With roots planted deep in the soil of Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest, Shelley James was born with music etched in her DNA. Raised in a musical clan that toured as a gospel quartet––with alto Shelley, bass and arranger/composer father, soprano mom, and tenor brother––Shelley displayed prodigious talents of pitch and timbre at the tender age of four. The home was rich with song and melody; over the years, the sounds of The Carpenters, glorious hymns, and sweeping anthems filled young Shelley’s ears, nurturing her uncanny ability to harmonize, practically before she could read. This musical storybook of a childhood would instill a strong sense of destiny in the woman she would become, and in the dedicated performer whose foremost desire is to captivate hearts through her uplifting music.

Ask Shelley to name her all-time favorite singers or musical influences and the answers come fast and furious. By the time she reached her teens, James was feasting on a steady diet of classic rock albums such as Pink Floyd, Heart, The Police, ELO, The Cars, Queen, Toto, Yes, EWF, Steely Dan, Annie Lennox, her idol, Karen Carpenter, and the most famous daughter of Shelley’s birthplace of Saskatoon, Joni Mitchell. Those influences remained embedded in Shelley’s musical psyche through her high school choir years and in 1983, Shelley was one of three selected to represent Oregon in the National Chorus of America, which toured throughout Europe.

Shelley got sidetracked and switched gears in college, changing her major from classical vocal performance to anthropology. Nearing graduation, though, she felt the magnetic pull of music on her life once again, and it was simply too strong to ignore. Shelley knew that if she didn’t listen to her heart now, she might miss her calling completely.

Buoyed by a sense of renewal and a burning passion for live performance, Shelley picked up the guitar, learned to write, and put the rubber to the road. It was during this pivotal point in the early ‘90s that she received her first real attention, fronting the bands that would both hone her musical chops and cement her standing in the Pacific Northwest. With ”Pyramid Breakfast,” a rock-jazz trio ensemble, the singer and her band mates released an inspired CD to an avalanche of acclaim. In 1995, Shelley spread her wings as a solo artist and–alongside her new husband/bassist Cal Coleman and band– toured the circuit from Los Angeles to Seattle as the “Shelley James m u s i c b o x.” During this time her "Crack the Shell" CD was released. With “Satin Love Orchestra,” Shelley's disco-loving side came to light, and she shined as its female stand-out star. Shelley and Cal also lent their talents to the critically-acclaimed Pink Floyd tribute band “The Floydian Slips” from 1998 to 2004. Rounding out the resume is Shelley and Cal's first love–their original duo since 1994 "Agents of Unity" in which they lead praise and worship at churches small to large, and in clubs and festivals everywhere.

Over the years, James' audiences have earnestly embraced her, followed her, and spread the word about her. “I am so blessed to have the most loyal fans an artist could possibly ever wish for. The connection between us truly is a bit of a romance,” she exclaims. Establishing that intimate bond with an enthusiastic fan base that currently spans the length of the West Coast, Western Canada, and Hawaii is what it’s all about for the accessible singer.

In an era of studio-manufactured talent, partner Coleman states “Shelley is a true musician. Years of hard work and experience in fronting these bands have set her apart. She’s been a performer all her life and a band-leader for 15 years. She has really paid her dues.”

Making the most of her short time in Los Angeles, Shelley has also had the great honor of sharing memorable stage time with some of her personal musical heroes, including Sheila E., Pete Escovedo, Jonathan Butler, and William Kennedy, to name but a few. Capping off an exciting year of professional and personal highlights, Shelley recently performed in the Escovedo Family Holiday Celebration at the prestigious Walt Disney Concert Hall, home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Master Chorale. ********************************************************************************

Album Description

It's been called “honey-filled." “Pure as a summer breeze.” "Rare and stunning” and “like fine crystal.” The evocative instrument that is Shelley James' voice has earned a myriad of stellar accolades. And now, it's a voice that's poised to soar into the musical mainstream with the December 2006 debut of “SHELLEY JAMES," her highly- anticipated album on independent label Houseboat Records. Produced by producer/writer Chris Bolden for Golden Bolden Music, and featuring an A-list of session players, this long-awaited CD is just the latest stop on an ever-evolving journey for this remarkable talent.

Shelley James doesn't so much sing her new songs as effortlessly surround them with a passion so soothing, so rich, they seemingly melt...but not before reaching in and touching your soul. Weaving a tapestry of musical influences from pop, rock, R&B, soul, gospel and jazz, Shelley branches out into diverse vocal territory to create a thoughtfully crafted album with definite cross-genre appeal, one she hopes true music fans will appreciate for its classic sensibility. Says James on her three-year labor of love, “This album is really revealing one more piece of my vocal pie, and is a happenin’ mix of songs stylistically. Everyone will have a different favorite.”

“Everything I Needed” is a high-spirited pop tribute to love’s redemptive powers. “Still Believe” is a bluesy, rockin’ toe-tapper with an infectious chorus reminiscent of Bonnie Raitt’s best work. Shelley makes the most of her voice on the achingly-lovely “Maybe,” a timeless power ballad delivered with goods worthy of comparison to her hero, Karen Carpenter. “Better Love” and “I Can’t Get Away” are deliciously smooth, soul-filled ballads, while “Watching Miracles,” the closer of the album, is a spiritually-inspired song about keeping the faith.

"SHELLEY JAMES" is the creative confluence of Grammy Award-winning production talent and a gifted songwriting team harmoniously paired with an exceptional vocalist whose time had come. It is a story of sheer faith, true sacrifice and belief in a dream. And it's a story that's worth repeating.

In 2003, Universal Music Publishing Group producer and songwriter Chris Bolden felt moved to reach back and help someone from his Eugene, Oregon hometown. It was Shelley’s vocal gift that caught his attention. “Chris had heard my previous work and loved my voice, recognized my potential, knew how hard I had worked, and knew we needed a hit writing team. He believed in me, and was also looking to do something with cross-over market appeal,” says James. From his stash of songwriting gems, the prolific Bolden chose several he considered to be perfect vehicles for Shelley’s golden voice.

“We actually recorded the first half of the CD in August of 2003, completing five magical songs in two weeks, then went back to Eugene and quite literally prayed for more capital to finish the album. I knew this was my big chance to make an album at a high-end commercial level,” says James “and the time had come to move to L.A., which meant selling our house, packing up our two 18-pound cats, leaving Eugene, our friends, our fans, our family, and our roots. But I knew that if I didn’t, do it, I would have always wondered ‘what if?’"

James and Coleman then made a soul-searching decision and turned the wheels of their bus south to L.A. “We came down with two nickels and a bunch of faith. But we felt it would be advantageous to be in L.A. for a lot of reasons: to be plugged into the music scene, to make connections, to advance Houseboat Records as a viable label, and– obviously–to finish this very special album,” recalls James.

“By the time we recorded the other half of the album in the summer of 2005, musician/songwriter Jim McGorman (Rock Star TV show House Band, Avril Lavigne, Cher) had joined the song-writing team. I actually got to pick the songs for the second half of the album as well as contribute to them…how cool is that?” Shelley adds. Adding to the magic was a chance to record with L.A. veteran studio musicians Mike Porcaro (Toto, Santana) and Michael Thompson (Anita Baker, Gloria Estefan).

With her warm, resonating tone and pure, honest sound the best sales rep for her completed work of art, Shelley James is energized by the prospect of returning to what she considers her greatest strength - giving her all in a live setting. “I am so excited to perform these new songs that I love so much for people everywhere,” James enthuses, “but especially for my hometown fans and family who have waited so patiently, so long.”

Undeniably worth the wait, her new CD stands center stage aimed straight at the hearts of all who will listen.

Credits:

Album Title: "SHELLEY JAMES"

WATCHING MIRACLES

BETTER LOVE

MAYBE

STILL BELIEVE

NOT ALONE

EVERYTHING I NEEDED

Producer - Chris Bolden  

Lead Vocals - Shelley James

Guitars - Michael Thompson (Celine Dion, Michael Jackson, Cher...)

Bass - Mike Porcaro (Toto, Santana, Michael McDonald, Dan Fogelberg), Kevin Wyatt (Chante Moore, Hanson), Johnnie Buttons (Chakira)

Drum programming/keyboards - Chris Bolden (En Vogue, Norman Brown, Lee Ritnour)

Live Drums – Dave Allen

Engineered by Mike Fennel and Stanley Malveaux

Mixed by Jack Rouben, Stanley Malveaux, and Mike Fennel

Mastered by Robert Vosgien (Eva Cassidy)/ Capitol Mastering

Background Vocals on “Everything I Needed” – Mika Lett

Background Vocals on “Still Believe”– Sherree Brown (Mary J. Blige, Lala Hathaway)

All Other Background Vocals – Shelley James

Songs written by: Chris Bolden, Jim McGorman, Shelley James, Cal Coleman, JB Eckl,

Executive Producers: Cal Coleman, Jim Ratzlaff, Shirley Ratzlaff

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