Guest Star: Stitely’s own Shana Gray

Today’s Guest Star is Stitely’s own Shana Gray. By day she works in Stitely Entertainment‘s office, but by night she is an accomplished singer and songwriter. Whether Shana is singing jazz, pop or folk, she brings her earth-shattering voice and contagious enthusiasm to every performance. From her contributions to numerous bands throughout the years to her solo endeavors, she is a woman on the move. Stitely was thrilled to be able to catch her in between gigs for this interview!

Stitely Entertainment: What music are you listening to right now?

Shana Gray: I tend to listen a variety; live performances from Youtube, KCRW’s Eclectic 24, Last FM radio, etc. This week I’m listening to 10CC, Burt Bacharach, Mark Ronson, and  from Jim Dinou & Danny Shaffer.

SE: Who or what inspired you to be a professional musician?

SG: My parents were both lifelong successful touring jazz musicians. While I was growing up, and to this day, they had a strong influence on me. I hold tremendous respect for them, risking whatever necessary to share, perform and express themselves positively through music. You might say I was born inspired, considering by junior high school I’d completed numerous fine arts summer programs and was ‘secretly singing’ in my bedroom every afternoon after school. Eventually I could no longer suppress my desire to sing publicly so I tiptoed out of my bedroom and into the real world. At that time radio was a huge influence on me, as well as the music-infused TV variety shows, all the singer/songwriter LPs, and scores from movie soundtracks. During  high school my band director also directed the marching band. He became my mentor because he was bombastic, sensitive, and really cared about student’s current interests and opinions. I thanked him by assisting in coordinating music students for his summer Fine Arts programs.

SE: What’s your craziest event story?

SG: While working for years as a freelance jobbing vocalist, I’ve witnessed a multitude of crazy situations. Once a bride called us on the cell phone on the way to the hotel ballroom who informed us she chose a new song for her first dance, which was to take place in roughly 45 minutes. I bought the tune, replayed it a good 10 times in a row, scribbling lyric cues on scratch paper, and on my palm in ink.  Forty-five minutes later after speeches and cake cutting the time had come for the first dance.  I glanced down at my hand and of course the ink had sweated off, and I could barely read my writing on the scratch paper.  But when the music started, I sang through the song and tried not to look nervous.  The vocal was convincing, but the band struggled since they were also working off self-written shorthand lead-sheets.  Afterward, everyone applauded the performance, and the party continued.  The situation felt crazy and out of control to me.  But it was in that moment when you learn the strength of your ensemble.  As competent musicians, we all want the music to be right, every time. Experiencing situations like these for many years wound up providing me with great tools for adapting, reassuring, customizing, and accommodating the needs of the client, and also served as a great reminder to leave my opinion at the door, unless asked. My job is to show up prepared, and to serve the party and client in the best way possible.

SE: Do you have any regular gigs?

SG: In the last 15 years so I’ve had numerous “steadies” in Chicago and Los Angeles.  It feels great to now schedule projects (recordings, live work, guest voice) when I’m in the mood to.  Currently, I’m co-writing locally and long-distance with musician/producers in Chicago and LA, and am in the infancy stages of writing a second record. My next full-band set will take place on October 13^th at Nichols Hall within the Music Institute in downtown Evanston with my group “Under The Radar” featuring some fantastic players. I’m also in the beginning stages of planning a third evening featuring the works of Joni Mitchell at either The Wilmette Theatre, or at SPACE in Evanston, in Jan/Feb of 2012.

SE: Do you play in any other groups?

SG: I’ve been involved in a number of successful original music groups including Brother Brother, Dish Water Lake, Peking Turtle, Kari Nelson Band, Miga, Ellen Rosner, Anne Harris, Jade Maze, and numerous others. As co-founder of Chicago’s long-running tribute band, Tributosaurus, I began a female version, entitled Ladies of the Canyon Present. I’m beyond proud that both projects are still running strong and selling to droves of devoted fans from Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.  I’ve served as a guest vocalist on numerous original artist’s recordings, written on spec for hire, won an an LA Music Award for songwriting, served as a longtime contributor, production assistant and host for various Chicago vocal showcases such as Chick Singer Night, Singer Spotlight, and The Local Vocal Brew. Also, in Los Angeles, I was actively involved in LAWIM (Los Angeles Women in Music). Selected  tracks from my 2006 recording “Valiant” are available at www.myspace.com/shanagray, and on SoundCloud via Facebook.  As you can see, I really enjoy playing with others!

SE: What was your first concert?

SG: My parents performed together (Mom on the piano & vocals, and Dad drumming) at the Ann Arbor Jazz Festival in 1967, when I was nine days old.  So technically, that was my first live show!  The first “big” concert I remember attending was Chicago at Pine Knob in Detroit, summer of 1972.  All I can remember from that night is running around doing cartwheels on the grass, feeling older because I got to stay up late, and taking in the great horn arrangements echoing off the pavilion and  tuning into the faceless vocal harmonies that sounded amazing.

SE: If you could share the stage with any musician, dead or alive, who would it be?

SG: Beyond impossible to answer this one, since I adore a myriad of styles, genres, and eras.  How about sharing a tune with Duke Ellington? Now he was a gent!

SE: You’re stuck on a desert island. Which three albums do you want with you?

SG: On any given day, I’d give you a different answer.  Today I’m feeling: Coltrane: A Love Supreme, Elton John: Captain Fantastic & the Brown Dirt Cowboy, Eric Satie: Gymnopedie.  Ask me next week and it might be Carmen McRae, Yes,  and The Who’s Quadrophenia : )

SE: Beatles or Stones?

SG: Though I did later gain an appreciation and real respect for the contributions of the Rolling Stones, for me it’s always been The Beatles.

Guest star: Stephanie Rogers – behind the music

Stephanie Rogers is known all over the city of Chicago for her award-winning music, and Stitely Entertainment is proud to have her as a regular performer.  Her band (The Stephanie Rogers Band) includes drums, bass, guitar, keys, sax and four vocalists, each with their own unique style.  We got a chance to chat with Stephanie, and she filled us in on her music background and favorites!

Stitely Entertainment:  Who or what inspired you to be a professional musician?

Stephanie Rogers:  I was an acting major in college, but was always intrigued by the singers and the musical theatre people in school. I grew up seeing Broadway shows and music was a huge part of my life as a kid. I never thought I could be a singer, but I fell into it when a rock band invited to me to be their lead singer. I worked really hard and found it to be so satisfying and varied, playing songs every night in different venues, as opposed to playing the same role in a play night after night.

SE:  What jobs did you have before turning to music?

SR:  I’ve had lots of regular jobs, including: teaching tennis, repping a photographer, managing an acting studio, teaching preschool, waiting tables and temping. Mainly, I was a commercial actor before I became a professional musician. Now I’m a mom and musician.

SE:  What’s your craziest event story?

SR:  We were at the Grand Hyatt and our bride got a little drunk before the first dance. She accidentally spilled a container of red wine all over the front of her Vera Wang gown. It was high drama for over an hour, in the bathroom, with five of us trying to get the stain out while the bride cried in the stall. At that very same wedding, someone was rushed away in an ambulance (I heard later that he was fine). The groom actually saved the party. He had an amazing attitude and got his new wife to laugh it off and enjoy her night. She put the stained, seltzer-soaked dress back on and they danced their first dance at 10:30pm.

SEt:  Do you have any regular gigs?

SR:  I am a part of one regular show called The Composer’s Series, at Katerina’s on Irving Park Road. We perform our own material and write impromptu songs based on audience suggestion. It’s a riot!

SE:  Do you play in any other groups besides the Stephanie Rogers Band? Tell us about them.

SR:  I play my original music regularly around Chicago. I have the same band for my original stuff, or sometimes I just play solo on piano and guitar, or with a guitarist named Danny Shaffer. I’ve just finished a new cd in Nashville that I’m promoting. I tend to perform my own music in the winter months when there are less private events and parties. Also, I sit in as a singer with other bands.

SE:  How did you become involved with music?

SR:  I was in a play in college and some of the guys from a campus band saw the play and asked me to audition for them. I joined the band (which featured Jeff Stitely on drums!) for a couple years, then another band, and another…and when I moved to LA in the 90s, I found myself doing more music than acting. When I was recovering in Chicago from thyroid cancer, I really thought about changing my

main focus to music. It felt right.

SE:  What was your first concert?

SR:  The Who, 1983!!! I was two.

SE:  If you could share the stage with any musician, dead or alive, who would it be?

SR:  It would be really cool to be at a rehearsal with Janis Joplin, to learn about how she brought such deep passion to her performances. I’d love to hang out and write a few songs with Pink. Also, I dream about working with a producer/performer named Jon Brion. His film soundtracks are unreal.

SE:  You are stuck on a desert island forever. Which three albums do you want with you?

SR:  I’m so sad that I hardly ever listen to whole albums anymore. I would definitely include “Pirates” by Rickie Lee Jones, “Skylarking” by XTC, “Aja” by Steely Dan, “Three Good Reasons” by my favorite Chicago band, Sons of The Neverwrong, maybe Van Morrison’s “Moondance,” or Tori Amos’s “Scarlet’s Walk” and anything by Stevie Wonder. That’s not really three, is it?

SE:  Beatles or Stones?

SR:  It always used to be Stones for me, with the cool swampiness of Keith’s guitar work, until I started to write songs more seriously. Then I realized the Beatles embodied an extremely high level of craft. I didn’t gain an appreciation of them until I was well into my 30s, but “Beast of Burden” is one of my favorite recordings just because of that guitar lick.