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Shaw's R&B Infused With Higher Power

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By CURTIS ROSS The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 26, 2007

The Lord must love old-school soul.

'This Is Ryan Shaw,' a collection of classic R&B remakes and originals that mesh perfectly with the oldies, might have had a different feel if Shaw hadn't had a little talk with the Lord beforehand.

Shaw's initial efforts were 'still kind of in the vein of what is popular today,' he says by telephone, calling from Kansas City, Mo., during a day off from touring.

But following 'a conversation with God,' Shaw's future came into focus.

'Through prayer, I knew what I should do: write songs like I want, not write like what would be on radio,' Shaw says.

With a deeply spiritual background, it's no surprise that Shaw would seek heavenly guidance.

But coming from a strict, religious household where secular music was forbidden, the Lord's answer might have come as a surprise.

Growing up in Georgia, Shaw's only contact with nonspiritual music was at the mall or in the grocery store. He grew up hearing and singing gospel music almost exclusively.

He attended college briefly before leaving to pursue an acting career. A role in writer-director Tyler Perry's 'I Know I've Been Changed' brought him to New York.

After the play closed, Shaw found work singing Marvin Gaye and Temptations hits at Manhattan's Motown Cafe. Later, he joined the Soul Shakers, a modern doo-wop group.

These experiences were Shaw's secular music baptism, but the water felt mighty familiar.

'It felt like music I've been singing my whole life,' Shaw says. 'Stylistically it's the same music. That allowed me to sing the way I was used to singing.'

The move made Shaw part of a lineage of gospel-trained singers such as Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin who took that style into the world of secular music.

Even more importantly, Shaw saw how audiences connected with the music.

'When I was singing with the Soul Shakers, I saw how people responded - overwhelmingly emotionally,' Shaw says.

Performing with the Soul Shakers also brought him to the attention of producers Jimmy Bralower and Johnny Gale, who helped Shaw delve even deeper into R&B's treasure troves.

'This Is Ryan Shaw' will delight soul aficionados with its selection of relatively obscure covers such as The Sharpees' 'Do the 45,' which opens the album.

More familiar numbers, such as the Falcons' 'I Found a Love,' a career-making performance by lead vocalist Wilson Pickett, put some heavy demands on the young singer.

'I found it difficult to sing it like Pickett,' Shaw says, adding that he wanted to 'stay true' to the original but still make it his own.

Finally, weariness won out. A worn-out Shaw substituted a lighter, soaring approach for Pickett's gritty soul.

'I couldn't sing it like he sang it,' Shaw says. 'I get creative when I get tired.'

Shaw's already planning another R&B album, this time with more originals. He'd also like to record a live gospel album.

For now, though, he'd like to hear 'This Is Ryan Shaw' on the airwaves.

'People say, 'I'm glad you're bringing back soul music,'' Shaw says. 'We're trying to kick down doors at radio. My music doesn't fit any format but really, it fits every format.'

Fittingly, Shaw's Tampa performance is presented by listener-supported radio station WMNF, 88.5 FM.

ON TOUR
Ryan Shaw
WITH: Bishop Wayne

WHEN: 8 p.m. today

WHERE: The Orpheum, 1902 Avenida Republica de Cuba (14th Street), Tampa; (813) 248-9500 or (813) 238-8001 (WMNF)

COST: $15

Curtis Ross can be reached at (813) 259-7568 or cross@tampatrib.com.

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