Biography
The recipient of a Grammy Nomination, an MTV Video Award, The 2005 Artist for a Better World award, and the 2006 "Spirit of Youth" award, Nadirah Shakoor is best known as the former lead female vocalist of acclaimed hip hop group Arrested Development. In the last 13 years she has become well known and loved as the featured female vocalist of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band.
A seasoned professional, Nadirah has performed for thousands at stadiums, and such mega concert events as Lalapalooza, Womad and Woodstock II, not to mention the millions who have experienced one of her sultry, earthy performances on television. In more intimate venues her voice and style have been described as smooth, yet powerful and captivating.
Nadirah has traveled the world singing with major recording artist such as: Jimmy Buffett, Arrested Development, Al Jarreau, Janet Jackson, Speech, Paula Abdul, Jasmine Guy, Milli Vanilli, and Howard Hewet.
Nadirah's band "Outside Art, is made up of 5 very talented musicians. together their sound is one reminiscent of Old School Soul flavored by hot dance beats, African rhythms a little jazz and a little southern Rock paying homage to her Texas roots.
Instrumentation
Nadirah Shakoor - Lead Vocals
Eric Sinclair - Keyboards,
Rasheed Shakoor - Drums
Rick Meeder - Bass/vocals
Peter Graham - Guitar
Wayne Viar & Olmeca Washington - Percussions
Discography
Nadirah's new CD "Nod to the Storyteller", released October, 2008 is a tribute to her employer for the last 13 years Jimmy Buffett. You can listen to Nod to the Storyteller in it's entirety at MailboatRecords.com.
A very diverse artist and songwriter Nadirah also collaborates with her long time friend, world-renowned producer, Osunlade, in the World Music genre known as “House”. Their songs Tree of Life, Pride, U Touched My Soul, Love Song, and Just A Breath Away were each released as singles on the Yoruba Records label and are quickly becoming dance classics.
As a member of Arrested Development Nadirah is featured on three albums CD 'Zingalamaduni', MTV Unplugged CD /DVD, Woodstock II and Arrested Development's Greatest Hits.
She also sang on at least the last dozen Jimmy Buffett CDs.
Nadirah indepently released her first solo CD; “Nadirah Songs” in 1995. It yielded three songs that were placed in films. “ Purpose to Be” a collaboration with British writer Adrian Gurvitz, was placed in the film 'At First Sight', starring Val Kilmer. "Break Away" was featured in the Television film "In Dark Places" and her song "Endangered Species" is the soundtrack for the independent short film "Endangered Species".
In 1998 her second CD “Soul Power” was released by Toshiba/EMI Japan, and in 2001 she released another independent CD called “Obsessed With Peace” which is a compilation of songs previously released as singles on the Yoruba Records Label.
Sonny Landreth's 2008 release "From the Reach" features Nadirah as a guest artist, other guests include Eric Clapton, Mark Knofler, and Jimmy Buffett.
Percussionist/songwriter Ralph MacDonald featured Nadirah as guest artist on 3 of his last four CDs. She is the featured vocalist on Robert Greenidge's "From the Heart CD" as well as the smaller version of the Coral Reefer Band known as Club Trini's last 2 CDs.
Some of Nadirah's other recording credits either as a guest artist or back up vocalist include: Quincy Jones, Madonna, Belinda Carlyle, Phyllis Hyman, Phillip Bailey, Jasmine Guy, Jermaine Jackson, Jodie Watley, Club Trini, Speech, and Siedah Garrett.
Links
| http://www.myspace.com/ReeferetteNadirah |