 |
|
| |
 |
Versatility, professionalism and high energy are just a few things you can expect from one of Tampa Bays most successful acts, Wendy & the Soulshakers. A mainstay in the area since 1991, the Soulshakers can deliver the blues to fit your needs from their all-original concert performances to their 60s-70s dance sets . Fronted by Wendy Rich, this group has received virtually every award/nomination the state of Florida has to offer in their categories!Wendy & the Soulshakers is 60s influenced group that has performed in concert with such greats as Edgar Winter, Ambrosia, John Sebastian, Georgia Satellites and Molly Hatchett to name a few, as well as headlining many Tampa Bay concert series such as The Point 102.5 FM's Ybor Rock 'N Blues Series, Tampa's Friday Extra Concerts and The Hyde Park Music Series. The Soulshakers are a favorite at all the top night clubs in the area and the entire East Coast up into Chicago. They tout a strong local following with support and airplay from such radio stations as The Point 102.5 FM, WMNF 88.5 FM, Thunder 105.5 FM and Mix 96 FM. Along with playing Wendy's original compositions, the Soulshakers have a large repertoire of cover material ranging from Billie Holiday to Led Zeppelin. Singer/songwriter Wendy Rich was born in Houston,Texas in 1967 where she began her career in the arts in a Houston-based theatre company at the age of 10. Five years later she discovered her love for vocal performance when cast in her first (and last) musical in the theatre. After that she immediately joined her first musical group and never looked back...a rock band by the name of Equanox. From 1982-1989 Wendy performed around Houston with heavy metal acts before joining her first blues band called Wendy & the Kingpins. Though the project was short-lived (Wendy relocated to Clearwater,Florda in 1990), it lay the groundwork for her bluesy / soulful vocal style.
Based in St.Petersburg,Florida , Wendy has earned local & statewide recognition for her work with the Soulshakers as well as her songwriting and recording efforts. Recently she won the 1998 Nationwide Music Search Songwriters Award for the title track of her latest release, Feels Like I'm Drowning. The CD is a self-produced 11 song recording featuring 10 of her own creations. Wendy kicked off its release with a tour in Germany where she received headlines for her performance at a Jazz/Blues Festival in Lunen. Wendy plans to return to Germany to record a live album in the Fall of 1999.
Wendy is currently working hard to promote Feels Like I'm Drowning while beginning pre-production for her next release. |
| |
 |
Local Rockin1 Blues Favorite Wendy Rich of the Soulshakers
Releases CD
On November 1, 1998 one of the Bay area1s best Rockin1 Blues singer/songwriters, Wendy Rich, will release her brand new self produced CD. Entitled Feels Like I1m Drowning, the album features eleven original songs and will initially be available at Wendy1s live shows here in Tampa Bay.
Wendy has been a mainstay on the local music scene here since her arrival from Houston, Texas in 1990. Dubbed by many the hardest working woman in show biz, she has successfully fronted and managed her group, Wendy & the Soulshakers for the past seven years. Wendy has earned many honors & awards including 1995 / Œ96 the Bay Area Music Awards Best Female Vocalist & Best Blues Band, 1997 the Weekly Planet1s Peoples Choice best Blues/ R&B act, and in 1998 The Music Search Songwriters Contest.
Feels Like I1m Drowning is an eclectic collection of blues growlers & upbeat pop rockers with a sampling of the latest swing craze on My Baby1s Gonna Be Mad and a power ballad called Goodbye. The two aforementioned tunes were co-written by ex-SoulShaker Janet Street, who was the original keyboard player in the band from 1990-1992. The opening song on the album, Don1t Mean A Thing was written by local songwriter/performer Rockin Ralph Martin and was arranged by Wendy with a full horn section and a Bonnie Raitt feel. Eight more songs with words and music by Wendy include Self Destruction Blues, Lets Make Love, Tongue Tied & Here I Am.
Wendy & the Soulshakers have hosted the ever-popular Sunday night jam at St. Pete1s Ringside Cafe for the last seven years and, in addition to regular St. Pete/Clearwater/Tampa appearances, have done several tours in the midwest and southern states. Chicago1s Suburban Nightlife Magazine says of Wendy, 3She1s hotter than the leather seats of my car on a sunny August afternoon!2 |
| |
 |
|
| |
 |
| Date |
Venue/Club |
Location |
| November 04, 2000 |
Bourbon Street |
New Port Richey FL |
| October 05, 2000 |
Spanky's Dysfunctional Family Restaraunt |
St Pete FL, every Thurs |
| September 18, 2000 |
Ringside Cafe |
St Pete FL, every Mon |
| September 17, 2000 |
Ringside Cafe |
St Pete FL, every Sun |
|
|
Location:
St.Petersburg FL, USA
Wendy Rich & the Soulshakers Website
SoulWendy@aol.com
Regular Tour Area:
Florida |
