Biography

Born in Santa Barbara, singer/songwriter Steve Shelton was raised in a family full of the arts. He and his three brothers always had their paintings and drawings displayed on the walls at home thanks to their mother. His father was a jazz musician who played trumpet in his youth, but devoted most of his life to his wife and four sons. Music was always in the house. Although not really a pianist, his dad often hung out at the piano and worked through thoughtful interpretations of standards and old Baptist hymns. The old hifi played the records of Miles Davis, Art Tatum, and Billie Holiday. Later, the Beatles, Dylan, and Hendrix would make their way onto the playlist (although mostly from behind Steve’s door).

After receiving a B.A. in English Literature, he worked odd jobs for a couple of years from gardening and janitorial to working in record stores. Eventually he became an English teacher in Lake Arrowhead, California. During these years up in the mountains, Shelton and his wife Ruby Jeanne started a family which eventually grew to four sons. He taught English in both high school and college, and wrote poetry. He would also write songs on the guitar or piano, but kept most of this to himself. He traveled into Los Angeles from time to time to give poetry readings, usually spliced in between sets of improvisational, experimental, and jazz music. A close friendship with L.A. based keyboardist/composer/engineer Wayne Peet continued through the years as they would sometimes collaborate on some writing.

Most of this time though, Shelton was surrounded by standouts in the L.A. underground of musical improvisation. As a result he tended to leave music to others while he stuck to the poetry. However, in the mid ‘90s Shelton pulled out some old tunes, began writing new ones, and put out a CD for family and friends (Jack Ball Suite 1997). The writing hasn’t stopped since.

The CDs Do What You Do Best, co-produced by Wayne Peet and Shelton, was recorded at Newzone Studios in Los Angeles. This CD features longtime LA musician Roberto Miranda on upright bass, Santa Barbara legend Tom Lackner on drums and percussion, Wayne Peet on Keyboards, and various guests including 9Winds label founder/multi-reed man Vinny Golia, as well as Bruce Winter, Lance Parker, and son, Josh Shelton. The music leans on the folk side, but leaves room for improvisation; it’s been described as “bluerockfolkjazz.”

Shelton's next CD, Some Stories, reunited keyboardist/co-producer Wayne Peet, drummer Tom Lackner, and bassist Roberto Miranda. Guest soloists include: Vinny Golia, stritch and flute; Vajra's Josh Shelton on some sweet solos; and John Fumo adding trumpet to the Newzone Horn section; the inimitable Bill Barrett on hamonica; and even a cameo by the sensational Nels Cline on electric guitar.

A Fool's Hearty Wisdom once again brings together Wayne Peet and Tom Lackner. This Jack Ball Trio joined by bassist Roberto Miranda and trumpet player Josh Shelton. This latest takes familiar turns as well as some new diversions. There are solo, duet, trio, and quarter performances among the 13 tunes. Billed as Steve Shelton and The Jack Ball Trio find the trio both a conceptual organism as well as a reference to the live trio work performed by Steve, Wayne, and Tom over the past year working out the new tunes leading up to the recording sessions at Newzone in Los Angeles. This new CD also marks the first recording for Shelton on Angry Vegan Records ( AngryVegan.com )