Home » Member Page

Jean Shy

2009 Blues Music Award Nominee, 2010 Blues Album of the Year Nominee

About Me

The European Press glorifies her with headlines like The Queen of the Night, The Roarer, Golden Throat, The Blues-Pipe, The Voice of the Lord, Black Volcano, Dynamite Stick, and many more. The Lady they are talking about is internationally acclaimed Singer, Songwriter JEAN SHY. With four Hits under her belt, Shy is a 2009 Blues Music Awards Nominee for “Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year,” and a 2010 Independent Music Awards for Nominee for “Blues Album of the Year.” Latest accomplishments include a seven page Feature in the US Magazine “Living Blues” and a live performance last month at the Montreux Jazz Festival 2013 with her long time Band “THE SHY GUYS.”

Jean Shy is a brilliant, and “one of a kind” Artist. A critique once described Jean's performance as follows: Jean Shy has the conciseness of a Tina Turner, the vivid Northern-Soul feeling of a Van Morrison, the expressiveness of an Etta James and she convinces above all with one thing “honesty.”

Born in Chicago, Jean's vocal background had its beginning in Gospel Music. Elvis Presley was her first inspiration to become a professional Entertainer in commercial Music. Mahalia Jackson was her first musical Idol. Later she was also greatly influenced by Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr., Johnny Mathis, Harry Belafonte, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, Carmen McRae, and others.

Jean already received awards for her musical talents by the time she reached High School. At the age of twelve Jean was signed by Leonard and Phil Chess to the legendary Chess Label in Chicago. The release of her original composition “Spring Fever” recorded by Tim & Jean became a Regional Hit.

Just before leaving High School Jean was signed by Carl Davis for Brunswick Records. With various regional Record successes, she toured as an Opening-Act with Otis Leavill, Tyrone Davis, Barbara Acklin, The Chi-Lites, The O'Jays, Al Green, The Stylistics, Jackie Wilson, Curtis Mayfield, and Gene Chandler, gathering a tremendous amount of Stage Experience.

Productions with renowned Producer Harvey Fuqua, releases with Honey-, Fantasy-, Playboy Records, and No 9 & No 13 Billboard Hits “Night Dancer” and “That Old Black Magic,” produced by Bob Esty, with Robert Stigwood's R.S.O. Records followed. Night Dancer was also one of the Soundtracks in the Movie Roller Boogie starring Linda Blair.

After her success in the US Jean branched out and went to Europe, making Germany her second home in 1981. She formed her own Band “The Shy Guys” in 1984 with which she has been performing at major Festivals, Concerts Halls, Events and Churches throughout Europe for nearly thirty Years. Two of the original members Band Leader Klaus Zimmermann (Guitars), and Martin Hoette (Guitars), as well as long time members Bernhard Spiess (Drums), and Sascha Kuehn (Keyboards) are still performing as part of the Band today. The newest addition to the Band was Michael “Schnuff” Strohm (Bass) in 1999. In the last few years Jean Shy and her German based “Shy Guys” have gone through some musical changes to where they are now completely grounded in the Blues.

Besides performing with her Shy Guys, Jean joined an interesting project in 1994. She was invited to be the featured Singer for the Dutch formation T-Spoon, which prior had two Top 10 Hits. T-Spoon featuring Jean Shy landed a No.5 Hit with the very jazzy oriented Euro-dance track “Where R U Now”, and with the remake of the Janis Joplin Song “Mercedes Benz” in an Euro reggae style, they made it to No.7 in the Benelux. The Songs became a Hit in a splattering of other countries as well. In conjunction with the release of the Jean Shy & The Shy Guys CD “The Blues Got Soul,” Jean was nominated for the 2009 Blues Music Awards for “Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year.” The Blues Got Soul is a compilation of some of the hottest material recorded on Jean Shy & The Shy Guys, which was mostly performed Live at an Open Air Concert in Duisburg, Germany.

The 2010 Jean Shy & Friends CD release “Blow Top Blues” was nominated for “Blues Album of the Year” by the Independent Music Awards.

Currently “The Blues Got Soul Tour” 2014 is in the planning for Germany, and other parts of Europe, as well as USA and Canada. Jean Shy & The Shy Guys will present an explosive Mix of the Music that burns in their Blood; Blues & Rhythm & Blues, everything from Blues Stompers to Goose bump raising Ballads, performed with lots of Soul in an original and innovative Style. Anyone can definitely hear that Jean Shy & The Shy Guys are one solid unit that have been performing together for almost three decades; celebrated by audiences with standing ovations, and highly praised by the International press.