Shai (band)
Shai | |
|---|---|
| File:Shai.jpg | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Washington D.C., USA |
| Years active | 1992–Present |
| Members | Garfield A. Bright Marc Gay Carl Martin (replaced by Erik Willis) Darnell Van Rensalier |
Shai was an early 1990s vocal R&B/soul quartet. Their biggest hit was an a capella single, "If I Ever Fall in Love," which made #2 in the U.S. Top 40.
Band History
Shai was formed at Howard University in Washington D.C. Three of the four members, Marc Gray, Carl Martin, and Darnell Van Rensalier, belonged to the same fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, and along with good friend, Garfield A. Bright, decided to take a chance at turning their hobby of singing into a career. Moving to New York City, New York, the foursome tried to secure a record deal, but they couldn't find any takers. With their money running out and their future looking bleak, the members of Shai took a chance on a radio contest that radio station WPGC was sponsoring. They chose to perform a song that Carl Martin wrote, "If I Ever Fall in Love," which they sang a cappella. The song won the contest and began finding airplay on WPGC. Other stations soon followed, and suddenly the record labels came calling. After signing with Gasoline Alley, Shai began putting together its debut album.
"If I Ever Fall in Love" was the first single and peaked at #2 in the U.S. The next two releases from the double-platinum album, "Comforter" and "Baby I'm Yours" both reached #10. The group's next CD was a remix album largely consisting of new versions of their previous hits, which resulted in a revised version of the song "Baby I'm Yours" simply titled "Yours" which peaked at #63. Future efforts fell shy of the Top 40 although the group did briefly reappear there in 1994 with the #34 "The Place Where You Belong" from the Beverly Hills Cop III soundtrack. The group's last charting single was 1996's #89 single "I Don't Wanna Be Alone". They are still on stage, and keep digging it.
Trivia
Shai made a guest appearance on a 1992 episode of Family Matters, during a dream sequence in which Laura Winslow fantasizes about the four young men in the band...until they all turn into doppelgangers of her nemesis, Steve Urkel.
"If I Ever Fall In Love" was one of 12 songs American Idol contestants could choose to sing during Hollywood week of Season 5.
Discography
Albums:
"...If I Ever Fall In Love" (CD) - December 22, 1992, MCA
"...If I Ever Fall In Love" (Cassette) - December 22, 1992, MCA
"...If I Ever Fall In Love" (Vynil) - December 29, 1992, MCA
"...If I Ever Fall In Love" (Europe CD) - January 26, 1993, Universal
"...If I Ever Fall In Love" (Cassette) - March 10, 1993, MCA
"...If I Ever Fall In Love" (UK CD) - March 24, 1997, Universal
"...If I Ever Fall In Love" (Japan CD) - December 2, 2003, Victor
"Right Back At Cha" - December 7, 1993, MCA
"Right Back At Cha" (Cassette) - December 7, 1993, MCA
"Right Back At Cha" (Vynil) - December 21, 1993, MCA
"Blackface" - October 17, 1995, MCA
"Blackface" (Cassette) - October 17, 1995, MCA
"Blackface" (UK) - December 23, 1999, Universal
"Blackface" (Japan) - December 2, 2003, Victor
"Destiny" - February 16, 1999, Big Play
"Destiny" (Cassette) - February 16, 1999, Big Play
"Back From The Mystery System : The Love Cycle" - May 4, 2004, Shai, Electronic Distribution, CD Baby
Compilations:
"20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Shai" - August 14, 2001, MCA
"20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Shai" (Canada) - November 23, 2001, Megaphon Importservice
Singles:
"If I Ever Fall In Love" - September 30, 1992, MCA
"If I Ever Fall In Love" (Cassette) - September 30, 1992, MCA
"If I Ever Fall In Love" - November 10, 1992, MCA
"If I Ever Fall In Love" (Vynil) - November 10, 1992, MCA
"If I Ever Fall In Love" (Cassette) - November 10, 1992, MCA
"Comforter" - February 2, 1993, MCA
"Comforter" (Cassette) - February 2, 1993, MCA
"Baby I'm Yours" - May 11, 1993, MCA
"Baby I'm Yours" (Vynil) - May 11, 1993, MCA
"Baby I'm Yours" (Cassette) - May 11, 1993, MCA
"Together Forever" (Cassette #1) - September 7, 1993, MCA
"Together Forever" (Cassette #2) - November 2, 1993, MCA
"The Place Where You Belong" - August 2, 1994, MCA
"The Place Where You Belong" (Vynil) - September 6, 1994, MCA
"Come With Me - #2" - September 26, 1995, MCA
"Come With Me - #1" - October 31, 1995, MCA
"I Don't Wanna Be Alone" - April 2, 1996, MCA
"I Don't Wanna Be Alone" - April 9, 1996, MCA
"I Don't Wanna Be Alone" (Vynil) - April 9, 1996, MCA
"I Don't Wanna Be Alone" (Cassette) - April 9, 1996, MCA
"I Don't Wanna Be Alone" - June 6, 1996, MCA
"I Don't Wanna Be Alone" (Cassette) - October 1, 1996, MCA
"I Don't Wanna Be Alone" (Vynil) - October 30, 1996, MCA
"Tell Me" - 2003, Shai
Videos:
"Video Personification, Vol. 1" (VHS, NTSC) - June 22, 1993, MCA
Appears On:
"Beverly Hills Cop III: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" - May 10, 1994, MCA
"Good Life" album, by E.V.E. (Ebony Vibe Everlasting) - October 10, 1997, MCA