  ”DEAL OR NO DEAL”

6. If you could arrange a jam session with any three musicians in history, who would you include? “ELVIS, MOZART, AND MARVIN GAYE”

7. If you were to choose a musical instrument that best describes your character, what would it be?  ”PIANO. IT CAN BE A DRIVING FORCE IN A SONG, OR JUST A TASTEFUL MELODIC  HOOK IN THE BACKGROUND. EITHER WAY, IT’S EFFECTIVE  AND BEAUTIFUL AND REALLY STIRS UP EMOTION MORE THAN ANY OTHER INSTRUMENT CAN FOR ME. SOME OF THE BEST MELODIES I’VE WRITTEN ARE PIANO BASED.”

8. If you could solve one unsolved crime, which one would you solve? “JON BENET RAMSEY CASE”

9. If you could change one thing to make life easier for your own gender, what would you change? “I THINK EVERY WOMAN WILL AGREE WITH ME ON THIS ONE…NEVER HAVE ‘THAT TIME’ AGAIN!! HA”

10. If you could sing any one song beautifully and perfectly, which one would you pick? “THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER…ANYONE WHO CAN TACKLE THAT PERFECTLY GOT’S IT GOIN ON!!”