(Thaddeus Louis Hall)
DISCOGRAPHY 2000-2020 (10CD)
DISCOGRAPHY 2000-2020 (10CD)
Born in California, Shah also spent time in Somerville, Texas, with his
blues harmonica and guitar playing grandfather, Sam Dawson. Dawson had
recorded for both Alan Lomax and Duke Records. His mother, a beautician,
encouraged him to be a salesman for Jet magazine in the latter part of
the 1950s.
This allowed Shah access to Oakland's bars and clubs, where he heard musicians such as Lowell Fulson, Jimmy McCracklin, Juke Boy Bonner and Big Mama Thornton.
This allowed Shah access to Oakland's bars and clubs, where he heard musicians such as Lowell Fulson, Jimmy McCracklin, Juke Boy Bonner and Big Mama Thornton.
Shah told Living Blues magazine that his grandfather's passion for the
blues inspired him. "Well see I picked it up from him, he'd be out in the
fields singin' all that (sings in a slow moan) 'Tell me how long, whoa,
tell me how long it's been since you've been away from home' Well, that's
raw! That's a big damn difference from 'Good Golly Miss Molly'".
He moved to Detroit in 1967, and worked for Ford Motors for fifteen
years. Shah bought himself a cheap harmonica in 1976 and, while operating
as a taxicab driver, Shah was introduced to local blues jam sessions.
"Hell, that was it, no turning back then", Shah recalled.
Over the years, Shah has played alongside Bobo Jenkins, Eddie Kirkland,
The Butler Twins and Willie D. Warren. His debut album, Motor City Mojo
was released by Blue Suit Records in 2000.
His 2006 album, Listen at Me Good, was recorded in Toronto, and included
contributions from the Blues Music Award winners Mel Brown on guitar, and
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith playing the drums.
He has toured across the United States, as well as in Europe, Russia,
Japan and Australia. Closer to his roots, Shah still occasionally performs
for free at John's Carpet House in East Detroit. He legally changed his
birth name to Seward Shah.
Shah's most recent release was the 2009 album, If All You Have Is a
Hammer, on his current record label, Electro-Fi Records.