Greg Sczebel

Greg Sczebel (pronounced seh-bell) has been making waves across the border in Canada for couple years now. He was recently named Male Vocalist of the Year by the Canadian Gospel Music Association, as well as being named New Artist of the Year at the Vibe Awards (Canadian equivalent to the Dove Awards) in 2003. Just this year, he was nominated for a Juno Award (Canadian Grammy). To say that Greg has had a stellar career is a mild understatement. Here to Stay is his latest recording that is garnering buzz all around Canada, and finally, here in America. Here to Stay is phenominal pop album, mixing r&b and soul into the mix to grand proportions. Musically, he's a mix between Stevie Wonder, Maroon 5, and Christian music's own George Rowe. A musically more mature George Rowe would probably be the best comparison to make. The album starts off with three undeniable pop numbers, "Here to Stay", "In the Pocket" and "The Lights Are Coming On". Things don't slow down too much as Greg continues to rip through piano based numbers like "You've Got It", "Everybody", and "Still the One". Biggest highlight of the album is the piano-based jazzy number, "Perhaps", recalling God's connection with every human - the understanding of human suffering that he felt during his death. It's a touching song, and Sczebel sounds like a first class vocalist. Overall, fans of driving pop and r&b music need to check out Here to Stay. The only thing missing from this artist's bright future is a strong American fanbase.

- World of CM

Album Title: Here To Stay
Release Date: 2004
Rating: Genre: R&B/Pop

Opening with his bouncy title track “Here to Stay”, Sczebel makes a brilliant testament of faith; a young man with super talent and a maturity that focuses on poignant lyrics with lessons for all ages. In our consumer-driven society, “In the Pocket” is a refreshing reminder that “We cannot save [our] soul” alone. Sczebel, a Salmon Arm, BC native, is truly a diamond in the rough, having just won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and produced and written a marvelous debut album, his work can only rise in significance. Greg has the potential to go in several directions with his music; the vibe of Usher lingers in Sczebel’s “Lights are Comin’ On”, a crooner like Matt Dusk, or simply in a class all his own, the "Sczebel" category of funky vocals, well-produced and gloriously written music. Everyone should applaud across the world after hearing this for God’s message is fully realized in Greg Sczebel.

Writer: Lindsay Whitfield
- Soulshine Magazine 2005

Told ya so! Greg Sczebel has been nominated for a Juno.
Of course one does not have to be a brilliant visionary and amazingly perceptive musical know-it-all like me to have figured out instantly that Greg was going to simply take off like a jet.
Greg’s amazing songwriting, singing and keyboard mastery transcends his gospel music across multiple music genera including folk, rock, bop, contemporary, funk, R&B, and easy listening formats. He’s simply amazing.
Like so many others, I was totally blown away the first moment I heard this Salmon Arm lad’s amazing sound and powerful messaging. His fabulous lyrics and sincere delivery simply halt me, leaving me in spellbound awe. I cannot help but weep, literally, every time I play his I Am Here To Stay album with the songs Perhaps and Thank You a regular trigger to my heart and throat. Powerful, powerful stuff by a humble servant. Congratulations to you Greg. Go get ’em!

By Charlie Hodge
Okanagan Musician Contributor

- THE OKANAGAN MUSICIAN

When Jetsgo halted all its flights on March 10, it seemed like bad news for up-and-coming Okanagan musician and Juno Awards nominee Greg Sczebel of Salmon Arm.
Sczebel, 20, who has been nominated in the Best Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year category, and his father and manager, Jerry Sczebel, had booked tickets on the collapsed budget carrier to attend the awards ceremony this Sunday.
"By the time we found out the tickets were no good, prices for flights had gone up quite a bit, so we decided to drive (to Winnipeg), " said Sczebel.
To Sczebel's surprise, his travelling plight did not go unnoticed.
Friends at Trinity Baptist Church notified 101.5 SILK - FM, which had been playing Sczebel's music on it's Sunday morning show.
"When I heard his music for the first time, I said, 'where has this guy been and why have we not heard about him before.' He's amazing," said Andy James, program director at SILK. "He's got a real funky, upbeat style. The guy's going to be huge, no doubt."
In recent years, the station has developed a mandate to support and play local talent, so when SILK heard Sczebel and his father would be making the long trip by car to the Juno Awards, the station jumped at the chance to help.
At 8 a.m. on March 23, Sczebel receieved a call from Andy and TJ, the morning crew at SILK, who were on air at the time.
"I thought they were just going to interview me about the award nomination, my career and play some of my songs, but then they put Duncan Borrow, director of sales from WestJet on the line. He told me they had heard about my dilemma and they wanted to support us with two round-trip tickets to Winnipeg," said Sczebel. "It was overwhelming to have people care about you. It's really cool."
The young musician and his father left on their gift flight to Winnipeg Friday afternoon. The Juno Awards will be aired on CTV at 8 p.m. Sunday. - The Okanagan Saturday - By Rosemary Jean Thompson

When Jetsgo halted all its flights on March 10, it seemed like bad news for up-and-coming Okanagan musician and Juno Awards nominee Greg Sczebel of Salmon Arm.
Sczebel, 20, who has been nominated in the Best Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year category, and his father and manager, Jerry Sczebel, had booked tickets on the collapsed budget carrier to attend the awards ceremony this Sunday.
"By the time we found out the tickets were no good, prices for flights had gone up quite a bit, so we decided to drive (to Winnipeg), " said Sczebel.
To Sczebel's surprise, his travelling plight did not go unnoticed.
Friends at Trinity Baptist Church notified 101.5 SILK - FM, which had been playing Sczebel's music on it's Sunday morning show.
"When I heard his music for the first time, I said, 'where has this guy been and why have we not heard about him before.' He's amazing," said Andy James, program director at SILK. "He's got a real funky, upbeat style. The guy's going to be huge, no doubt."
In recent years, the station has developed a mandate to support and play local talent, so when SILK heard Sczebel and his father would be making the long trip by car to the Juno Awards, the station jumped at the chance to help.
At 8 a.m. on March 23, Sczebel receieved a call from Andy and TJ, the morning crew at SILK, who were on air at the time.
"I thought they were just going to interview me about the award nomination, my career and play some of my songs, but then they put Duncan Borrow, director of sales from WestJet on the line. He told me they had heard about my dilemma and they wanted to support us with two round-trip tickets to Winnipeg," said Sczebel. "It was overwhelming to have people care about you. It's really cool."
The young musician and his father left on their gift flight to Winnipeg Friday afternoon. The Juno Awards will be aired on CTV at 8 p.m. Sunday. - The Okanagan Saturday - By Rosemary Jean Thompson

The name Greg Sczebel (pronounced seh-bell) may not be the most familiar name in America, but he's already made quite an impact on the Canadian music industry. Defying specific categorization, Here to Stay in fact reaches audiences with a blend of pop, soul, dance, and jazz reminiscent of Jamiroquai that results in some infectious music and an overall solid album. This style is showcased on tracks like "Lights Are Comin' On," "You've Got It," as well as the title track, which leads off the album and prepares the listener for quite an experience. In fact, Here to Stay was so well-received that it not only won Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year at this year's SHAI awards, but it also took the Urban/Soul Album of the Year as well.

Sczebel will also appeal to fans of Gavin DeGraw or Harry Connick Jr. with his smooth and laid-back vocal styling. Tracks like "In the Pocket," pop/contemporary song of the year, and "Unlisted" really highlight the crooning capabilities of Sczebel. Lyrically, Sczebel discusses the struggle to remain true to your convictions as you strive for success and all the accolades that come with achievements. "Satisfy," "Still the One," and "In the Pocket" make it quite clear that our focus and contentment should find their roots in God and the eternal rather than material possessions. However, the show stopping track on the album is the soulful, touching ballad, "Perhaps." Describing feelings of being misunderstood and surrounded by solitude that are easily relatable, "Perhaps" reminds the listener that they aren't walking through their trials alone. Sczebel's vocals are quite powerful, effectively bringing the message home to the listener.

Overall the album plays quite well and the lyrics are fitting for the tone of the music. There's surely some room to grow and improve, but it's definitely an album with a bold statement and enjoyable soundtrack. Here to Stay is indeed a very strong album and it's only a matter of time before Greg Sczebel becomes a household name among music fans. With a sound that is easily marketed and obviously creative, the album's title seems to prove quite appropriate. - cmcentral.com

Nissan's unique giveaway pitch using social media sites exposes big manufacturers to niches they must explore

Now, that's thinking out of the box.

Nissan Canada staged the biggest giveaway in automotive history on a balmy evening in late June when it handed 50 of its brand-new boxy Cube cars (worth more than $850,000) to contest winners across Canada through presentations simulcast in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

Didn't hear about the promotion?

No surprises there since Nissan – in partnership with Toronto agency Capital C Communications – avoided the usual mainstream quadrangle of TV, radio, print and billboard to trumpet their car launch.

Instead, the automaker and its agency embarked on in mid-March on its Hypercube social media marketing campaign, that the company says offers significant rewards "creativity in Canada."

"The creative class is what's motivating everything these days," explains Jeff Parent, Nissan Canada's vice-president of sales and marketing.

"If you want to get something started, they're the ones who are talking to each other.

"They are the ones that other people coalesce around. Creative people make their art to infect others. For us, it was a natural fit."

With a recent Ipsos Reid poll estimating that 56 per cent of Canadians boast some sort of social networking profile, it's no wonder that Nissan and the rest of the auto industry – including recent network campaigners Ford and Honda – are shifting some of their advertising dollars away from traditional avenues.

And they're not the only industry following the trend.

Vacation vendor Sunquest Canada recently concluded its own series of online-driven contests to attract eyeballs to its MySpace, Facebook and Twitter sites.

Youth-driven products such as music, sneakers and snowboards have also been successfully marketed this way, advertising industry executives point out.

"This really portends the rise of the niches," notes Ben McConnell, co-author of the books Creating Customer Evangelists and Citizen Marketers.

"The niches are really where the big manufacturers especially have to focus their efforts now – that's where the growth industries are. You exploit the niche and hope it turns into a bigger audience along the way."

McConnell says by targeting specific consumers via social networks, corporations can trigger powerful word-of-mouth buzz about their products.

"When you find those core early adopters, those people who love something that's cool and new and are influential to a larger group outside themselves.

"That's not only how word-of-mouth spreads.

"But it is how trends are formed as well," he says.

"Finding that core group of people is always the hardest part."

Once you find them, you have to involve them, notes Rob Young, vice-president of PHD Canada, a media and communications agency based in Toronto and Montreal.

"What you're seeing is something called `activation,' which has become popular in the last five years," Young explains.

"Giving away 50 Cubes is an example of social activation: This is where you try to take your brand down to the street level and force some sort of direct interaction between the customer and the brand."

There was interaction aplenty at the Cube contest. Five hundred finalists, including Juno Award-winning recording artist Greg Sczebel, were assigned a blank webpage on Nissan's hypercube.ca website and invited to creatively "audition" for their chance to win a free vehicle.

"I was fascinated how people embraced this brand and did stuff so much more creative than we could have as an agency," said Capital C chief executive Tony Chapman, who estimates that five million potential consumers were "touched" by the three-month campaign.

"We had songwriters, dancers, poets and puppeteers – stuff that was so insanely brilliant, refreshing and original."

Sczebel wrote two songs, submitted a video for each, and – like all contestants – was allowed to rally votes from his online community.

"I really tapped into my fan and friend base on MySpace, Facebook and Twitter," says Sczebel, who leveraged free autographed copies of his pending October album Love And The Lack Thereof to attract supporters.

Sczebel ended up generating more than 4,000 votes and 21,000 profile views.

"That's pretty good exposure," he admits.

"That wasn't just my mom and my grandmother voting for me – that was a lot of people I didn't ask to check it out."

PHD's Rob Young says a successful social media campaign allocates advertising dollars efficiently.

"The thinking here is that you could spend $5 to reach 1,000 people in a TV commercial at a relatively low level of involvement, or spend $5 reaching 10 people at a high level of involvement. The high level of involvement – if you get the right consumers – is a better payback."

Unsuccessful campaigns can be catastrophic.

"It has to be done carefully and with the greatest sincerity," Young warn - The Toronto Star

Nissan's unique giveaway pitch using social media sites exposes big manufacturers to niches they must explore

Now, that's thinking out of the box.

Nissan Canada staged the biggest giveaway in automotive history on a balmy evening in late June when it handed 50 of its brand-new boxy Cube cars (worth more than $850,000) to contest winners across Canada through presentations simulcast in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

Didn't hear about the promotion?

No surprises there since Nissan – in partnership with Toronto agency Capital C Communications – avoided the usual mainstream quadrangle of TV, radio, print and billboard to trumpet their car launch.

Instead, the automaker and its agency embarked on in mid-March on its Hypercube social media marketing campaign, that the company says offers significant rewards "creativity in Canada."

"The creative class is what's motivating everything these days," explains Jeff Parent, Nissan Canada's vice-president of sales and marketing.

"If you want to get something started, they're the ones who are talking to each other.

"They are the ones that other people coalesce around. Creative people make their art to infect others. For us, it was a natural fit."

With a recent Ipsos Reid poll estimating that 56 per cent of Canadians boast some sort of social networking profile, it's no wonder that Nissan and the rest of the auto industry – including recent network campaigners Ford and Honda – are shifting some of their advertising dollars away from traditional avenues.

And they're not the only industry following the trend.

Vacation vendor Sunquest Canada recently concluded its own series of online-driven contests to attract eyeballs to its MySpace, Facebook and Twitter sites.

Youth-driven products such as music, sneakers and snowboards have also been successfully marketed this way, advertising industry executives point out.

"This really portends the rise of the niches," notes Ben McConnell, co-author of the books Creating Customer Evangelists and Citizen Marketers.

"The niches are really where the big manufacturers especially have to focus their efforts now – that's where the growth industries are. You exploit the niche and hope it turns into a bigger audience along the way."

McConnell says by targeting specific consumers via social networks, corporations can trigger powerful word-of-mouth buzz about their products.

"When you find those core early adopters, those people who love something that's cool and new and are influential to a larger group outside themselves.

"That's not only how word-of-mouth spreads.

"But it is how trends are formed as well," he says.

"Finding that core group of people is always the hardest part."

Once you find them, you have to involve them, notes Rob Young, vice-president of PHD Canada, a media and communications agency based in Toronto and Montreal.

"What you're seeing is something called `activation,' which has become popular in the last five years," Young explains.

"Giving away 50 Cubes is an example of social activation: This is where you try to take your brand down to the street level and force some sort of direct interaction between the customer and the brand."

There was interaction aplenty at the Cube contest. Five hundred finalists, including Juno Award-winning recording artist Greg Sczebel, were assigned a blank webpage on Nissan's hypercube.ca website and invited to creatively "audition" for their chance to win a free vehicle.

"I was fascinated how people embraced this brand and did stuff so much more creative than we could have as an agency," said Capital C chief executive Tony Chapman, who estimates that five million potential consumers were "touched" by the three-month campaign.

"We had songwriters, dancers, poets and puppeteers – stuff that was so insanely brilliant, refreshing and original."

Sczebel wrote two songs, submitted a video for each, and – like all contestants – was allowed to rally votes from his online community.

"I really tapped into my fan and friend base on MySpace, Facebook and Twitter," says Sczebel, who leveraged free autographed copies of his pending October album Love And The Lack Thereof to attract supporters.

Sczebel ended up generating more than 4,000 votes and 21,000 profile views.

"That's pretty good exposure," he admits.

"That wasn't just my mom and my grandmother voting for me – that was a lot of people I didn't ask to check it out."

PHD's Rob Young says a successful social media campaign allocates advertising dollars efficiently.

"The thinking here is that you could spend $5 to reach 1,000 people in a TV commercial at a relatively low level of involvement, or spend $5 reaching 10 people at a high level of involvement. The high level of involvement – if you get the right consumers – is a better payback."

Unsuccessful campaigns can be catastrophic.

"It has to be done carefully and with the greatest sincerity," Young warn - The Toronto Star

Cold weather didn’t deter more than 1,000 fans from Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter Greg Sczebel’s free concert at the Salmon Arm Wharf Sunday night.

Grateful for strong community support over the past 12 years, Sczebel turned up the heat with music from his new CD, Love and the Lack Thereof.

With a superb sound stage and back-up, Sczebel showed Salmon Arm how his music and performing skills have matured.

The young man, who hit the quarter-century mark on stage Sunday, warmed the crowd with his talent and his charm.

While in command, Sczebel was happy to share the stage with excellent musicians such as Nashville drummer Derico Watson, amazing Calgarian Hank Insell on bass, Abbotsford's Steve Davis on guitar, Vernon’s Dan Oldfield on percussion and Darius Wilson of Moose Jaw, Sask. on keyboards.

Tiffany Molnar, Natalie Sherwood and special guest Anna Vandas provided backup vocals.

Following the concert, Sczebel signed autographs and took in close to 100 pre-orders of his the new CD which will launch Oct. 13.

In a surprise move, the birthday boy told his fans the Nissan Cube van he won earlier this year will go to a lucky winner next year - along with a private concert.

There are a number of ways to get ballots and new ones will come along every month or so. When the winner in this North America wide contest is chosen next summer, Sczebel drive his sea foam green Cube to their home.

To find out how you could be the lucky winner, go to www.WinGregsCar.com, where just logging on will get you one ballot.

And the hits to Sczebel's website are coming in fast and furiously already. - Salmon Arm Observer

Cold weather didn’t deter more than 1,000 fans from Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter Greg Sczebel’s free concert at the Salmon Arm Wharf Sunday night.

Grateful for strong community support over the past 12 years, Sczebel turned up the heat with music from his new CD, Love and the Lack Thereof.

With a superb sound stage and back-up, Sczebel showed Salmon Arm how his music and performing skills have matured.

The young man, who hit the quarter-century mark on stage Sunday, warmed the crowd with his talent and his charm.

While in command, Sczebel was happy to share the stage with excellent musicians such as Nashville drummer Derico Watson, amazing Calgarian Hank Insell on bass, Abbotsford's Steve Davis on guitar, Vernon’s Dan Oldfield on percussion and Darius Wilson of Moose Jaw, Sask. on keyboards.

Tiffany Molnar, Natalie Sherwood and special guest Anna Vandas provided backup vocals.

Following the concert, Sczebel signed autographs and took in close to 100 pre-orders of his the new CD which will launch Oct. 13.

In a surprise move, the birthday boy told his fans the Nissan Cube van he won earlier this year will go to a lucky winner next year - along with a private concert.

There are a number of ways to get ballots and new ones will come along every month or so. When the winner in this North America wide contest is chosen next summer, Sczebel drive his sea foam green Cube to their home.

To find out how you could be the lucky winner, go to www.WinGregsCar.com, where just logging on will get you one ballot.

And the hits to Sczebel's website are coming in fast and furiously already. - Salmon Arm Observer

Nominations for the 2009 BC Interior Music Awards garnered 3,700 votes, almost doubling 2008’s 2,000 votes.

And the Shuswap is again well-represented, with three area musicians and singers and the Roots and Blues Festival nominated in a number of categories.

Juno Award winner and past BC Interior Music Award winner Greg Sczebel is nominated in the Single of the Year category for his One by One.

Old Man’s Beard has been nominated in the New Artist of the Year category and will perform at the 2009 BC Interior Music Awards Night to be held Friday, Nov. 6 at the Kelowna Community Theatre.

Blu Hopkins and Silvercreek were nominated again this year, in the Country/Bluegrass Recording of the Year category and The Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival, a partner in the BCIMA Awards, received a nomination in the Supporting Venue of Live Music category.

This year’s Roots & Blues festival featured two BCIMA winners in 2008 – Ari Neufeld, Best Male Performer of the Year and Sherman Doucette, Best Blues Artist of the Year.?

“We wouldn’t have known about Ari if we hadn’t come to the BCIMA Awards last year,” executive director Hugo Rampen told BCIMA organizers.

“We hear time and again that there is nothing new in the blues, but we are proud to show the diversity of the blues genre as it reaches from B.C. to Serbia.”

Roots & Blues organizers are again sponsoring the 2009 BCIMA Best Blues Recording Award.

“It is so great see two performers who shone on last year’s BCIMA stage be featured on the Roots & Blues stage and to know that in one year alone the implications of winning an award like the BC Interior Music Awards go far past the single glamorous night to help open doors for artists.”

A panel of judges from radio and festivals throughout B.C. whittled nominations down to the top three in each of the 28 categories.

Winners will be revealed at the exciting Nov. 6 event. To get tickets, go to www.selectyourtickets.com.

v2 - Salmon Arm Observer

Nominations for the 2009 BC Interior Music Awards garnered 3,700 votes, almost doubling 2008’s 2,000 votes.

And the Shuswap is again well-represented, with three area musicians and singers and the Roots and Blues Festival nominated in a number of categories.

Juno Award winner and past BC Interior Music Award winner Greg Sczebel is nominated in the Single of the Year category for his One by One.

Old Man’s Beard has been nominated in the New Artist of the Year category and will perform at the 2009 BC Interior Music Awards Night to be held Friday, Nov. 6 at the Kelowna Community Theatre.

Blu Hopkins and Silvercreek were nominated again this year, in the Country/Bluegrass Recording of the Year category and The Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival, a partner in the BCIMA Awards, received a nomination in the Supporting Venue of Live Music category.

This year’s Roots & Blues festival featured two BCIMA winners in 2008 – Ari Neufeld, Best Male Performer of the Year and Sherman Doucette, Best Blues Artist of the Year.?

“We wouldn’t have known about Ari if we hadn’t come to the BCIMA Awards last year,” executive director Hugo Rampen told BCIMA organizers.

“We hear time and again that there is nothing new in the blues, but we are proud to show the diversity of the blues genre as it reaches from B.C. to Serbia.”

Roots & Blues organizers are again sponsoring the 2009 BCIMA Best Blues Recording Award.

“It is so great see two performers who shone on last year’s BCIMA stage be featured on the Roots & Blues stage and to know that in one year alone the implications of winning an award like the BC Interior Music Awards go far past the single glamorous night to help open doors for artists.”

A panel of judges from radio and festivals throughout B.C. whittled nominations down to the top three in each of the 28 categories.

Winners will be revealed at the exciting Nov. 6 event. To get tickets, go to www.selectyourtickets.com.

v2 - Salmon Arm Observer

Salmon Arm, BC-based singer-songwriter, Greg Sczebel, was awarded a 2007 John Lennon Songwriting Contest Grand Prize in the Session II Gospel category for his song “Homeland”.


“This is a huge honour and I’m still a little in shock since I seriously never saw it coming. So exciting,” write Sczebel in a message to his fans. “It’s funny, this song was one of those that came together so fast. It pretty much just wrote itself. But sometimes those are the ones that connect with people the most. And when that happens, it’s a pretty special thing.”

“Homeland” was written by Sczebel while a close friend and his family shared their last hours together with their father and husband. Despite a long and courageous battle with cancer, he finally reached his “Homeland”. You can hear the song here.

In 2005, Sczebel’s song “Here To Stay” was the Grand Prize winner in the Gospel category and was one of 13 songs competing for Song of the Year. For 2007, each category was divided into two sessions. The Grand Prize Winners of Session I and Session II will now compete head-to-head in an online voting battle to become the Lennon Award Winner in their respective category and will then be considered for Song of the Year. Sczebel’s song will go up against Session I Grand Prize winner Carmen Calhoun’s “Life”.

2007 Session I finalists included Christine Evans whose song “Show Me The Way” was a finalist in the Gospel/Inspirational category. Her collaboration with Tim Langley, “Surrender”, was a finalist in the Pop category.

Sczebel will be rejoining Paul Brandt on the Risk Tour for several dates in Western Canada starting April 1st. Visit www.PaulBrandt.com/touring.htm for more information.
- Salmon Arm Observer

Salmon Arm, BC-based singer-songwriter, Greg Sczebel, was awarded a 2007 John Lennon Songwriting Contest Grand Prize in the Session II Gospel category for his song “Homeland”.


“This is a huge honour and I’m still a little in shock since I seriously never saw it coming. So exciting,” write Sczebel in a message to his fans. “It’s funny, this song was one of those that came together so fast. It pretty much just wrote itself. But sometimes those are the ones that connect with people the most. And when that happens, it’s a pretty special thing.”

“Homeland” was written by Sczebel while a close friend and his family shared their last hours together with their father and husband. Despite a long and courageous battle with cancer, he finally reached his “Homeland”. You can hear the song here.

In 2005, Sczebel’s song “Here To Stay” was the Grand Prize winner in the Gospel category and was one of 13 songs competing for Song of the Year. For 2007, each category was divided into two sessions. The Grand Prize Winners of Session I and Session II will now compete head-to-head in an online voting battle to become the Lennon Award Winner in their respective category and will then be considered for Song of the Year. Sczebel’s song will go up against Session I Grand Prize winner Carmen Calhoun’s “Life”.

2007 Session I finalists included Christine Evans whose song “Show Me The Way” was a finalist in the Gospel/Inspirational category. Her collaboration with Tim Langley, “Surrender”, was a finalist in the Pop category.

Sczebel will be rejoining Paul Brandt on the Risk Tour for several dates in Western Canada starting April 1st. Visit www.PaulBrandt.com/touring.htm for more information.
- Salmon Arm Observer

Speaking of peace, love and harmony -reminds me of Greg Sczebel.
Likely the brightest star at the recent starstudded Scorpion
Awards, Mr. Sczebel simply stunned the attentive audience with his indisputable talent as he tickled the keyboard with mastery and sang his way into their hearts. The impact this young man has when he hits that first vocal note is simply halting. There is an instantaneous bond between
performer and audience and it only grows deeper as his musical performance continues.
Throughout the Scorpion Awards evening I was working back stage making sure no one scorpioned off with the awards themselves - and that the award winner was for some unexplained reason somewhere around the stage area. (Not an easy task since most
musicians are generally lost at the best of times). Of the multitude of musicians who passed through the backstage area that night two individuals stood out in particular– a
young fellow with SupRnatural (I sadly never did get his name) and Greg Sczebel. A few minutes before he was to go on stage Greg arrived behind the curtain - and I actually felt his presence before I saw or heard him. I had a brief, hushed conversation with him and was immediately drawn to this polite and humble human. When he later won Gospel Artist of the Year award he was genuinely surprised and touched.
Anyone whose been fortunate enough to be anywhere near this young man will attest that like his wonderfully talented pal, Ryan Donn, there is an aura about him that is even more compelling than his music.
Greg Sczebel simply oozes with sincerity and warmth while wrapped comfortably in his own skin – and is so willing to share it humbly with all. There is no question this young person is special and blessed in many ways - and one cannot help but wonder if it is because of his faith or because of His faith, or both. Regardless – Greg lives his faith fully in his artistry and it makes for a truly unforgettable package as both a person and an entertainer.
For a brilliant and ‘halting’ display of that love, energy, and talent wrapped up in one solid package you only need grab a copy of Greg’s CD Here to Stay. After listening to it all it’s difficult to decide just which of his many talents is his strongest: lyrics, songwriting, singing, musicianship – or the rare ability to maturely produce such an album at his young age. Amazing talent in such a youthful entertainer.
This 11-song CD ranks as one of the best I have heard in recent memory and while unmistakably a full-fledged in your face Gospel album it is every bit hip, upbeat
and spellbinding. It’s the sort of CD that simply gets played over and over and rarely gets taken out of the machine. Sczebel, along with Jerry Sczebel and New York’s Mark Fellows (of Sterling Sound) have mastered the unique ability to wrap
his clear and concise message of faith and commitment into a product that appeals to all ages, young and old, and fits almost any radio format.
There are no loser tunes on this CD with at least four or five tremendous tunes starting with the first (and title cut) Here To Stay. This very catchy, boppy tune is destined for radio charts as is the lyrically brilliant second cut In The Pocket.
His hip, funky Stevie Wonder, Andre Crouch similar style is strong throughout the first three cuts but is dramatically replaced by the brilliantly structured, John Lennon-like prose of the ballad Perhaps.
Wrapped in wonderful piano this is ‘perhaps’ his finest song of all. Song six, You’ve Got It, is another toe tapping, body swaying song destined for the charts, while the 10th cut Unlisted is a vocally capturing composition complete with fabulous guitar and drum work. And just when you figure you have heard the best young Greg has to offer he grabs your heart and sticks it painfully in your throat with the overwhelming tune Thank You. I dare you not to cry through this one.
You can learn more about Greg and his album by visiting www.gregsczebel.com
I have no doubt that the world will soon know all about this outstanding young man from Salmon Arm who calls the Okanagan Valley home. And when that happens, when all that glory comes his way, Greg will humbly redirect that praise towards his best friend and inspirational leader. You can count on that, because as Greg states in his title cut, his faith is here to stay.
Charlie Hodge
- Scorpion Entertainment 2004

Speaking of peace, love and harmony -reminds me of Greg Sczebel.
Likely the brightest star at the recent starstudded Scorpion
Awards, Mr. Sczebel simply stunned the attentive audience with his indisputable talent as he tickled the keyboard with mastery and sang his way into their hearts. The impact this young man has when he hits that first vocal note is simply halting. There is an instantaneous bond between
performer and audience and it only grows deeper as his musical performance continues.
Throughout the Scorpion Awards evening I was working back stage making sure no one scorpioned off with the awards themselves - and that the award winner was for some unexplained reason somewhere around the stage area. (Not an easy task since most
musicians are generally lost at the best of times). Of the multitude of musicians who passed through the backstage area that night two individuals stood out in particular– a
young fellow with SupRnatural (I sadly never did get his name) and Greg Sczebel. A few minutes before he was to go on stage Greg arrived behind the curtain - and I actually felt his presence before I saw or heard him. I had a brief, hushed conversation with him and was immediately drawn to this polite and humble human. When he later won Gospel Artist of the Year award he was genuinely surprised and touched.
Anyone whose been fortunate enough to be anywhere near this young man will attest that like his wonderfully talented pal, Ryan Donn, there is an aura about him that is even more compelling than his music.
Greg Sczebel simply oozes with sincerity and warmth while wrapped comfortably in his own skin – and is so willing to share it humbly with all. There is no question this young person is special and blessed in many ways - and one cannot help but wonder if it is because of his faith or because of His faith, or both. Regardless – Greg lives his faith fully in his artistry and it makes for a truly unforgettable package as both a person and an entertainer.
For a brilliant and ‘halting’ display of that love, energy, and talent wrapped up in one solid package you only need grab a copy of Greg’s CD Here to Stay. After listening to it all it’s difficult to decide just which of his many talents is his strongest: lyrics, songwriting, singing, musicianship – or the rare ability to maturely produce such an album at his young age. Amazing talent in such a youthful entertainer.
This 11-song CD ranks as one of the best I have heard in recent memory and while unmistakably a full-fledged in your face Gospel album it is every bit hip, upbeat
and spellbinding. It’s the sort of CD that simply gets played over and over and rarely gets taken out of the machine. Sczebel, along with Jerry Sczebel and New York’s Mark Fellows (of Sterling Sound) have mastered the unique ability to wrap
his clear and concise message of faith and commitment into a product that appeals to all ages, young and old, and fits almost any radio format.
There are no loser tunes on this CD with at least four or five tremendous tunes starting with the first (and title cut) Here To Stay. This very catchy, boppy tune is destined for radio charts as is the lyrically brilliant second cut In The Pocket.
His hip, funky Stevie Wonder, Andre Crouch similar style is strong throughout the first three cuts but is dramatically replaced by the brilliantly structured, John Lennon-like prose of the ballad Perhaps.
Wrapped in wonderful piano this is ‘perhaps’ his finest song of all. Song six, You’ve Got It, is another toe tapping, body swaying song destined for the charts, while the 10th cut Unlisted is a vocally capturing composition complete with fabulous guitar and drum work. And just when you figure you have heard the best young Greg has to offer he grabs your heart and sticks it painfully in your throat with the overwhelming tune Thank You. I dare you not to cry through this one.
You can learn more about Greg and his album by visiting www.gregsczebel.com
I have no doubt that the world will soon know all about this outstanding young man from Salmon Arm who calls the Okanagan Valley home. And when that happens, when all that glory comes his way, Greg will humbly redirect that praise towards his best friend and inspirational leader. You can count on that, because as Greg states in his title cut, his faith is here to stay.
Charlie Hodge
- Scorpion Entertainment 2004