Chess Records 80

A single by The Shirtails was scheduled to be released on Checker 1159 in 1966, but was unreleased until later when it was issued on a different label but using the original Checker stamps! The Shirtails were a group from The University of Cincinatti in the 1960s and were: Chuck Smith, guitar; Bill O'Connell; Jan Junge; John Palazzolo and Stuart Paine. The recording was produced by independent producers Gordon Neal and Herman Griffin, and arranged by Dale Warren who also worked for Stax and Motown.

  The Shirelles | Getty Images | tc659 One of the most famous girl groups of the late 1950s-early 1960s, The Shirelles were Shirley Owens (married name Shirley Alston Reeves), Doris Coley (married name Doris Kenner-Jackson), Addie “Micki” Harris (married name Addie Harris McFadden) and Beverly Lee. Shirley Owens was born in Henderson, North Carolina on 10 June 1941. Doris Coley was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina on 2 August 1941 and died from breast cancer in Sacramento, California on 4 February 2000. Addie Harris was born in either New Jersey or North Carolina on 22 January 1940 and died from a backstage heart attack at a performance in Atlanta, Georgia on 10 June 1982. Beverly Lee was born in Passaic, New Jersey on 3 August 1941.

  Johnny Shines | Concert Vault | tc059 John Ned “Johnny” Shines was born oin Fraser, Memphis, Tennessee, on April 26, 1915.   He grew up steeped in music and met the legendary Robert Johnson, who encouraged him to pursue music as a job. His recordings with Chess – as “Shoe Shine Johnny” were made in 1950 (with Little Walter) but were not released. Shines took a job in construction and quit music but was rediscovered in the 1960s when his talent was finally recognise d.  Johnny Shines died in Tuscaloosa, Alabama from complications arising from diabetes and an amputation on April 20, 1992.

  Sahib Shihab | Jazz Wax | tc626 Jazz saxophonist and flautist Sahib Shihab, was born named Edmund Gregory, in Savannah, Georgia on June 23, 1925.   He is associated with Luther Henderson, Thelonious Monk, Fletcher Henderson, Tadd Dameron and Dizzy Gillespie.  Sahib Shihab died from liver cancer in Nashville, Tennessee on October 24, 1989.

  Marlena Shaw | Blue Note Records | tc153 Marlina Burgess (Marlena Shaw) was born  in New York  on 22 September 1942. A noted jazz, blues and soul singer/musician, her background was in jazz. Her career began in 1966 when she appeared at the Playboy Club in Chicago where she met with representatives of the Chess Records music label, and signed with them. She released her first two albums on Cadet. She went on to sing with the Basie Orchestra.  Marlena Shaw died peacefully at her home on 19 January 2024.

  Clarence Shaw | WBSS Media | tc617 Trumpeter Clarence Gene Shaw was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 16, 1926, was a decorated veteran of the Korean War.  While based in Detroit he played with Lester Young, Wardell Gray, Lucky Thompson and others.    In 1957 he was playing with Charles Mingus in his "Jazz Workshop". That ended wikth a huge row between the two. He then returned to Chicago to form his own band. Gene Shaw sadly died in Los Angeles from lung cancer on 17 August 1973.