Beau Shelby

Beau Shelby began to teach himself drums at age 8 and guitar at age 11. Formed his first band , JABON ,in 1977 and continued to learn from live professional concert performances and televised professional performances such as Don Kirshner ’s Rock Concert , Midnight Special and other shows that debuted and featured some of music’s most acclaimed Icons and Diva’s from the beginnings of their now well known careers. His “particularly blistering” style of lead and a “hela-funky” to “most-mellow” rhythm style has earned him a reputation among fellow musicians. Influences: Tony Maiden & Bobby Watson(Rufus & Chaka Khan) , Albert King, B.B. King, Curtis Mayfield,Ray Parker Jr.,Tito Jackson, Frank Zappa , Crusaders , Larry Carlton , Johnny Guitar Watson , George Benson, Earl Klugh , Donny Hathaway, Yes , Peter Frampton, The Bee Gees,Bobby Caldwell , Johnny Winter ,Bootsy Collins ,Eric Foreman(Homeboy) , Anthony Jackson , Lynyrd Skynyrd, “Wild Bill” Lawton(Homeboy), Leon Russel, Average White Band,Elton John, John Denver,Spinners,The Originals,Gap Band,Sly Stone, Larry Graham,Jimi Hendrix, Mountain,Robben Ford,Wynton Kelly,Rick Derringer,Maurice White,Return to Forever,The Eagles,Roy Buchanan,Ray Charles,Johnnie Taylor,Charlie Parker,Cannonball Adderly,Lester Young , Paul Chambers, Miles Davis , Mike Stern , Paul Schaeffer , Hiram Bullock, Arthur Adams , Tower Of Power , Black Oak Arkansas , Doctor John,Jim Messina,Bread,Muddy Waters , Elmore James , Joe Zawinul , Billy Preston , Steely Dan , Mahogany Rush ,Glenn Campbell , Barry Manilow , The Brothers Johnson ,The Commodores , The Barkays , Rufus Thomas , Joe Tex, Quincy Jones ,John Coltrane ,”Red” Garland , Jimmy Smith , Kansas and more. " I was fortunate to be one of five or six High School classmates chosen for an accelerated learning project. Music Theorist and Reed Master Don Thomas (Eastman Alumni), responding to our unanimous desire to get into Berklee College of Music ,took it upon himself to fashion a remarkably similar curriculum for us, one that would teach us to "...educate ourselves to any extent we desired for the rest of our lives..." and for that I'm very grateful.

His encouragement and initiative as a mentor has been invaluable to my continued growth to this day.