Preston Shannon facts for kids

Preston Shannon (born October 23, 1947 – died January 22, 2018) was an American musician. He was known for playing electric blues and soul blues music. Preston was a talented guitarist, singer, and songwriter.

Many people noted that Preston Shannon was special. He mixed "Southern-fried soul" with blues music. His albums and live shows often included a horn section. They were a cool mix of danceable songs and slow, soulful ballads. Some of the songs he wrote include "Beale Street Boogaloo" and "Midnight in Memphis."

Life and Music Career

Early Life

Preston Shannon was born in Olive Branch, Mississippi. When he was eight years old, his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee. Even though his parents weren't sure about it at first, Preston became very interested in the blues.

Becoming a Musician

He started playing music part-time with local bands. During the day, he worked at a hardware store. Later, he decided to become a full-time musician. He got a spot playing in Shirley Brown's band.

In 1993, Preston started his own group, the Preston Shannon Band. They played at the Long Beach Blues Festival in Long Beach, California. People noticed him leading his band in the famous Beale Street clubs in Memphis. This led him to sign with a record company called Bullseye Blues.

Later Career and Albums

In 1994, Preston released his first solo album, Break the Ice. After that, he worked with producer Willie Mitchell. They made two more albums: Midnight in Memphis (1996) and All in Time (1999).

After a break, Preston released Be with Me Tonight in 2006. He also performed at the Memphis in May festival in 2008 and 2011. In 2012, Preston appeared on the TV show The Voice. He sang the song "In the Midnight Hour" on the show.

Preston was a regular performer at B.B. King's Blues Club in Memphis. His last album was Dust My Broom, released in 2014.

Passing Away

Preston Shannon passed away from cancer on January 22, 2018. He was 70 years old and died in Memphis, Tennessee.

His Music

Albums

Singles

See also

• List of electric blues musicians
• List of soul-blues musicians