Jean Shy Biography

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Jean Shy is an internationally acclaimed Soul, Blues, Jazz, and Gospel Singer; Songwriter, Music Producer, Actress, and Author. With four Top Ten Hits under her belt, the 2009 Blues Music Award Nominee for “Soul Blues Female Artist Of The Year,” is definitely a multi-talented, truly unique Artist, and audiences are overwhelmed by her powerful vocal delivery, and entertaining Show.

Born in Chicago, Jean's vocal background had it's beginning in Gospel Music. Elvis Presley was her first inspiration to become a professional Entertainer in commercial Music. Later she was also greatly influenced by Mahalia Jackson, Sammy Davis Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Harry Belafonte, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, Dinah Washington, Carmen McRae, and others. Jean was already receiving awards for her musical talents by the time she reached High School.  At the age of twelve she was signed by Leonard and Phil Chess to the legendary Chess Label in Chicago. The release of  “Spring Fever” by Tim & Jean became a Regional Hit. 
 

Just before leaving High School Jean was signed by Carl Davis for Brunswick Records. With various regional Record successes she toured as an Opening-Act on the "Chitlin Circuit" with Otis Leavill, Tyrone Davis, Barbara Acklin, The Chi-Lites, The O'Jays, Al Green, The Stylistics, and  Jackie Wilson, gathering a tremendous  amount of Stage Experience. 

Jean wrote her first Album which was produced by Hense Powell; Executive Produced by Emerson Featherstone. One Single from  that  production 
"Speak Talk About It" was signed by Jay Butler to Playboy Records.


Jean Shy was later produced by Harvey Fuqua who was the founder and lead singer for seminal R&B/doo wop group The Moonglows. He was an early mentor of Marvin Gaye, (co-producing "Sexual Healing" and Gaye's hit duets with Tammi Terrell), helped to develop several Motown acts, and helped to launch the careers of '70s soul-pop group New Birth, and disco superstar Sylvester (Disco Heat, You  Make Me  Feel  Mighty  Real).  The Songs  Harvey produced  on  Jean were released on Honey Records, and a few others in conjunction with Fantasy Records. 


                   Jean and Harvey Fuqua



Jean and Carlo Bohlaender


In 1978 Jean branched out and went to Europe. Soon after she arrived in Frankfurt, Germany she
performed at the famous Jazz Kneipe owned  by  Musician  Wolfgang  Dosch.  There  she  met Dr. Carlo Bohlaender one of Europe's acclaimed Jazz Critics, Trumpet Player and Book Author who introduced her into Frankfurt's Jazz Scene as well as to one of Germany’s Top Jazz, Blues & Gospel Booking Agents "Dieter Nentwig". Carlo included Jean in his series of Jazz Encyclopedias as the youngest Jazz Vocalist, which Jean is very proud of.


After the performance of a few Jazz Concerts the Cultural Department sent Jean as a cultural Ambassador to represent the city "Frankfurt am Main" in the Partner City Milano, Italy, with an Open Air performance in front of the world famous Skala which Jean performed with one of Frankfurt’s Top Jazz Bands Herbert Christ & The Jazz Babies.

Shy met Chilly Producer Bernt Moehrle (pictured right) in Frankfurt who produced two Singles "Layla" and "Do The Locomotion" on her, which were released on Polydor Records.


Soon after Jean signed a contract with Al Coury, President of R.S.O. Records through her Business Manager Nick Sevano, who also managed Artist such as Glen Campbell and Julia McGuinnes. Producer Bob Esty was brought in to produce Shy while he was working on Albums with Barbara Streisand and Cher.   

The release of this  now considered  "classic"  12" Single  production of the Song "Night Dancer," written by Bob Esty, and Michael W. Brooks, brought Jean her first national Record success, which was a number nine US Hit  in  the Billboard  Top  100  Disco Charts. 
 

"Night  Dancer" also became one of the Soundtracks in the Movie "Roller Boogie" starring Linda Blair.  The B-Side  was the  classic Jazz Song "That Old Black Magic" which was #13 in the US Dance Charts.

After her success with R.S.O. Jean returned to Europe making Germany her second home. Soon after, she signed an exclusive Booking Contract with the Dieter Nentwig International Musikagentur. Because a well known Colleague had to cancel a  performance at the Lahnstein Blues Festival  presented by  SWF  Radio,  Jean  was booked to  perform with

The Frankfurt City Blues Band, this concert, which was  also recorded and  broadcast  by SWF Radio, exceeded all expectations. After that, countless performances at national and International Jazz & Blues Festivals with The Frankfurt City Blues Band, and other known Bands such as The Blues Company, The Barrelhouse Jazz Band, Climax Band Cologne, and Jazz Band Ball Orchestra followed.

Since 1982 Jean has been working with the German Label King Edward Records. Her first Album produced by Hense Powell entitled  "Maze (I Just Wanna Escape)" was released in 1983.

Believing in Jean Shy in every aspect of her musical Talent  the Label  has supported her diverse  Music Styles, therefore releasing various Cd’s by her over the Years, which, just like her Concerts, range from Rhythm & Blues/Rock to Jazz and Gospel.

 

Jean  formed her own Band Streetblues with Vladimir Rada (Bass), Gerd Freymann (Drums), Hannsjoerg Scheid (Guitar), and Mike Hoffmann (Piano). With the finishing of their first Album together in 1984 entitled "Tough Enough" the Band Name was changed to "Bordell". When King Edward Records made a contract with "Record Shack Records" in England, for the release of "Tough Enough," the Band Name was changed once again. "Jean Shy & The Shy Guys" was born. Soon after, The Shy Guys consisted of new members only.
 

Two original members of -The new Shy Guys- Klaus Zimmermann (Guitar), and Martin Hoette (Guitar) as well as long time members Bernhard Spiess (Drums), Sascha Kuehn (Keyboards), and Bernd Winterschladen (Sax) are still performing as part of the Band today.

The newest addition to the Group was Michael -Schnuff- Strohm (Bass), and a few years later Georg Mahr on the B3 Hammond Organ, who had been a Guest Musician on many Jean Shy Shows during the last 15 Years.

 






Dove Soap Commercial




 

In between Touring, and Recording in Europe, Jean has gone back and forth between Germany, and Los Angeles. In 1988 she signed a five year contract with Lever Brothers, to do a  :15 and :30 Sec. Commercial for Dove Soap. She became the National Dove Soap Lady Of The Year. The Dove Soap Spot won the CEBA Award Of Excellence. Shy was then represented by one of Americas biggest Commercial Agencies Sutton, Barth & Vennari, through which she landed other major Commercials for Silo Electronics, US West Communications and Ames Department Stores. 

Jean also played a Leading Role in the Soap-Opera "Secret Passions" as Council woman June Tshwaila. During that same time period Jean hosted her own TV Talk Show  "The Jean Shy Rhythm & News Show" produced by Walker Entertainment which aired weekly on Cable TV.    

After the Germany release of her CD "Ready For Love" produced by Michael McGregor, and alongside of performing with her Shy Guys, Jean joined an interesting project in 1994.  She was the featured Singer for the Dutch formation T-Spoon which prior had two Top 10 Hits.

 

T-Spoon featuring Jean Shy (pictured right) landed a No. 5 Hit with the very jazzy oriented euro dance track "Where R U Now", and with the remake of the Janis Joplin Song "Mercedes Benz" in an euro reggae style, they made it to No. 7 in the Benelux.

With the following Project N678ALL featuring Jean Shy she landed at  No.32 on the British Dance Charts with the Song "Summernation".

Upon the request of many Fans over the Years, Jean Shy & The Shy Guys finally recorded a -Live-CD- in 1998, entitled "Unchain My Heart".   


Because Jean almost always performs at least one Gospel Song during her Concerts, whether high powered Soul, or Jazz, many of her European Fans requested her to do a traditional Gospel Album.  Finally in 1999 Jean recorded her first Gospel CD "Amazing Grace," with a smaller "Shy Guys" formation.

Going back to her Roots, with "Amazing Grace," Jean has gone on many Gospel Tours in Germany, presenting her Special Gospel & Spiritual Program "Jean Shy sings Mahalia Jackson," live as well as on this CD.
 

Her next CD "Still Swingin' (After All These Years)" was recorded Live in Cologne with The Climax Band, with whom she prior recorded the Albums "The Night Time Is The Right Time," and "Just The Way We Are". 

Performing with THE CLIMAX BAND has been a continuous Special  Project  for  Jean over the Years,  keeping  her  Jazz  Roots  alive  in Germany,  and in The Netherlands. The

CD "Still Swingin' (After All  These Years)," was recorded in celebration of their 20th Anniversary.
 

In May 2002 Jean Shy toured as a Special Guest with the Jazz Band Ball Orchestra (JBBO) from Krakow for the first time, even though they had been playing on many of the same Stages for over twenty Years. The JBBO is Poland's oldest, and Internationally best known European Jazz Formation. During their Tour they performed at Jazz Festivals in Poland, Hungary and Slovakia.

In Hungary the Concert at the Salgotarjan Jazz Festival was recorded and broadcast by Magyar Radio.


Since the Tour was such an excellent success, they recorded a Jazz & Blues CD together at the Radio Krakow Studio, entitled "The Other Side Of Blue". The CD was released in Poland in 2003. Other Tours within Poland, and adjacent countries followed, along with national Live-TV Performances, including the Polish Oscars at which the JBBO won an Award once again for being "The Best Jazz Band of the Year," presenting Jean Shy as their Special Guest. The performances, and the CD received a great response from critiques, and audiences alike.

In September 2004 Jean got a leading part in a National TV Spot as well as the Print Advertisement for Target, one of the largest Department Stores in the USA.  She also hosted her new Cable TV Talk Show "In the Spotlight with Jean Shy".
 

Jean Shy’s second Gospel Album entitled "One Day" is a mixture of live, and Studio recordings with her Shy Guys.  The Album, as well as the first Radio Single entitled "Precious Memories" was released in the US on April 14.2005, as a joint Venture between King Edward Records, and Featherstone Records, and received much Airplay on Gospel Radio Stations across the country.
 

On Oct. 31.2008 King Edward Records released the Jean Shy & The Shy Guys CD The Blues Got Soul.  In conjunction with this CD the Blues Foundation nominated Jean Shy for the 2009 Blues Music Awards in the category of Soul Blues Female Artists of The Year.

The Music of Jean Shy & The Shy Guys are comparable to Groups like The Rolling Stones, ZZ Top,  Led Zeppelin, and Aerosmith.


Click here to listen to Sound Bytes from THE BLUES GOT SOUL. Enjoy!

To hear Sound Bytes from all Jean Shy CD's click on the Music link.

 

 

 

 

 

 
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