Shawn Z.

Shawn Z. is an American Folk Rock/Americana singer and guitarist. He is a member of the Americana Music Association.[1]

Shawn Z.
Shawn Z. (right) performing live on May 13, 2008.
Background information
GenresAmericana, Alternative country, Outlaw Country, Roots Rock, Folk Rock
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrumentsvocals, acoustic guitar
LabelsGypZee
Associated actsThe Badlees
Website

Early years

Shawn's mother is an avid music fan. Playing her favorite records frequently in the house and having the radio on whenever in the car, Shawn became very interested in storytelling through songs.

His father was a traveling musician, a guitar player, bass player and vocalist. He traveled across the U.S. in various bands "paying his dues" in the club scene.

Shawn had a band called "Elmo Lincoln" that played local bars and clubs and later changing the name to "South 40". One afternoon, while playing a benefit show, his father was also playing with his band at the same show. Shawn and his father finally got together and decided to leave their bands and form a new band called "BFD". The band became popular in the Northeast region rapidly.

Finally, Shawn and his father were together and doing what they love.

After ongoing disputes with other band members, they both left the band 8 years later and formed "The Cojones Brothers" – an acoustic duo. Finally performing originals along with favorite cover songs.

"The Cojones Brothers" rose fast on the scene and their schedule became even more demanding for performing.

In 2003, after a drunken dispute at a New Year's Eve show, "The Cojones Brothers" were no more.

It was then that Shawn began performing more solo shows.

Shawn and his father went their separate ways musically, but still performed together for a show once in a while.

His father later died in August 2007.

Radio

In Shawn's teenage years, he started DJ’ing at a local teen center after school and on weekend nights. He then got introduced to radio by his soon to be Step-Father and learned the ropes of an "on-air jock" at WKBG-FM in Hallstead, Pennsylvania.

While in his early high school years, he was asked to come to WTLQ-FM in Pittston, Pennsylvania for overnights on weekends and help with promotions. Shawn also started DJing at a roller rink in Dallas, Pennsylvania at the same time.

Shawn then moved, once again, to Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania. After his position at WTLQ-FM had ended, he applied for another radio position at Tunkhannock radio station WEMR. He was accepted immediately for weeknights. It was then the on-air name "Shawn Shannon" was born.

Shawn was still DJing at the roller rink, attending school and working full-time nights at WEMR AM&FM when his schedule started to wear him down. He soon left the roller rink dj job.

In 1995, his son, Joseph, was born while he was doing his air shift. He left right after the phone call and got to the hospital to see his first born.

A few years later, WEMR AM&FM was bought out by the national corporate radio company Citadel Broadcasting. Citadel had decided to abandon the WEMR format and went to simulcast one of their other stations on the WEMR frequencies. Along with the format, many of the staff of WEMR were also let go.

Citadel, however, wanted to keep Shawn on their staff. So they moved him to their Northeast Pennsylvania headquarters to help with current station buyouts, format changes, on-air duties, station imaging help and production duties.

This new position in his radio career didn't really make Shawn happy. After a few years at Citadel, Shawn wanted to expand his skills and changed his radio duties to part-time.

It was then that Shawn started feeling 'something wasn't right' with his health. But let it go.

After dealing with his increasing health concerns, Shawn finally went to see a doctor. Then discovered he had Lupus and Emphysema. Those diagnoses forced Shawn to take time off of his daily work schedule and focus on his health while continuing to see specialists for his health issues. Eventually, he found himself seeing doctors and specialists full-time instead of going to work.

In January 2006, Shawn suffered a major vehicle accident, in which he was thrown from a truck doing 75 mph on the highway. This resulted in major brain trauma, memory loss, among more issues. It also heightened his already ongoing health problems. With these additional health concerns, he was now doing daily neurological therapy, physical therapy and more tests.

In January 2008, he was asked to come back to the very same radio studios that once was the home of WEMR. Two and a half months later, he learned that his health just wouldn't allow him to take on those hours anymore.

Musical career

After years with his father in "BFD" and "The Cojones Brothers", Shawn became more anxious to get his original music out to the world.

While talking and writing with friends he met throughout his radio years and travels, they convinced him to make a record and "give it a shot".

So, in October 2004, Shawn caught up with old friends Bret Alexander, Paul Smith and Ron Simasek from Pennsylvania local and national recording artist favorites "The Badlees".

They got together in Bret's studio "Saturation Acres" and recorded 9 songs. That recording became Shawn's debut independent release "Wishful Drinkin'" released in January 2005.

Wishful Drinkin' reached No. 11 while on the Americana charts for 14 weeks, with radio play across the world on Americana and NPR stations, as well as on Sirius & XM Satellite radio. Singles such as "Wishful Drinkin'", "Been Down" and "Talking Cover Band Blues" quickly became radio favorites. Along with the new 'Outlaw' version of P.F. Sloan's "Eve of Destruction".

With the great reception on the Americana music scene, Shawn became a member of the Americana Music Association.

At the beginning of 2008, Shawn and the band decided to go back in the studio. This time, he had long time friend and former WEMR general manager Jim Petrie as a co-writer on many of the songs recorded. Jim also came with a long background in songwriting and working in the music business. Together, they decided to name this recording Saint Jude Avenue. Which was released Sept. 2008. Singles "Poison Water", "Half Baked" and "Uncle Willie" are among the radio favorites, as well as single download favorites on mp3 stores.

Discography

Albums
  • Wishful Drinkin' (2005)
  • Saint Jude Avenue (2008)

Singles
  • Wishful Drinkin' (2005)
  • Talking Cover Band Blues (2005)
  • Hey Judge Judy (2005)
  • Been Down (2005)
  • Poison Water (2008)
  • Half Baked (2008)
  • Uncle Willie (2008)
  • Summertime Blues (2010)

References
  1. "Indie Music Charts". indiecharts.com. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
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