David Shelley
| David Shelley | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Born |
November 23, 1957 Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Died | August 10, 2015 (aged 57) Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. |
| Genres | Blues rock, roots rock, Americana, Soul music, Reggae |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, drums, djembe |
| Years active | 1979–2015 |
| Labels | MCA, Ocean Sound, Pink Buffalo Records |
| Associated acts | David Shelley & Bluestone, Blues Farm, Mud Ponies, Chief Jim Billie, The David Shelley Band, Cher, Ti'shan |
| Website | davidshelleymusic |
David Joseph Shelley (November 23, 1957 – August 10, 2015) was an American blues rock musician who performed with Cher and released two critically acclaimed albums, That's My Train (2012) and Trick Bag (2013).
David Shelley was born November 23, 1957 in Santa Monica, California. His grandfather Buddy DeSylva, along with Glenn Wallichs and Johnny Mercer, founded Capitol Records in 1942. DeSylva also was known for writing such standards as "California Here I Come" and "The Best Things in Life Are Free." Shelley's mother, Martha Stewart, sang in big bands with Glenn Miller and Harry James and acted on Broadway and in films and TV, including In a Lonely Place (1950) starring Humphrey Bogart.
David began playing drums in high school in Florida and eventually took up guitar under the guidance of his friend Jeff Savage in California, who turned Shelley onto the blues via an extensive record collection.
Returning to Florida in 1979, Shelley founded Ocean Sound Studio, a sixteen track recording facility, with childhood friend Michael Couzzi (who would go on to engineer hit albums like Santana's Supernatural). David played percussion live and in the studio with jazz artist Randy Bernsen, legendary bassist Jaco Pastorius, other local artists and his first self-led band, instrumental funk group Captiva.
In 1982, David Shelley joined popular area reggae band Ti'shan as singer and guitarist. Ti'shan played original music, provided back-up for visiting reggae artists like Barrington Levy and opened for The Clash. Shelley appeared on Ti'shan's 1982 LP "Ti'shan Reggae Music" and in videos for the band's songs.
In 1984, David left Ti'shan to front his own band, Special Forces (eventually renamed The David Shelley Band), performing his original "power-dance-reggae" music. The David Shelley Band was a regional success, opening for reggae superstar Dennis Brown, The Kinks,Laura Branigan, Cheap Trick,Eddie Money and among the headliners at Miami's Big Orange Festival.
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