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The incomparable. Shelly is the “not-so-secret” weapon that sets
us apart from other bands. She has the voice of an angel and an
alluring stage presence - someone who can stir the emotions of the
heart & soul, and rock the house when it’s time to tear it up. With a
voice capable of an awesome spectrum, she
manages to sound both airy and earthy at the same time. She also adds several percussion elements,
from tambourine to congas, that really help fill out the sound of the
band. Shelly is a special lady
and we’re lucky to have her. Without Shelly, we’re just a bunch of
Barndogs. She is the spirit that elevates the
band above the pack.
HERstory:
The Early Years
¯Shelly's
musical adventures begin by singing nursery rhymes with
her mom, dad, grandma, aunts and sister.
¯Early
memories also include singing at the top of her lungs
with her sister and cousins, and playing air instruments
to rousing renditions of 'One Bad Apple' (yes, The
Jackson Five) and 'C'mon Get Happy' (yes, The Partridge
Family).
¯"The day
my uncle brought home The Beatles' Sergeant Pepper's
Lonely Hearts Club Band and Tom Jones' What's New
Pussycat, we played them over and over until we knew all
of the words! (The printed lyrics didn't count 'cause I
couldn't read yet)."
¯In school,
Shelly was always in chorus. At nine years old she
sang "Black and White" by Three Dog Night in front of
her class.
¯14 years
old - Shelly has a secret wish to sing in a band but,
being very shy, she refused all advances. Finally, a
drummer who heard her singing to the radio (Fleetwood
Mac's 'Dreams') invites her to come sing in his band. She
is coaxed to "just come to practice to watch."
¯"I
couldn't resist strumming my vocal cords when Scott
leaned over with the mike to have me join in on the
chorus to Paul McCartney & Wings' Helen Wheels. That
was it. I discovered at the ripe old age of 14 this was
my calling, an urge I could not resist! My voice was
amplified and it was a powerful ego trip! I was hooked." |
The
'70's
¯"As a teen I'm not ashamed to say I really dug Tony Orlando and Dawn and I had a
famous stint with Jesus Christ Superstar. Yvonne Elliman kicked butt! Fleetwood
Mac had Stevie Nicks, my role model! Finally I found Rock and Roll with
Aerosmith's Rocks. Led Zeppelin, The Stones, Rush, The Outlaws, Genesis, Yes,
Grateful Dead, Peter Frampton, Steve Miller."
¯First band was called 'Crystal'.
¯Crystal
evolves into 'Quest'.
¯Quest
evolves into 'Justyn Tyme'.
The '80's
¯Shelly
is in a band called 'The Upstate Jets'. "I hated that
name!"
¯The
Upstate Jets change a couple of members to become
'Presence'
and finally 'Electric Blue'. |
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Electric Blue
¯Electric
Blue enjoyed entertaining Central New York for about 20
years with the late Jim Kulak.
¯Shelly
meets Mark in this band, and, later, Andy.
¯"I met
Mark during that time and was amazed when he learned our
songs in less than a week to play at a gig we had
booked for that weekend!" |
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The Remnants
¯Shelly,
Mark and Andy form 'The Remnants' when Electric Blue
disbands.
¯"But we
didn't want to be confused with the local metal band of
that name so we picked our current name." Shelly And The
Barndogs is born. "Now we get confused as a country
band..." |
What does Shelly think of Shelly & The
Barndogs?
"I've made each of the members of the band and their families a
place in my heart with my own family."
Someone
said:
¯"Shelly is
someone I admire and feel very fortunate to have shared the stage
with for the past 16 years."
¯"Shelly is
humble even as she takes her star turn and can’t help dancing while
the band plays." |
