Rich Sheldon is a Singer, Songwriter & Guitarist that grew up in western Pennsylvania, graduated from Florida State and spent the majority of his life in West L.A. between Venice beach & Santa Monica. It was there that he became a professional music performer, commercial actor and honed his musical style of Americana folk & roots rock. Classic rock legends from The Beatles, Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead, Bob Marley and many others have remained a constant influence throughout his life. Beginning in Los Angeles beach cities to now the Tampa Bay area and beyond, he has maintained a musical career as perhaps one of the hardest gigging musicians, performing either solo or with his band and accompanied duets, for well over a decade.
The Rich Sheldon Band brings soulful vocals to original rock songs from ballads to blues, grooves, and classic rock covers that jam and serve up feel-good music. The band line-up currently consists of legendary guitarist Steve Connelly (former guitarist of Roger McGuinn of the Byrds), Damon Navari on drums, Jeff Dilly on bass, and Matt Frick on keys (and guest bassists Mark Messina & Eric Riddles). The boys recently gave a stellar performance as a Rolling Stones tribute in St. Pete at the Ale & Witch and played the “Sunshine Get Down” festival in Brooksville, FL and the “Grateful Gathering” in Lakeland, FL.
Other performance highlights for Rich’s bands include headlining the “Festival of Lights” in Mammoth Mountain, CA to a crowd of nearly 10,000 (in December 2019: w/ Ben Martin-drums, Doug Haxall-bass, Steve Kim-guitar, Roy Fishell-keys). His band played the “Desert Oasis Music Festival” at the Coachella Polo Fields in Indio, CA (in October 2017) along with Damian Marley, Los Lobos, Rebelution, Steel Pulse & Reel Big Fish. He performed at the first “Skull & Roses” Grateful Dead tribute festival in Ventura, CA (in April 2017: w/ Sheldon & Cunnane band). And he performed on the same bill with David Lindley, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, Chris Hillman of The Byrds, Lukas Nelson, Sweetwater, Cubensis & Uncle John’s Band.
In the studio, Rich has recorded with producer/engineer Craig Adams (mixer of Frank Zappa’s archives), producer Doug Grean (of Scott Weiland & Velvet Revolver), Ed Tree (of The Spencer Davis Group), Rick Shlosser (former drummer for Van Morrison) and Dig Lewis (former bassist for Stevie Wonder).
Rich’s song "Meet You In the Heavens" appeared on Ziggy Marley radio at ziggymarley.com, and in the film "American Drug War" on Showtime. His song “Destination Unknown” was selected for the first RELIX Magazine JAM OFF compilation.
These radio stations have featured Rich’s music: “Frosty, Heidi, and Frank show” on 97.1 FM; “Local Licks” on 95.5 FM KLOS; and “The Music Never Stops” with Barry Smolin on KPFK 90.7 FM and recently 96.7 FM Radio St. Pete.
Rich Sheldon and his band have performed live at the following festivals and venues:
• Sunshine Get Down '23 (Brooksville, FL)
• Grateful Gathering '22 (Lakeland, FL)
• Hardrock Cafe Casino '21 (Tampa, FL)
• Festival of Lights '19 (Mammoth Mountain, CA)
• Summer Soulstice '19 (Santa Monica, CA)
• OC Music Festival '19 (Irvine Lake, CA)
• Desert Oasis Music Festival '17 (Indio, CA)
• OCJBS - Jerry Garcia Daze '17 (Mt. Baldy, CA)
• Skull and Rose Festival '17 (Ventura, CA)
• June Lake Jam Fest '16 (June Lake, CA)
• Scottdale Fall Festival ’12 (Scottdale, PA)
• San Marcos Harvest Fest ’12 (San Marcos, CA)
• Dead On The Ponderosa '12 (Apple Valley, CA)
• WDVX Blue Plate Special (Knoxville, TN)
• Mad Donna's (Nashville, TN)
• The National (Nashville, TN)
• Hennesseys Taverns' in California
• Malibu Cafe (Malibu, CA)
• The Whaler (Venice, CA)
• Sandcastle Festival ’09 (Santa Barbara, CA)
• Watermelon Festival ’09 (Tujunga, CA)
• Marinapalooza (Marina del Rey) '06, '07, ’09
• Santa Monica Farmer’s Market ’07, ’08, ‘09
• Holiday Street Faire ’08 (Ventura, CA)
• Lemon Festival ’08 (Ventura, CA)
• Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort ‘07 & ’08
• Edinburgh Fringe Festival (UK) ‘06
• Union Street Faire (San Francisco, CA) '05
• Los Angeles Art Fest '05
• Los Angeles Marathon '04 & '05
• Whole Earth Festival (UC Davis) '04
• The Venice Carnivale (Venice Beach, CA) '04
• North Park Spring Festival '04 (San Diego, CA)
• Topanga Days (Topanga Cyn, CA) '02
• Millpond Music Festival (Bishop, CA) '00
• Sloppy Joe’s (Key West, FL)
• Green Parrot (Key West, FL)
• Winston’s (San Diego, CA)
• House of Blues (Hollywood, CA)
• Hardrock Café (Universal City, CA & Pittsburgh)
Photographer: Lucie Baudin
CREDITS FOR RICH SHELDON SONGS:
Songs Titles: “Finer Things”, “Stop”, “Lost” - recorded, mixed & mastered by Doug Grean. Rhythm Guitar - Rich Sheldon. Drums - Ben Martin. Bass guitar - Doug Haxall, Lead Guitar - Doug Grean, Keyboards - Roy Fishell, Piano - Jamie Bullock, Backing vocals - Aqila Kiki.
Song Titles: “Come Follow Me”, “The Battle of Angus McLaren”, “Big Brother”, “No Way Out”, “Compatriot”, “Why Can I Be Away”, “Where You Goin”, “Destination Unknown” - recorded & mixed by Craig Adams, Winslow Ct. Studios, Hollywood, CA. Drums - Brad Rhodus
Song Titles: “Come Follow Me” & “The Battle of Angus McLaren” - Lead Guitar Bob Boulding & Violinist Chaz Waltz, “Come Follow Me” Bassist Dan Ehrlich
Song Titles: “Big Brother”, “No Way Out”, “Why Can I Be Away”, “Where You Goin”, “Destination Unknown” - Keyboardist Erich Gann and bassist Guy Silliman
Song Title: “Compatriot” - Bassist Marcus Giamatti and Lead Guitarist Alex Curtis
Song Titles; “Time To Come Together”, “Destination Unknown” Vocal Harmonies Jamie Daniels and Casey Fichtner
Song Titles: “Jah Jah”, “Where You Goin”, “You’ll Never Know” - Vocal Harmonies and Lead Guitar Shawn Cunnane also mixed and recorded by Michael Wallace
Song Title: “Time To Come Together” - bass guitar Son Vo