Shannon (singer)
Encyclopedia
Shannon is an American
singer
. She is best known for her 1983 million-selling record
, "Let the Music Play". The record re-defined the electro funk sound that would eventually be called freestyle music
.
and toured with the New York Jazz Ensemble. Quintin Hicks, an associate of the production
team of Mark Liggett and Chris Barbosa
, later saw Shannon singing with a live band in her cousin's recording studio
. Shannon auditioned for Liggett and Barbosa with the song "She Can't Love You Like I Do". They introduced her to the track "Fire and Ice", which would later evolve into Shannon's signature song
, "Let the Music Play". This title would also be applied to Shannon's debut album
.
In July 1983, the "Let the Music Play" single was released and Shannon was invited back to record
more songs with Liggett and Barbosa. The single
reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 (POP) and #1 on the Billboard"s United States R&B and Hot Dance and Club Play Chart chart
. Today, it is ranked #23 among Billboard's best dance songs of all time.
Her debut album, Let the Music Play
, was released in February 1984. The follow-up single from the album was "Give Me Tonight", which hit the top spot on the Hot Dance, Club Play and R&B chart. It also became a significant hit on Urban
radio
. It was one of Billboard's top 30 dance songs for the year 1984. In the U.S., the third single was "My Heart's Divided", another Latin freestyle track, featuring Jimi Tunnell as one of the back up vocalists. "Sweet Somebody", a mid-tempo soul
effort, made the Top 20 in Europe
.
Let the Music Play went on to sell over 8 million copies worldwide. Shannon was nominated for a Grammy
and received numerous other awards, including the Dianah Washington (Jack the Rapper) Award, the Hall of Fame Award, the Gold Ampex Reel Award, a certified gold disc
by the Recording Industry Association of America
, and the Best Billboard Top 10 female R&B vocalist.
In 1985, Shannon released her second album, Do You Wanna Get Away
, which sported a sound similar to that of her debut album. The title track became her third #1 on the Dance charts and became her third hit on the Billboard Hot 100. She scored three more dance
hits from the album, including "Stronger Together", a cover
of "Urgent" by Foreigner
, and "Stop the Noise", with a video
sponsored by Pepsi
and Black Angus. Her third album was 1986's Love Goes All the Way
. Shannon was Executive Producer against all odds.
Shannon asked to be released from her recording contract
with Atlantic Records
in 1987. She recorded soundtracks and jingles, Criminal", for the movie
Fatal Beauty
and Budweiser . While touring the world, Shannon attended and graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
in New York City
.
In the late 1990s interest in Shannon rekindled, when VH1
spotlighted her on their One Hit Wonders series. Entertainment Tonight
also taped a special about her life. In 1998, she co-wrote and sang on multi tracks produced by Todd Terry, Tony Moran, Germany's Sash & Les Rythmes Digitales.
In 1999, Shannon released her fourth studio album, The Best Is Yet to Come, on which she is credited as 50% writer of the album (contracted by BMG). Chris Barbosa was invited back as a producer, along with Andy "Panda" Tripoli and Tony Moran
. A greatest hits
album was released in November 2004 without Shannon's knowledge and agreement.
On April 20, 2006, Shannon participated in the Freestyle Extranvaganza
concert
along with Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
, The Cover Girls
, Coro
, and Stevie B.. The event was sponsored by WKTU
, WSKQ, and WCAA
in New York.
A fifth studio album, "A Beauty Returns", was released in 2007 without the knowledge and agreement of Shannon.
Today Shannon is a voting member of the Grammys (Recording Academy) touring the world (Kuwait, Badghdad and Iraq) with the US Soldiers. She is also in the studio working on new hits for the year 2010.
* - "Do the Wrong Thing"Afrika Bambaataafeat. Shannon illegal release
** - Todd Terry
featuring Shannon
*** - Sash!
featuring Shannon
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
. She is best known for her 1983 million-selling record
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
, "Let the Music Play". The record re-defined the electro funk sound that would eventually be called freestyle music
Freestyle music
Freestyle or Latin freestyle, sometimes referred to as Latin hip hop, is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1980s. Mostly popular during the mid 80s to the early 90s...
.
Biography
In the spring of 1983, Greene was enrolled at York CollegeYork College
York College could refer to:*York College, City University of New York Jamaica, New York*York College York, Nebraska*York College of Pennsylvania York, Pennsylvania*York College York, UK*University of York UK...
and toured with the New York Jazz Ensemble. Quintin Hicks, an associate of the production
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
team of Mark Liggett and Chris Barbosa
Chris Barbosa
Chris Barbosa is a producer from New York who redefined electro funk as Latin freestyle in the early 1980s with Shannon's "Let the Music Play".- Early career :...
, later saw Shannon singing with a live band in her cousin's recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
. Shannon auditioned for Liggett and Barbosa with the song "She Can't Love You Like I Do". They introduced her to the track "Fire and Ice", which would later evolve into Shannon's signature song
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
, "Let the Music Play". This title would also be applied to Shannon's debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
.
In July 1983, the "Let the Music Play" single was released and Shannon was invited back to record
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
more songs with Liggett and Barbosa. The single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 (POP) and #1 on the Billboard"s United States R&B and Hot Dance and Club Play Chart chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
. Today, it is ranked #23 among Billboard's best dance songs of all time.
Her debut album, Let the Music Play
Let the Music Play (Shannon album)
-2006 CD reissue bonus tracks:-Chart positions:-Production:*Executive Producer: Sergio Cossa*Produced by Mark Liggett & Chris Barbosa*Recorded and Engineered by Frank Heller & Jay*Mixed by Chris Barbosa & Chris Lord-Alge*Mastered by Herb Powers Jr....
, was released in February 1984. The follow-up single from the album was "Give Me Tonight", which hit the top spot on the Hot Dance, Club Play and R&B chart. It also became a significant hit on Urban
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
. It was one of Billboard's top 30 dance songs for the year 1984. In the U.S., the third single was "My Heart's Divided", another Latin freestyle track, featuring Jimi Tunnell as one of the back up vocalists. "Sweet Somebody", a mid-tempo soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
effort, made the Top 20 in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Let the Music Play went on to sell over 8 million copies worldwide. Shannon was nominated for a Grammy
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
and received numerous other awards, including the Dianah Washington (Jack the Rapper) Award, the Hall of Fame Award, the Gold Ampex Reel Award, a certified gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
, and the Best Billboard Top 10 female R&B vocalist.
In 1985, Shannon released her second album, Do You Wanna Get Away
Do You Wanna Get Away (album)
- 2006 CD reissue bonus tracks :- Chart positions :...
, which sported a sound similar to that of her debut album. The title track became her third #1 on the Dance charts and became her third hit on the Billboard Hot 100. She scored three more dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
hits from the album, including "Stronger Together", a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Urgent" by Foreigner
Foreigner (band)
Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm...
, and "Stop the Noise", with a video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
sponsored by Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
and Black Angus. Her third album was 1986's Love Goes All the Way
Love Goes All the Way
Love Goes All The Way is the third release from Shannon on Atlantic Records. The album, which was executive produced by the artist, was released in October of 1986...
. Shannon was Executive Producer against all odds.
Shannon asked to be released from her recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in 1987. She recorded soundtracks and jingles, Criminal", for the movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Fatal Beauty
Fatal Beauty
Fatal Beauty is a 1987 American action film starring Whoopi Goldberg and Sam Elliott, directed by Tom Holland. The screenplay was written by Hilary Henkin and Dean Riesner. The original music score was composed by Harold Faltermeyer, of Top Gun fame. The film was marketed with the tagline "An...
and Budweiser . While touring the world, Shannon attended and graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
The American Academy of Dramatic Arts is a fully accredited two-year conservatory with facilities located in Manhattan, New York City – at 120 Madison Avenue, in a landmark building designed by noted architect Stanford White as the original Colony Club – and in Hollywood, California...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
In the late 1990s interest in Shannon rekindled, when VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
spotlighted her on their One Hit Wonders series. Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight is a daily tabloid television entertainment television news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. Linda Bell Blue is currently the program's executive producer...
also taped a special about her life. In 1998, she co-wrote and sang on multi tracks produced by Todd Terry, Tony Moran, Germany's Sash & Les Rythmes Digitales.
In 1999, Shannon released her fourth studio album, The Best Is Yet to Come, on which she is credited as 50% writer of the album (contracted by BMG). Chris Barbosa was invited back as a producer, along with Andy "Panda" Tripoli and Tony Moran
Tony Moran
Anthony "Tony" Moran is a remixer/producer and DJ known for remixing popular songs. In 2007, he hit number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart with "Walk Away" featuring Kristine W.-Career:...
. A greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
album was released in November 2004 without Shannon's knowledge and agreement.
On April 20, 2006, Shannon participated in the Freestyle Extranvaganza
Freestyle music
Freestyle or Latin freestyle, sometimes referred to as Latin hip hop, is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1980s. Mostly popular during the mid 80s to the early 90s...
concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
along with Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
Lisa Lisa and her band Cult Jam were an urban contemporary band and one of first freestyle music groups to emerge from New York City in the 1980s. Cult Jam consisted of guitarist/bassist Alex "Spanador" Moseley, and drummer/keyboardist Mike Hughes...
, The Cover Girls
The Cover Girls
The Cover Girls is a New York City-based freestyle-urban-dance-pop girl group that achieved the majority of its chart success in the late 1980s and early 1990s...
, Coro
Coro (singer)
Coro is a Latin freestyle singer and actor of Cuban and Dominican heritage, who first had roles in numerous episodes of the star's hit television series, Miami Vice. While appearing on Vice, Coro struggled to put together a group to get his singing career off the ground...
, and Stevie B.. The event was sponsored by WKTU
WKTU
WKTU is a radio station based in New York City that plays an upbeat, gold-based CHR format. The station's broadcast transmitter is located on the top of the Empire State Building and its city of license is Lake Success, New York, with offices formerly in the "Newport" section of Jersey City, New...
, WSKQ, and WCAA
WCAA
WXNY-FM is a radio station that broadcasts a Spanish language format. It is licensed to Univision Radio at 96.3 FM, and airs in the New York City metropolitan area.-History:...
in New York.
A fifth studio album, "A Beauty Returns", was released in 2007 without the knowledge and agreement of Shannon.
Today Shannon is a voting member of the Grammys (Recording Academy) touring the world (Kuwait, Badghdad and Iraq) with the US Soldiers. She is also in the studio working on new hits for the year 2010.
Singles
| Title (Year) | Position U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
Position UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
Position U.S. R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
Position U.S. Dance Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Let the Music Play" (1983) | 8 | 13 | 2 | 1 |
| "Give Me Tonight Give Me Tonight "Give Me Tonight" is a 1984 song released as a single by Shannon, an American R&B and dance artist. Released as the follow-up single to her smash debut single, "Let the Music Play," "Give Me Tonight" was not as successful as its predecessor on the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at #46... " (1984) |
46 | 24 | 6 | 1 |
| "My Heart's Divided My Heart's Divided "My Heart's Divided" is the third single from freestyle singer Shannon's debut album Let the Music Play.-Track listing:US 12" Single-Charts:... " (1984) |
48 | 3 | ||
| "Sweet Somebody Sweet Somebody "Sweet Somebody" is the fourth single from freestyle singer Shannon's debut album Let the Music Play.-Track listing:Germany 12" singleUK 12" Single-Charts:... " (1984) |
25 | |||
| "Do You Wanna Get Away" (1985) | 49 | 13 | 1 | |
| "Stronger Together Stronger Together "Stronger Together" is the second single from freestyle singer Shannon's second album Do You Wanna Get Away.-Track listing:US 12" Single-Charts:... " (1985) |
46 | 26 | 25 | |
| "Stop the Noise" (1985) | ||||
| "Urgent" (1985) | 84 | 68 | ||
| "Love Goes All the Way" (1986) | ||||
| "Prove Me Right" (1986) | 82 | |||
| "Dancin'" (1987) | 91 | |||
| "It's Got To Be Love" (1995) | ||||
| "Do the Wrong Thing" *(1996) | ||||
| "It's Over Love" **(1997) | 16 | 1 | ||
| "Move Mania" ***(1999) | 8 | |||
| "Give Me Tonight 2000" (2000) | 3 | |||
| "Let the Music Play 2000" (2000) |
Todd Terry
Todd N. Terry is an American DJ, producer, and remixer.-Career:Terry's productions extensively used samples blending the sounds of classic disco, the Chicago sound, and elements of hip-hop....
featuring Shannon
Sash!
SASH! is a German DJ / producer team, fronted by Sascha Lappessen , who works in the recording studio with Ralf Kappmeier and Thomas "Alisson" Lüdke. They have sold over 18 million albums worldwide and earned more than 65 Gold and Platinum awards.-History:Sascha Lappessen, Thomas "Alisson" Lüdke,...
featuring Shannon
Albums
- 1984 Let the Music PlayLet the Music Play (Shannon album)-2006 CD reissue bonus tracks:-Chart positions:-Production:*Executive Producer: Sergio Cossa*Produced by Mark Liggett & Chris Barbosa*Recorded and Engineered by Frank Heller & Jay*Mixed by Chris Barbosa & Chris Lord-Alge*Mastered by Herb Powers Jr....
- Mirage/Atlantic RecordsAtlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz... - 1985 Do You Wanna Get AwayDo You Wanna Get Away (album)- 2006 CD reissue bonus tracks :- Chart positions :...
- Mirage/Atlantic Records - 1986 Love Goes All the WayLove Goes All the WayLove Goes All The Way is the third release from Shannon on Atlantic Records. The album, which was executive produced by the artist, was released in October of 1986...
- Atlantic Records - 1996 Essential Dancefloor Artists - Deep Beats
- 2000 The Best Is Yet to Come - Contagious Records
- 2004 Let the Music Play: The Best of Shannon - Shout Factory
- 2007 A Beauty Returns - Diggin4Brown
See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart