Spotlight on Shelly Rann

Nashville is known as the Music Capitol of the World. There is an ever steady stream of talent both coming and going, a few obtain a high level of notoriety and fame, but most give it a few years, and leave without their names ever being known to people other than their landlords, when they collect their deposit, or the ticket salesman at the bus depot, as they make their way back home. The true shame of the music scene in Nashville is, when those who should have been heard, never catch the right set of ears, or happen into the right place at the right time.

Buddy Jewell, the winner of USA Networks Nashville Star program walked the streets of Nashville for over 10 years trying to get someone to listen, being turned down, and rejected by all of the Nashville Music Establishment. He sang Demo's during the day, and played at El Chico's Mexican Restaurant at night. It took the outside push of Nashville Star to spread the wealth of his talents to the rest of nation.

When Buddy left demo singing, and El Chico's to pursue life as a newly discovered Artist, he was replaced from the enormous talent pool that surrounds Nashville. A few months back, I was lucky enough to be invited by Buddy Jewell's Fan Club President, Teresa Watson, and Buddy Jewell's Fan and Friends Forum Moderator, Steve Johnson, to dine at El Chico's, and experience the talent of Shelly Rann, a Lexington Kentucky native whose talent, and unique vocal ability should have long ago made it into Country Music's Elite.

Shelly has been paying her dues as a demo singer in Nashville for quite a few years, and she was also singing Friday nights at El Chico during, and after Buddy Jewell's tenure there. I'm still mystified by how El Chico's could showcase such singers. I have been to the known showcase clubs; Bluebird Café, Exit-in, The Palace, Tootsies, and what I have heard from Buddy Jewell and Shelly Rann has beaten the majority of them.

Shelly Rann plays every Friday night from 6 to 10 pm at El Chico's accompanied on the upright bass by Larry Vance, and they both are truly a pleasure to listen to. Shelly offers 2 CD's of her music, Shelly Rann Volume I, and Volume II. Both are setup to showcase her talents to Music Row's movers and shakers. The Disks cover varying styles of country from Basic to Texas to Ballads to Kentucky Jazz. I know that Kentucky and Jazz do not belong in the same sentence, but trust me on this one, and listen to "22 Reasons" on Volume I.

My personal favorites are Church on Monday, A Weak Night, 22 Reasons, A cappella of America the Beautiful, Tender as the Night, and Destitute Heart. My all time favorite was Weeping Willow with Shelly's voice accompanied with Mandolin and Dobro. All cuts on the CD's are sure to please, no matter what style of Country you may be a fan of. She possesses a voice that rivals Trisha Yearwood and Faith Hill all the while adding a smooth Kentucky flavor.

Shelly was recently a winner of Nashville Star's local Lexington Kentucky competition alongside fellow winner Eddie Barber. From there she will be a competitor in the Regional Finals, and if she wins there, she will be one of the contestants for Nashville Star II, showing this spring on USA Network. Hopefully Nashville Star can promote Shelly's talent and let the rest of the Nation hear what I have heard.