William Prince

William Prince, born in Selkirk, Manitoba, in 1986, is a Canadian folk and country singer-songwriter based in Winnipeg. A direct descendant of Chief Peguis and related to war hero Tommy Prince, he has deep roots in the Peguis First Nation. His musical journey began early, influenced by his father, Edward Prince, also a musician and preacher, with whom William traveled, playing gigs in northern Manitoba. His early exposure to gospel music and the musical styles of Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard shaped his unique sound, characterized by his baritone voice and guitar work. Before his extensive solo career, Prince honed his craft performing with the band Indian City and also recorded with A New Honour. During this period, he received the Manitoba Aboriginal Youth Achievement Award for Artistic Performance.

Prince’s solo career formally began with the release of his debut album, “Earthly Days,” on December 11, 2015. This album garnered significant attention, earning him the 2016 Western Canadian Music Award for Aboriginal Artist of the Year. In 2017, “Earthly Days” received a Juno Award for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year and was nominated for Indigenous Album of the Year. His song “Breathless” from the album reached No. 22 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts in 2018. Following this success, Prince released his second album, “Reliever,” on February 7, 2020, and a third, “Gospel First Nation,” in October 2020, an album featuring a mix of original songs and traditional gospel, reflecting his heritage. In 2022, he performed at the “Buffy Sainte-Marie: Starwalker” tribute concert and made his Grand Ole Opry debut in Nashville, Tennessee, on February 18, 2023, representing First Nations people.

His fourth album, “Stand in the Joy,” released on April 14, 2023, continued his critical acclaim, winning the Juno Award for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2024. He was also nominated for Songwriter of the Year for several tracks from the album. “Stand in the Joy” also secured multiple Canadian Folk Music Awards in 2024, including Contemporary Album of the Year, Solo Artist of the Year, and Single of the Year for “When You Miss Someone.” Prince’s consistent output includes numerous singles and five studio albums, with his fifth album, “Further from the Country,” scheduled for release in October 2025. He has toured extensively across Canada, the US, the United Kingdom, and Germany, often opening for notable artists such as Neil Young, The War and Treaty, Yola, and Midland.