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Shannon
Sanders: On the Road to Greatness
See, what only the most loyal fans of Shannon know is that while he enjoys producing R&B artists like Heather Headley and Eric Benet, and touring as the music director for soul musician, India.Arie, it’s actually performing as a solo artist that got him his start; it’s his “first love” so to speak. However, only die hard Shannon Sanders aficionados would know that. After all, it’s been well over eight years since his debut release “Outta Nowhere” hit the streets with underground urban classics like “Hustler for Life”, “Interstate” and the original version of “In My Mind”, which earned Heather Headley a top spot on the Billboard charts in 2006. For Shannon, who, since the turn of the new millennium has put his focus into putting out commercialized singles for India.Arie (“Brown Skin”, “The Truth”, “Little Things”), Robert Randolph (“Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong With That”), and Rissi Palmer (“Country Girl”) as well as contributing to projects for Marc Broussard, Ce Ce Winans, Mandisa, Jesse McCartney and a host of others, his solo singing career has been placed on the back burner. Oh, but things are heating up. Over the next several months, he will be devoting time to finishing up his long-awaited sophomore release, “The Grown Man Handbook”; a collection of songs that will serve as highly-relatable anthems for hardworking men who are doing all that they can to hold their families, their careers and on some days even their sanity together. “I’ve been talking about doing a project like this for a few years now,” says Shannon. “It’s taking me some extra time because presentation is important and I know that I am not only representing me, but the men around me who influence my life on some level on a daily basis, whether it’s the memory of my grandfather or the guy at the gas station. These days, it’s evident that young people get their information from music and so you have to be responsible with what you put out there. Life around me is revealing that it’s time to speak up for the “average guy” who, if you really take time to know him, is actually pretty extraordinary. I am hoping this project will communicate that in a way that will make him proud….that will make him feel heard and respected.” This upcoming release is just one of the many creative balls that Shannon has to juggle. Aside from working on the upcoming LPs for India. Arie and Jonny Lang (and a few other liner credit surprises from some major heavy hitters), he and his partner are also developing two Nashville-based independent artists: Britten and Rachel Lampa. “I travel a lot, but I always make sure to keep my ear on the local scene,” says Shannon. “There is an unbelievable amount of talent in Music City and Drew and I are firm believers in using our resources to help the next person if we can. Britten and Rachel are two people who, stylistically, are a really good match for us. They’re marketable, they’re wonderful singers and songwriters and they’re hungry not so much for fame, but for putting good music with great messages out there. We will always support that kind of creativity. Mark my words, you will be hearing about them on a national level soon.” Shannon is also working on a book, calendar and an upcoming series of seminars for independent artists who have the skills, but not necessarily the know-how when it comes to breaking into the industry on a lasting level. This journey was not as easy for him as he would’ve liked and he would like to do what he can to make it easier for the aspiring talent around him. “You need more things to be successful [in this industry] than talent,” says Shannon. “I’ve been told that Michael Jordan’s brother could hoop just as well as he could, but there was something extra that made Jordan the star. It’s about timing, motivation, business savvy, determination, humility, oh and patience…a lot of that. Overnight success stories are hard to come by.” Shannon would know. After 15 years, this “Hustler for Life” is finally seeing the fruits of his labor, but he’s still plowing away. For him, yesterday’s success is just that.
“Yesterday’s [music] successes are just a confirmation that I am
on the right path…that music is a big part of my life’s journey,” says Shannon.
“But, I can’t be caught up with being a big fish in a little pond. Life is not
about patting yourself on the back, but pushing forward. For every door of
opportunity that I open, there are new challenges and opportunities waiting for
me. I try to focus on the next thing rather than the last thing. That’s what
gets you to the best thing.”
"Most conversations are simply monologues delivered in the
presence of a witness."---Margaret Millar
"My life has a
superb cast but I can't figure out the plot."---Ashleigh Brilliant |
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