MP3 Shelley Ruffin - emotions of love

From a Memphis artist steeped in delta soul, "emotions of love" will take you on a rhythmic and lyrical journey through all the heart felt facets of love. A captivating blending of styles from beginning to end.

12 MP3 Songs
POP: Today's Top 40, EASY LISTENING: Soft Rock



Details:
SMOOTH, HEARTFELT, WARM, AN EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER, UNBELIEVABLE!!!

As with all of Shelleyâs projects, Iâm left speechless. Itâs beautiful. Itâs heartfelt. Itâs fun and what I would call an emotional rollercoaster. This album truly does encompass the Emotions of Love. Another fantastic performance and outing by Shelley Ruffin. Shelley just keeps getting better and better.

NICK BLACK, MORNING SHOW, WQQR FM

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Music runs through Shelley Ruffin's life with all the depth and breadth of the mighty Mississippi coursing past her hometown. A southern girl steeped in delta soul, she's carried a melody in her heart since her formative years, advancing an almost genetic predisposition to the art form.
Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Shelley is the granddaughter of a '30s-era big band leader and songwriter who regularly opened for Guy Lombardo. The rich musical landscape of the city--her maiden name, interestingly, is Beale--immersed young Shelley in sounds and styles unconcerned with the demands and categories of commercial music. "I liked such a big variety of music growing up," she says. "Patsy Cline, Earth Wind & Fire, Bonnie Raitt, Anita Baker, The Judds, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Michael McDonald (Doobie Brothers), Journey, and Elton John, just to name a few.â
Singing was a constant, be it in church choir, competitive ensembles or just around the house. The sounds and style of a very prominent hometown influence reverberates to this day. "I can't be still and sing," she smiles, recalling that early exposure to âThe Kingâ. "My band members tease me and call me 'Shelvis' because I grew up in Memphis and love Elvis.
With the support of her family, she began to pursue her lifelong dream. Her first gigs came singing backup for a prominent Music City R&B singer. She hooked up with a friend and Memphis-based songwriter to begin performing at songwriter nights. Slowly but deliberately, Shelley built her chops and worked her way into the business.
"I hired a band and started doing club shows, restaurants, some fairs and festivals," she says. "It was a chance to grow and work at something I really love, which is performing and getting an audience to connect with the music I'm doing. I really transform when I step on stage. It's like I'm a different person, and I just feed off the crowd's energy."
Shelley continued to apply elbow grease to her chosen trade, doing shows and perfecting her style. A big part of this process was pouring through thousands of songs looking for the right material. The sounds she gravitated toward had a common thread.
"It was hard," Shelley admits. "I had so many good choices, but the songs I like best have a distinct soulful flavor. There's no doubt I have been influenced by southern gospel, R&B, rock and country. I love that blending of styles--adding my own interpretation of all of these influences to my music. It gives me an edge and makes my music sound fresh and unique."
She points to an early hero, Patsy Cline. "She had a real bluesy vibe that was very different from what was going on at the time. People felt and believed what she sang, and I'm drawn to the same things. That soulfulness that comes from inside you, getting lost in the song you're singing, singing from the heart--that's what I love."
Another distinction she's proud of is the ability to deliver her songs with the emotion and feelings that connect listeners with their own life experiences. âI like singing lyrics that have a positive message. I think it is important for listeners to be able to reach back into their memories or look at their current situations in life and connect what they hear on a personal level. But, it is just as important to provide a reason to cut loose and have a little fun.â
"Music is my passion," she continues. "When I'm not on stage or working in the studio I feel like there is a huge void inside of me. I have found my calling in life. Music is a part of my family, and will always be a part of me."