Jennifer Shelton

Bio:

Biography

Classically trained from a very early age, Shelton made her first stage performance when she was just five years old. At the age of 11 she began competitive Scottish Highland Dancing, which was the beginning of her passion for Celtic music. She has the superb control and vocal quality that one would expect after years of continuous vocal coaching as well as classical training at East Carolina University, where she earned her degree in Music Education.

Everything changed for Shelton when she began studying at the School of Scottish Studies in Edinburgh, Scotland. She used her classical training and her love of traditional Celtic music, added her own contemporary twist, and developed the unique Celtic style heard on her CDs and in her live performances.

Two years of gigging in the pubs of Ireland helped to develop her infectious vocal style and delightfully fresh stage personality. Now performing internationally, she has been reaching out to a rapidly growing fan base with a live performance that comes straight from the heart.

Shelton puts her hard-earned keyboard and guitar skills to use in a wide range of music that includes traditional Gaelic songs from the western highlands of Scotland as well as contemporary Celtic songs written by Dougie MacLean, Jimmy MacCarthy and John Spillane. She blends a stunning vocal range with a sensitivity and warmth that turns her audience into Celtic music fans.

Her talent was recently rewarded with a CAMMY nomination as Best New Artist, and she gained the slot in a performance with Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas in the 2004 show of Rhythms of Scotland; the same talent is now being captured on disc - Shelton's fifth CD, A Thousand Curses upon Love, is now available on Sabas Records (www.sheltonmusic.com).

www.jenniferlicko.com
www.sheltonmusic.com

Shelton has made several recordings including: Cave of Gold, Language of the Gaels, Celtic Moonsongs for Sydney and is currently working on a new Celtic influenced recording. Now residing in Brazil, she continues to perform and study music of other cultures.

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Influences:

Discography:
~Cave of Gold- Solstice records 1999
~Language of the Gaels'-Sabas Records 2003
~Not That Girl -Sabas Records 2003
~Celtic Moonsongs-Sabas Records 2003
~single: Can’t Help Lovin’-One20 Inc compilation CD “live, Laugh, and Love”

Vision of heart:
Sponsored by Swansboro United Methodist Church, Jennifer Shelton founded and produced a Christmas Benefit Concert for lids4kids. Her purpose was to increase awareness of this wonderful program that provides hats for Children undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, and to raise money for the program to expand outside of North Carolina. This has become an annual Christmas event.

Fan Reviews:
~She has a purity of tone that I have come to equate with the quintessential female Celtic singer-Donna Adams-Profeta, Celtic Harpist
~You were amazing, and that you sat and chatted with us shows you love your fans.-Shannon Allen
~What a wonderful sound! Your voice/guitar/keyboard/bodhran, the arrangements, the fiddler, bass/keyboard player were all phenomenal. Thank you for a magical experience. And we enjoyed your stories and sense of humor!-Christine Martin

CD Reviews:
-Dennis Halsey
..The Best Female Musicians..
Not being well versed in traditional Celtic music I was a bit pensive about writing a review of this style of music, but as I sip on my Sunday morning coffee and listen to ‘Cave of Gold’ I find myself relaxing, enjoying Jennifer’s flawless voice and finding the roots that are similar in traditional to American Folk music. For the fan of the Celtic tradition Jennifer sticks to them with a truth and obvious love of the music.

-Virginia MacIsaac
..Rambles, Cultural arts magazine..
This smooth and professional presentation allows one to recognize the beauty and appreciate the importance of this folk music at another level. (Get yourself up off the pub floor.) Here’s a recording that’s carefully produced and full of tradition. I enjoyed every selection.

Website:
http://www.jenniferlicko.com

music@jenniferlicko.com
561 670 5534
PO Box 622 Swansboro NC 28584
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Sounds Like:

Jennifer Shelton's intimate vocals along with her percussive guitar style, Scottish dancing, bodhran playing and piano skills makes her one of North Carolina's favorite performers.

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