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Shawn "Thunder" Wallace is part of a new generation of musicians. He is a performer, recording artist, composer, clinician and educator and holds a Masters Degree in music. Although often referred to as a musician's musician, Shawn "Thunder" Wallace is a crowd pleasing performer enormously skilled in classical music and equally comfortable with traditional and contemporary jazz and Christian music. He has been seen and heard nationally on CBS, BET, NBC and NPR. In addition to receiving recognition by many newspapers and publications including Billboard Magazine and Contemporary Christian Music Magazine, he is a winner of The Downbeat Magazine outstanding soloist award.
Wallace is a gifted music performer, composer and arranger who began studying Classical and Jazz music with his father at age six and composing at seven. At nine he was performing with high school bands and at ten he received a scholarship to Michigan State University's Fine Arts Camp. By twelve he was appearing as guest soloist with various professional big bands. At fourteen he recorded his first album "The New and The Old" and broke on to the major jazz scene appearing at the Montreux/Detroit International Jazz Festival (where he has subsequently made numerous feature appearances) at sixteen his second release "A Whole Lot of Thunder" , at eighteen, his third release "Crying Melodies" and at nineteen his fourth release, "And The Music Lives On". He has since released, "In Search of You," Nega-Thunder Live vol. 1," and "The Way Home." Since age thirteen Thunder has lead several bands including The Shawn "Thunder" Wallace Quartet, The East End Orchestra, The Gospel Jazz Review, and Infusion.
He has awe stricken crowds at many major festivals and concerts and has opened for or shared the stage with, Wynton Marsalis, The Lincoln Center Band, Dr. Billy Taylor, Spyro Gyra, Max Roach, Enrico Rava, Tom Harrell, Victor Wooten and his brotherly band, Branford Marsalis, Conrad Herwig, Andre Hayword, Ray Charles, Ramsey Lewis, Jack McDuff, Stanley Turrentine, James Carter, Hank Marr, Bob Hurst, Bob Berg, Martha and the Vandellas, Jeff Coffin from Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Aretha Franklin, Manhattan Transfer, Mike Stern, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, J.D. Blair, Steve Bailey, Bill "The Buddha" Dickens, Bermard Purdie, Larry Coryell, Rodney Whitaker (plays in the Lincoln Center Band), Marcus Belgrave, Byron Stripling, Speech from Arrested Development, The New York Voices, Yolanda Adams, Mary Mary, The Singleton's, The Temptations, The Four Tops, and many others. THUNDER has appeared on the "Donahue Show" (NBC) and the BET program "Jazz Central" hosted by Dr. Billy Taylor and Lou Rawls and another BET broadcast.
Additionally, THUNDER received the 1996 and 2001 Downbeat Magazine Outstanding Instrumental Jazz Soloist Award and the 1997 Downbeat Magazine Instrumental Jazz Soloist Winner Award.The CBS NEWS SUNDAY MORNING SHOW has recently broadcasted a feature profile program on the life of SHAWN "THUNDER" WALLACE, recorded at various locations around the country.
As a result of commitment, dedication and self-sacrifice, Shawn effectively juggles an enormously demanding schedule and lifestyle. In addition to aggressively pursuing a career as a professional performer/band leader and composer, he is extremely active in his church and faith. He served as a graduate assistant/instructor and recruiter at Western Michigan University, was a part-time faculty member at Kalamazoo College (Kalamazoo Michigan) and taught privately. He recently received a Master's degree in Music Performance from Western Michigan University and is now a Professor of Music at The Ohio State University.
THUNDER's skills have been recognized by numerous newspapers and magazines including Downbeat Magazine, Billboard Magazine, Jazz Times Magazine, Cadence Magazine, The Saxophone Journal, USA Today, National Public Radio and many others.
* "World Class"...Lansing State Journal
* "Stunning, mesmerizing performance"...Detroit Free Press
* "Awe-inspiring intellect"...Michigan Council For The Arts
* "A monumental talent"...Ramsey Lewis
* "The future of the music is in great hands with Thunder"...Max Roach
* "He's already a monster"...The Ann Arbor News
* "Here's a musician to watch"...Cadence Magazine
* "Complete facility with the instrument"...Dr. Billy Taylor
* "Admirably polished album...should help establish him as one of the most-talented young composers around"...Billboard Magazine
* "a future so bright, he's gotta wear shades"...Contemporary Christian Magazine
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