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Louie was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on April 6,1941, and got his first guitar for his ninth birthday, a $13.00 Stella. While other young boys were out having a good time playing ball or fishing, Louie had his ear pinned to the radio for hours a day with his guitar in hand teaching himself to play. He lived and breathed music and by the age of twelve was so good he was ... More Louie Shelton Bio
Louie Shelton is currently located on the sunny Gold Gold Coast in Queensland, Au.
TEL
+61 0433 557 222
07 5570 2006
This is a well-crafted album from longtime studio ace Louie Shelton. As the title suggests, the emphasis is on Shelton's guitar work, and this man can play. Though obviously tailored for the contemporary/smooth jazz market, Guitar has much more 'oomph' than is typical in this genre. The arrangements are tight and consistently hold the listener's attention with a variety of textures and rhythms, and the guitarist displays dazzling technique across a broad stylistic range. He plays octaves a la Wes Montgomery and single-note runs that put most hot-shot rock guitarists to shame. This is a release with many treats in store for the connoisseur of instrumental pop/rock, groove jazz, contemporary jazz and just plain great guitar playing.
Jim Newsom, All Music Guide
For more than 30 years, legendary session player Louie Shelton lent his smooth guitar licks and production skills to everyone from the Monkees and Seals and Croft to the Jackson Five and Lionel Richie to Neil Diamond and Boz Scaggs. But with Urban Culture, Shelton steps out of the background and serves up a selection of songs that showcase his style and finesse as a lead voice.
Urban Culture conjures up visions of late night jazz clubs -- smoke-filled rooms, enthusiastic fans and tight combos playing the night away. Clearly, Shelton was thinking of his earlier days as an eager, young musician gigging in Chicago, New York and Toronto when he composed these picturesque and captivating songs. Standouts on the CD include the moody R&B-flavored "Teardrops" and the funky "Bugaloo," while "Urban Culture" and "Uptown" -- songs that capture the essence of the discreet, creative subculture existing in every city -- are universally-appealing.
Released on Shelton's own Nuance Records, Urban Culture takes Shelton out of the amen corner and puts him front and center in the pulpit where his voice can truly preach.
Rhonda Baraka / Creative Loafing
On "Nashville Guitars," produced by noted session guitarist Louie Shelton (The Jackson Five, The Monkees), he contributes the up-tempo track "High Roller," accompanied by ten more tracks from some of the finest pickers in Nashville.
Let me begin by saying that there isn't a lackluster cut among these eleven tracks. Mark Casstevens contributes an acoustic picking masterpiece in "Cowtown," this from a guitarist who can be heard on albums by folks like Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, and Amy Grant. Reggie Young (Elvis' "Suspicious Minds") shines at full luster on "Exit 209," an easy-listening number, and Ray Flacke smokes the fret board on "Templar Treasure."
The variety of tunes is obvious, but so is the immense amount of talent present here. All in all, Louie Shelton has produced a top notch compilation of some of the best guitarists to gather on one album in quite some time.
Michael B. Smith...
Subtitled A Showcase Of Nashville's Hottest Guitar Players, the latest CD from the Louie Shelton-run Nuance Records compiles 11 new tracks of superb guitar-based instrumental music from the likes of fretboard masters like Jim Olander, Reggie Young, Mark Castevens along with an array of other fine guitarists. Shelton also contributes the set-closing "High Roller". Described by some guitar lovers as being like 'Tele-Heaven', Nashville Guitars rings true as a country rock-flavored instrumental album, but the spirited guitar work by all the players cuts across musical borders and should appeal to those listeners who simply love top notch guitar playing. Combining the spirit of country music with a hefty dose of high density 'chicken-pickin', Nashville Guitars is the ticket for those looking to check out the finest guitarists in Nashville today. The CD booklet features eye-catching artwork along with complete bios of all the guitarists on hand. Louie Shelton and Nuance Records deserve credit for bringing this CD of new and noteworthy country guitarists into the hands of music lovers.
mwe3.com