Yes I am from Baltimore. I was born into a family of musically-inclined people. My mother and father both sing and play the piano. They really love music so I was exposed to all types as a child. My brothers (I have two of them) also sing and have played various instruments throughout the years including trumpet, saxophone, piano, clarinet and more. I spent a lot of my youth listening and playing all kinds of music. I started playing the piano when I was four years old, starting singing in the church choir when I was five. Throughout my school-age years I have played several instruments along with piano including clarinet, trumpet, sax, oboe, bassoon, flute, guitar, acoustic bass, numerous percussion instruments, violin, trombone, organ just to name a few ;) . I also played piano and organ for church choirs (and sang), Sunday School, funerals, school choirs, etc. I was also in bands from elementary school on up. 

You have such a sweet and smooth jazzy sound to your voice, even when you “take it to church”.   Do you sing with jazz musicians or other genres outside of the underground scene? 

When I was very small, my parents played a lot of jazz records. I liked a lot of it, but I was particularly fascinated by a singer by the name of Ella Fitzgerald. I just loved her voice and the way she would scat sing. I was hooked. I listened to her a lot. I guess that was the beginning of the "smooth jazzy sound" in my voice. Also, I studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston which is a very prestigious school that specializes in jazz. I do and have been singing with jazz bands, funk bands, R&B bands, and variety bands for years. I have had to sing everything from rock and roll to country and everything in between. I've had to sing in every venue from The Kennedy Center in DC to the Loft in London, to the Caesar's Pocono Resorts in Pennsylvania. I just love music.

  "L.O.V.E" sample from the b-sOuL cd

How long have you been into House music and how did you begin singing on House tracks?

About 11 years ago, I was performing the musical "Eubie" at a dinner theatre in Towson. Another member of the cast by the name of Joseph "Poochie" Wormley (God rest his soul) kept telling me about this producer that he was working with and that he told the producer that he needed to come and hear me sing. So the producer came to the show one night and heard me and said that he wanted me to start working with him right away. He said he wanted me to sing "House" music. I said, "What?" Hey, I was a jazz-head and used to singing all of the other types of music that I mentioned before. Well needless to say I tried it and I liked it....a lot!!! Oh by the way, the producers' name is Charles Dockins, and so began a long, wonderful musical relationship.

What are some of the producers, dj’s, and other singers have you worked with in the past?

I've worked with other producers in other styles of music on projects and also on jingles, but as far as house music, I worked with Charles up until I started working with DJ Pope (Poji Records), although I have had offers from a lot of producers to work with them. I also did some work with the Basement Boys. I have worked/performed with tons of singers in all venues including Robin S., Nona Hendrix, Michael Watford, Ultra Nate`, Butch Quick, Juanita Dailey, Ben Vereen, to name a few. I've worked/performed with lots of musicians including Branford Marsalis,Cyrus Chestnut, Alex Bugnon, Wynton Marsalis, and many more.

Let everyone know some of the tracks you sang on and tell us what are one or two of you favorites.

I have sung on lots of tracks including "Higher Love" (Shelter Records), "Happy Song" (with Marti St. Michaels, Groove On/Strictly Rhythm Records), "Journey" (Slip 'n Slide,UK), "It's Alright" (Slip 'n Slide, UK), "Charles Dockins presents the Black Cuban Chronicles of Love" (Slip 'n Slide, UK), "Moody State of Mind" (Black Vinyl Records). I've also sang background vocals on "Contagious Love" ,Lawrence Dior (Fat Boy Records), "Happy Man", Michael Watford (East/West Records), "Power", Boys Choir of Harlem Alumni (East/West Records), "Black Boy/White Boy", C. Dock's Heritage (Strictly Rhythm Records), "Lift Up", James Howard and  Butch Quick (Shelter Records), "It's Our Turn", Joe Wormley and James Howard (Emotive Records), and some more that I can't think of right now. (CRS :)  ).  It's hard to pick a favorite, but if I had to pick two, I guess I would have to pick "Higher Love" (man I could hit those high notes back then) and "Happy" (which is on the "My Way" cd) because of the lyrics.

  "Let me go" sample from the b-sOuL CD

How did you and The Brothers in the Struggle(POJI) get together?

I have known The Brothers in the Struggle since I started singing house music. They have always been very supportive of my music, playing it in the clubs and on The Underground Experience Show (Man I really miss that show) and also interviewing me on the show. I'm really grateful for that. We (Pope and I) actually started working together a about two years ago after we came back from the Winter Music Conference. I had a little lapse in my productivity and I wanted to  keep making this music without long breaks in between (I didn't want people to forget about me, that's no fun). That's when Pope and I started working on "Moody State of Mind". We went through a little obstacle with that project (we were originally working on this with someone else, but the situation got a little shaky) but in the end we came out on top.  

On the new b-sOuL(dj Pope) cd “My Way” you sing 3 tracks.  (Happy/Let me go/L.O.V.E.).  Talk about those tracks a little for those who haven’t purchased the songs yet.

Yes I do sing on 3 tracks on the "My Way" cd. I'm glad that it is a cd because it allows a lot of consumers to purchase the cd who wouldn't normally buy vinyl (I guess it kind of sucks for some of the dj's though. Sorry about that). The very first song on the cd is "Happy". The lyrics to the chorus of this song came to me while I was laying on the beach in Miami a couple of years ago (I wrote the rest of it when I came home). The sun was out and the breeze felt good and the waves sounded good and I was just "Happy". People are always trying to change you in one way or another and it isn't always beneficial to you. When that happens, tell them "I'm Happy being me I'm just happy being me. I was born an original, one of a kind individual, I'm happy being me". I'm feelin' that. The next song I did is simply called "L.O.V.E". Pope wrote this one (I think he was inspired 'cause he's all in love and stuff. Tee-hee). It's a great song. Of course I love it 'cause it has a jazzy flavor to it and I'm scatting on it and trumpeter Jimmy Wilson is playing on it, giving it a special vibe. This seems to be a favorite of many. The third song is called "Let Me Go". I wrote this one. You have to hear it for yourself. It's very funky. Women love it, men love it and hate it at the same time, that is, if their toes start hurting.:) It's not a hate song. It's just a message. A strong message. Listen to it. And that's all I've got to say about that (in the words of Forrest Gump).

There were a good amount of Baltimore faces down in Miami for the 2003 Winter Music Conference.   A lot of people express a let down when they come back home as far as our House scene goes.  How do you feel?

Of course our house scene isn't the same as being at the conference, because there's so much more going on at the same time. So it might seem like a let down coming back home after experiencing all of that energy. I think the house scene here has definitely had it's ups and downs through the years with venues, airplay, etc. but I think it will prevail. The true house headz are there to support rain or shine. There are new house heads coming out and I think it is up to us to make it known to everyone that we can, support the parties as much as we can, and support each other as much as we can. Of course I had to like two styles of music that we have to struggle to keep them going, jazz and house music. Hey I'm not mad at all. I'll just keep singing it, writing it, talking about it as long as I can. It's funny, there are a lot of people who know me for singing jazz and blues and other styles who have no idea that I sing house music and vice-versa. I'm trying to bridge that gap though.

"Happy" sample from the b-sOuL cd

Do you have any special projects in the works?

Pope and I are currently working on a full cd (ALL ME!!! Yeah,baby). It's just about done. I think it's going to be nice. There are nice surprises on this cd. I'm even doing a down-tempo tune that has that neo-soul vibe. Of course, the jazzy flavor is there, some gospel influenced songs and some special guest artists. I'm excited!! This is a positive cd with all positive songs. I've wrote all but two songs (Pope wrote one, the other is a re-make). Pope did all of the tracks. I'm trying to think of a title for it right now. I just want you to buy it and play it when it comes out (You don't know???).

Of course, all artists would love to make a lot of money for their talents but where would you like to see yourself in the next few years as far as music goes?

I don't do too bad as far as making money in music. Of course you never get what you're really worth. Unfortunately right now it comes more from the other styles of music more than house music. I'm trying rectify that too. In the future I would like to be able to open up a club and have all of the artists, dj's, musicians, etc. have a place to perform and have something going on each night so that we would always have a place to shine. I also enjoy teaching others, especially kids, about music and performance. Eventually I would like to do more of that. I also want to do some production myself. I enjoy that end of the music too. Actually, I've been doing some of that already.  Of course I want to have that hit song that I get paid royally for and not have to work another day in my life unless I just wanted to, but until that time I'll just keep singing, writing, performing (shaking my booty on stage Tee-hee), and continuing to be "Happy Being Me"

Smooches..........Sheila Ford