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David Joseph Shelley (November 23, 1957 - August 10, 2015) was an American blues rock musician whose three decade career included performing with Cher and releasing two critically acclaimed CD's, Trick Bag (2013) and That's My Train (2012).

Early years
David Shelley was born in Santa Monica, California. His grandfather Buddy DeSylva, along with Glenn Wallichs and Johnny Mercer, founded Capitol Records in 1942. DeSylva also was known for writing such standards as "California Here I Come" and "The Best Things in Life Are Free." Shelley's mother, Martha Stewart, sang in big bands with Glen Miller and Harry James and acted on Broadway and in films and TV, including In a Lonely Place (1950) starring Humphrey Bogart. David began playing drums in high school in Florida and eventually took up guitar under the guidance of his friend Jeff Savage in California, who turned Shelley onto the blues via his extensive record collection.

1979: Ocean Sound Studio
Returning to Florida in 1979, Shelley founded Ocean Sound Studio, an eight track recording facility, with childhood friend Michael Couzzi (who would go on to engineer hit albums like Santana's Supernatural). Shelley played percussion live and in the studio with jazz artist Randy Bernsen, legendary bassist Jaco Pastorius and other local artists.

1982: Tishan
In 1982, David Shelley joined popular area reggae band Tishan as singer and guitarist. Shelley appeared on Tishan's 1982 LP "Tishan Reggae Music" and in videos for the band's songs.

1984: The David Shelley Band
In 1984, David left Tishan to front his own band, Special Forces (eventually renamed The David Shelley Band), performing his own "power-dance-reggae" material. The David Shelley Band was a regional success, opening for The Clash, reggae superstar Dennis Brown, The Kinks, Laura Branigan, Cheap Trick, Eddie Money and headlining Miami's Big Orange Festival. In February 1984, Shelley recorded a three song demo at Criteria Studios in Miami, produced by Ron and Howard Albert, best known for producing Stephen Stills' albums. Two more songs followed in October, recorded at New River Studios in Fort Lauderdale with producer Alan Blazak, who had recently hit with Glenn Frey`s Allnighter. David's then manager Arnie Wohl pressed the five songs on an LP that was distributed to regional record stores. Radio station WSHE (FM 103.5) added one of the songs, "She`s Only Rock `n` Roll", to its playlist and adopted it as a theme song. Major label MCA showed interest and financed David to record three more demo songs with Mike Couzzi and producer-writer Doug Shawe.

1985: MCA
Shelley moved to Los Angeles anticipating a deal and eventually signed with MCA in October 1985. For his major label debut, David Shelley worked with co-producers Gary Goetzman and Mike Picarillo, whose production credits included Smokey Robinson, Kim Carnes, the Staples Singers, Latoya Jackson and Talking Heads' concert film Stop Making Sense. Talking Heads member Jerry Harrison played keyboard on David's song "Battle of the Sexes". An album's worth of material was recorded, but upheaval from the label's involvement in the "indie" payola scandal of the 1980's (as depicted in the book "Hit Men" by

Discography

 * David Shelley & Bluestone
 * Trick Bag (2013)
 * That's My Train (2012)
 * Live at O'Hara's (2008)
 * Dave Shelley
 * And God Created Woman (1988)
 * David Shelley Band
 * David Shelley Band (1984)
 * with Tishan
 * Tishan Reggae Music (1982)
 * with other artists
 * Bonefish Johnny - Bonefish Johnny Sings The Blues (2015)
 * JP Soars - More Bees with Honey (2011)
 * Spirit Jam - The Stranger Within (2001)
 * Raiford Starke - Speak Me (1999)
 * Trog & Woody - Hey Dude, Let's Party (1986)
 * Randy Bernsen ‎– Music For Planets, People & Washing Machines (1985)
 * Compilations
 * Showcasing the Blues, Vol. 3 (2012)
 * As producer
 * Fiore - Kiss Me (2009)

Filmography

 * New Rose Hotel (1998)
 * Basquiat (1996)
 * Cher: Extravaganza - Live at the Mirage (1992)
 * And God Created Woman (1988)