Shelly Phelps

Artist Information

Biography

Oklahoma City songstress, Shelly Phelps, is alternately categorized as a sultry rhythm and blues chanteuse, a torchy jazz singer, or a thoughtful singer songwriter. However, her ever-present smoky and soulful voice croons, moans, and belts its way through every song.

Shelly Phelps was raised on the traditional country and southern gospel played in her parent’s rural Oklahoma home. The music of her older siblings also played a role in shaping what would become Phelps’s trademark soulful vocals and confessional songwriting style. “My parents were playing Hank Williams Sr while my sister was listening to 70’s singer songwriters like Simon and Garfunkle. My brothers had some Beatles and Rolling Stones albums. It all found it’s way into my music, but it was Rhythm and Blues, Motown, Soul and Jazz that spoke to my heart and altered my musical course. I fell madly in love with the music of Al Green, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday, Dusty Springfield, and Aretha Franklin.”

Phelps felt a pull to perform and express herself creatively at a very young age. “My grandfather was a musician” said Phelps, “He died when my Mother was a baby so I didn’t know much about him, but I knew he played fiddle and mandolin for town dances. I come from a huge family of musicians and music enthusiasts, so I know it is in my blood.” With music as her birthright, Phelps performed with a live band when she was only 6 years old. “I thought it seemed the most natural thing in the world, to be on stage singing.” reflects Phelps. She continued her musical path by starting her first band at the age of 15 and followed with a string of self-fronted bands such as The Rhythm Junkies and The Shelly Phelps Band.

Today, Phelps’s music is a blend of R&B, Soul, Jazz, and Rock. Reviews of her 2004 release, “Girl on the Wire” praised distinctive, smoky vocals, genuine soulfulness, and gutsy bravado. Her raw sensuality is delivered in “One More For the Road” and “Smoke and Perfume”, where she points out her own contradictions. She dares her lover to stay in “Holding the Door”, and suddenly you are in the seat next to her on a bus in the middle of a snowstorm in “Lonely Ride”. The title track commands us to “step right up, come on in, if you dare to look within” as Phelps allows us to take a peek into her own passions and insecurities.

In 2005, Phelps founded "The Oklahoma Songwriters Circle", a network of songwriters of all genres, ages, and experience who meet monthly to share their music and to celebrate the craft of songwriting. She recently launched a local GoGirls Chapter, an organization that promotes, supports, and empowers indie women in music through education and networking.

Phelps took a brief hiatus to join the cast of Carpenter Square Theatre's Fall 2010 production of "Sordid Lives", a play by award-winning playwright Del Shores. She portrayed guitar-slinging, ex-con singer, Bitsy Mae Harling in a tale of three generations of a family gathering for a funeral in a small Texas town.

This performing singing songwriter continues to find her audience through gripping and earthy lyrics, powerhouse vocals, and a steady stream of emotionally-connecting performances. Phelps is currently recording her jazz-influenced CD, "Beautiful and Burdened: 13 Vignettes about Seduction, Scandal, and Secrets".

Instrumentation

Shelly Phelps is a solo artists and has worked with many of Oklahoma's finest musician's. "Girl on the Wire" was recorded with Rob Vollmar (Lead Guitar) Warren Roach (Bass Guitar) and Erol Coulter (Drums) and Ryan Jones (keyboards)

Discography

~Girl On The Wire, 2004
~Girls Like You (Single), 2006
~A Wiser Woman (Single), 2009
~Beautiful and Burdened: 13 Vignettes about Seduction, Scandal, and Secrets, Coming in 2011

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace
• Twitter
• ReverbNation

Audio

• Smoke and Perfume
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• Lonely Ride
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• One More For The Road
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• Girl On The Wire
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Lyrics

• Smoke and Perfume
• Lonely Ride
• One More For The Road
• Girl On The Wire

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• "Girl On The Wire" CD Review [+ Show ]
  

  From the first blues-drenched guitar riff, Shelly Phelps' debut solo disc "Girl On The Wire", after ...From the first blues-drenched guitar riff, Shelly Phelps' debut solo disc "Girl On The Wire", after 2003's dissolution of the Rhythm Junkie's, pogoes from upbeat pop to soulful introspection on cuts like "Providence Moves Too" and the album's title track. Working with the rock-solid rhythm section of guitarist, Rob Vollmar, bassistt Warren Roach and drummer Erol Coulter, Phelps' distinctive smoky vocals wrap themselves around these barroom vignettes like so much satin." - Preston Jones, Oklahoma Gazette
  

• "Girl On The Wire" CD Review [+ Show ]
  

  The thing about Shelly Phelps is her versatility. She does it all. Yes, she is stronger in some genr...The thing about Shelly Phelps is her versatility. She does it all. Yes, she is stronger in some genres than others, but oh baby, when she does hit her groove, she tears it up.
  
  Girl on the Wire has it all as far as song styles, from a touch of funk to country, from samba to rock solid R&B. And Phelps’ smoky vocals handle each one, aided by her strong and steady three-piece backup, with an occasional fourth. But something special happens when she goes to R&B, the genre that she absolutely owns. Likewise when she brings any hint of this soul to the other tunes.
  
  One of the CD’s loveliest songs is the poignant “Lonely Ride,” with its country feel. But it’s the touch of power blues that she adds that really takes the tune to the level of perfection. That and her confidence; she brings a gutsy bravado to this piano-driven tune. Same goes for the title track, where her limber vocals mesh seamlessly with Rob Vollmar’s intrepid guitar. They get every one of these songs crankin’ on one level or another.
  
  Her torch song to the great Billie Holiday highlights her genuine soulfulness, as well as Ryan Jones’ sweet keyboards. Another favorite is the dazzling “Smoke and Perfume,” with its sultry samba feel and some scorching jazz chords, also well served by Phelps’ amazing soul groove. The longest cut is closer “Let it Go,” and oh yeah, does she let it go! Solid as a beam, with a nice gospel feel in the changes. Definitely a case of saving the best for last. This girl should be required by law to go R&B at least once in every performance. - Kevan Breitinger, Indie-Music.com

• Collective Soul [+ Show ]
  

  Songwriter Shelly Phelps' 'Songwriters' Get-Togethers' provide local musicians with a forum to discu...Songwriter Shelly Phelps' 'Songwriters' Get-Togethers' provide local musicians with a forum to discuss their ideas and the inspirations behind them.
  
  BY JILL TYDOR
  
  Six is Shelly Phelps' archetypal number. Six is the number of years her band The Rhythm Junkies entertained audiences with its eclectic sound. Six is the number in line Phelps held in a family of eight. But perhaps most importantly, Phelps was 6 years old when she wrote her first song.
  
  "I remember writing a song about a classmate that died," Phelps said.
  
  Since then, she has spent her life writing songs and building a music career. After the release of her CD "Girl On The Wire" in June, Phelps has gone back to the lyrical drawing board. She recently organized "Songwriter's Get-Togethers," held the third Wednesday of every month from 7-9 p.m. at the Deli On The Labyrinth, as a forum for sognwriters or aspiring songwriters to share ideas, thoughts and opinions.
  
  Sharon Taylor Wilson, Deli Music Coordinator, said a good audience participated when the get-togethers began but that time is necessary for a stronger following to grow.
  
  "It's kind of a building process," Taylor Wilson said, "You have to get the word our first."
  
  Phelps, an accomplished performer, said she collaborated with friends Wendy Allen and Ray Wyssmann to organize the meetings.
  
  "I simply missed the camaraderie I had in the past with other songwriters," Phelps said "(The get-togethers are) basically a "song swap" where we sit around a table, take turns playing a song and talk about the inpiration or story behind the song."
  
  Phelps and her band, which culminated after the dissolution of the Rhythm Junkies last year, play a variety of music, including rock, R&B, funk, jazz, pop and soul. Members Rob Vollmar, Warren Roach and Erol Coulter hail from Chickasha, and Ryan Jones, of Oklahoma City bank, The Ills, joined the group while members were recording "Girl On The Wire."
  
  Phelps' voice has been described as soulful, and she is quick to count Billie Holiday and Etta James as inpirations for tracks on her new CD. She remains well-rounded in the musical genre department with a stint as former vocalist for the Latino jazz band, Salsa Nueva on her resume as well.
  
  However, instead of the usual promotional frenzy and eventual hiatus following a CD release, Phelps chose to get back to writing.
  
  "Other songwriters inpire me." Phelps said. She also acknowledged that her siblings' musical preferences played a role in the music she later wanted to produce. Elton John, James Taylor, Carol King, the Beach Boys, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and a wide selections of country, bluegrass and Southern gospel all left fingerprints on "Girl On The Wire" tracks like "Lonely Ride" and "Water On The Fire?"
  
  Phelps said her get-togethers allow others with eclectic musical tastes to connect.
  
  "I wanted to provide an opportunity and atmosphere for songwriters to share songs, new ideas, get feedback and encouragement, network and just hang out." Phelps said. "Our first turnout combined different genres, ages and experience levels"
  
  Taylor Wilson said part of the Deli's appeal to musicians is its environment.
  
  "It's one of the few alcohol-free, smoke-free outlets for music," Taylor Wilson said. She said the music venue gives musicians a nice break from smoky clubs or bars and an opportunity to learn from others who share their musical interests.
  
  Phelps said get-togethers participants can get ideas from fellow musicians, But, she said the hardest part of songwriting isn't finding inspiration; it is not self-censoring what is produced.
  
  "There's a part of most of us that attempts to censor our words before they are ever written, and sometimes a song ends up different than we intended." Phelps said.
  
  Phelps said she doesn't look down on performers who don't perform their work.
  
  "To me, if the song is good and the singer is good, then all is right with the world," she said.
  Collective Soul
  

• Fan Review: Captivating [+ Show ]
  

  By Enrique So many positive things can be said about this album and about Shelly Phelps, for that m...By Enrique
  So many positive things can be said about this album and about Shelly Phelps, for that matter. I have heard several tracks from this album and they have all been dead on, from lyrics, to music, and most importantly to me, through the connection Shelly feels and expresses concerning the emotion laid out in and through her music. In particular, Lonely Ride has been added to a small, elite group of songs that I hold dear to my heart. Lonely Ride, in a very positive way, haunts me with its beauty and depth. I can feel myself in those lyrics and I can feel Shelly's honest approach at having gone through these experiences herself. The album as a whole is a very real, raw back-to-basics true artistic expressions of human emotion. There's everything from "feel-good" music (Smoke and Perfume) to depth (Lonely Ride) on this album...definitely something for everyone! Enjoy it as much as I do!

• Fan Review: Electric [+ Show ]
  

  By Cousin Billy The first time I heard Shelly's music I was some what shocked. As an artist, singer...By Cousin Billy
  The first time I heard Shelly's music I was some what shocked. As an artist, singer, songwriter myself, I can fully understand what it takes to produce an albumn of such quality. She is awesome; from here get down and make you feel it lyrics, to her suttle enchantment, Shelly delivers. I have seen her blow people down one minute and make them know that she really loves them the next. What more can I say!!!

• Fan Review: This Singer Grabs Your Heart! [+ Show ]
  

  By Dale Adams This CD draws the listener into Shelly's world with emotions that are real and words ...By Dale Adams
  This CD draws the listener into Shelly's world with emotions that are real and words that are true. Backed up by a band that is tight, polished and professional, these songs demonstrate the versatility of the artists, as they step across genre lines to express light and darkness, joy and sadness. Every song is a picture of life, and I can't wait to hear and see more.

Setlist

Shelly performs up to three hours of originally composed music complemented with covers by Soul, R&B, Rock, Jazz, and Blues artists. Small acoustic ensemble, from duo to quintet, can accomodate small to medium venues.

Originals:

~A Fool There Was
~A Wiser Woman
~Amargosa
~Another Way to Say Goodbye
~Beautiful and Burdened
~Censored
~Crumble
~Eleanora
~Gilded Frame
~Girl On The Wire
~Girls Like You
~Holding the Door
~Lonely Ride
~Lost Art
~Madame Zola
~Merci' Monseur
~Nine Sisters
~Nobody Knows
~One More For the Road
~Providence Moves Too
~She's Gonna Know
~Smoke and Perfume
~Smoking Jacket
~Someone Else's Map
~Speak Easy
~Tease Me
~Water On the Fire
~What Kind of Life

Basic Requirements

Calendar