Shelby J.

Shelby J.

Birthname and date

Shelby Johnson
10 September 19??, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA

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Overview

Singer/songwriter/producer from North Carolina, Shelby Johnson performed and provided vocals for artists such as Santana and Larry Graham. She was a member of D'Angelo's band The Soultronics. She's also performed and toured with Roy Hargrove and Martin Luther.

She is currently a background vocalist in Prince's band The NPG, and continues to work on her personal project with her own band The Black Gypsies.

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Early Life

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Career

In 2000 Shelby became the background singer for D’Angelo's band, “The Soultronics” performing with him in the “Voodoo Tour” alongside Anthony Hamilton. In early 2003 Shelby collaborated an performed with Roy Hargrove and can be heard on his album “The RH Factor on “How I Know,” which she co-wrote. She also started her own group blackgypsy. She sang with Jamie McLean, both live dates and in the studio recording the debut cd “This Time Around” and then joined Martin Luther for a tour of the USA and went on to tour with Anthony Hamilton in 2006 and the "Change Your World Tour” with Santana.

In the fall of 2006 was asked to join Larry Graham and she performed with him in the Rio, Las Vegas as part of the '3121' performances. Prince liked her so much that he immediately asked her to join the NPG.

Shelby is currently writing and recording songs for a debut solo album which is believed to feature the song North Carolina she co-wrote with Prince and writing songs for blackgypsy's next album “blackgypsy Vol.2” She is also writing and collaborating with writer/producers Darron “Tripp” Thomas, Anton Bass and writer/producer Butter.

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Discography

• 2007 Prince: Planet Earth
• 2008 Prince: Indigo Nights
• 2009 Prince: Lotusflow3r
• 2009 Blackgypsy, Vol.1
• 2010 Prince: 20TEN

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