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LaNelle's love of honky-tonk music
can be traced back to her Aunt Mabel's honky-tonk on the outskirts of
Richmond, Virginia. As a child in the 50s and 60s, LaNelle would
listen intently from the upstairs apartment to the din of the patrons,
the tinkling of beer bottles, and the strains of the jukebox playing
the likes of Webb Pierce, Loretta Lynn, George Jones, and Connie Smith.
In the early 1980s LaNelle found her way to square dance calling,
clogging, and has performed with a number of prize-winning old-time
bands in the U.S. and abroad. She has been involved in theatre
productions of Good Ol' Girls and Vagina Monologues. When not playing
music she collaborates with Virginia Bullman making large concrete
sculptures. |
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Virginia's early and long lasting influences are traced to her Mom's love of
the pop and swing hits of the 50's from artists such as Doris Day and Nat
King Cole and memories of her Dad's collection of country LP�s namely Ernest
Tubb, Webb Pierce and Kitty Wells. As a teen, inspiration came from
rock-n-roll and Motown hits as those melodies and rhythms led to more
soulful and passionate vocal stylings. Virginia loves singing and playing
it all. As a founding member of regional
favorite Virginia and the Carolinians playing old time and bluegrass,
vocalist/ cast musician for musical theater productions of
"Savage Love" and "Millworker" and former vocalist with
a local all girls doo wop group "Floppy and the Disketts",
Virginia brings to The Shelbys an experience of songs and
genre that enriches the quartets' interpretation of songs from A to Z
whether its the pre-war blues, swing, rock-a-billy, gospel or early
traditional country.
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Chip Shelby, raconteur, and rhythmic foundation of The Shelbys, began his
drumming adventure under the tuteledge of Mr. James Sutterfield, band
director, at Edenton High School in North Eastern North Carolina. Much to
Mr. Sutterfields' consternation, Chip fell under the influence of Ringo
Starr and Charley Watts. His first rock and roll band, King Lizard, came
together while wiling away the hours during high school. Chip was a
founding member of Southern Culture on the Skids, along with Stan Lewis,
The Shelbys, recording engineer. While Chip was a member, SCOTS appeared on
shows with Asleep at the Wheel, Alex Chilton and NRBQ. Chip has also been a
first place winner at the North Carolina State Fair for his homemade grape
jelly. |
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John Worthington, guitar and mandolin, has been a student and performer of a
variety of American musical styles, including blues, soul, bluegrass and
traditional country, for over thirty-five years. He has accompanied, on stage,
such diverse performers as New Orleans R&B legends The Dixie Cups (when he was 16),
bluegrass and traditional artists Mac Wiseman and John McCutcheon. Through the
years, his bands have opened concerts for The Drifters, John Anderson and Jr.
Walker and the All Stars. He has recorded and performed with bluegrass and
traditional singer/songwriter Alice Gerrard. John has also been involved in
musical theater including "The Devil's Dream", "Good Ol'
Girls" and "A Three-Penny Opera".
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