Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanna Lee.
Artist, Entertainer, Singer, and Songwriter Shanna Lee was born on November 26, 1986 in the City of Hollywood, Florida to Jamaican parents Selvin and Angela Fletcher. She discovered her voice and love for the arts at a young age singing in the children’s choir and being a part of the liturgical dance ministry at her childhood church. Her found-love and talent continued to mature and develop simultaneously.
Shanna Lee would assemble groups of her friends in elementary school to sing and perform in talent shows. At that time, she didn’t know she was cultivating a skill of developing affiliates and talent building. She continued to nurture this talent in her years of undergraduate studies at Florida Memorial University (FMU) in Miami Gardens, where she quickly became a highly requested pageant planner and coordinator because of her ability to produce a good show. Her creativity and talent translated well into business as it does in her artistry.
Shanna Lee’s journey to independent artistry officially began in 2015. Before that time, she was busy filling notebook after notebook writing her thoughts and emotions in poetic verse. On a 2006 Greyhound trip from Virginia to Philadelphia, Shanna wrote the piece that would inspire her to take her writing more seriously. Afterward, Shanna wrote a 50-song catalog and made a series of path-defining decisions, including but not limited to, where she chose to record, who she collaborated with, and what relationships she allowed to flourish.
In 2009, she started recording with the BombSquad, a rap group from Miramar, FL, which was comprised of an old high school friend and his brothers and colleagues. Shanna gained studio experience and had a place to temporarily call home to her music. She grew up listening to all genres of music, however she particularly favored Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Lauryn Hill, The Wu Tang Clan, and Mary J. Blige because of her older brothers.
In 2010, she met Raymond “Ray Ray” Gordon of Class Clowns and he quickly suggested that she consider a new element of style to her music composition. It didn’t take very long for Shanna Lee to appreciate his approach to production. Though the experience was short-lived, during that time, she completed a few records with Ray Ray that would adjust her perspective from a heavily rhythmic presence to a more melodic resonance.
In the same year, she met a Jamaican producer named Rockcliffe Pinnock, who quickly took a liking to her voice and style and had an interest in managing her. They were able to do some studio work and a photoshoot and worked on a Mother’s Day project that included critically acclaimed International Jamaican superstar, Red Rat. They co-wrote a song entitled, “Oh Mama”. The record was never completed and soon after the project became a distant memory. For Shanna Lee, it was a notable experience. It was her first time working with a household name.
In 2011, Shanna Lee decided to complete her Bachelor’s Degree in Music, which she started at Norfolk State University, in Norfolk, VA. She earned her Bachelor’s in Arts in 2014 and was the first of her immediate household to graduate from college. Between that times, she had the opportunity to perform with FMU’s Ambassador Chorale, Willie Stewart and friends in the Rhythms of Africa Concert, Violinist Little Nikki, Sons of Mystro, 3B4Joy, Soleil Rowe, Gospel artist Dottie Peoples, Nelson Hall and The Miami Messiah Choir.
After graduating from FMU, Shanna Lee pursued a Master’s degree in Entertainment Business at Full Sail University. She then started a career in K-12 education to secure a steady income. In 2015, she made Studio 504 Miami her home studio for recording and co-produced her freshman single titled, “Do It For You”, which was released in February of 2016. One week after its release, she performed her single along with 5 other originals to open for American Hip Hop recording artist, T.I. at FMU’s Homecoming Concert and Stepshow. Later that year, Shanna Lee and her band 86 (LXXXVI) performed at the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival at Markham Park, FL sharing the ticket with Third World, Christopher Martin, Barrington Levy and others.
In 2016, Shanna Lee decided to leave the school board and took several steady cover band gigs around town. She spent many evenings performing at The Garden 441. Zemroy Lewis of Code Red hosted a Plug and Play event weekly where Shanna Lee would be front and center. She did that consistently for nearly a year with the intention of getting closer to the artist within her. She then began embracing and owning her blended cultural identity. Growing up, Shanna’s mother would always refer to her as a “Jamerican,” but it wasn’t until she began to search deeper for who she was as an artist that her true identity began to unapologetically present itself. That September, on a typical Plug and Play evening, she made a new acquaintance, Mike Greaves of Big Sounds Better (BSB), a phenomenal musician and producer from New York City. They quickly found congruency in music and together wrote two singles, “What You Gon Do” and “I’m Trying”. Shanna Lee continued to work with BSB in various live performances.
In 2017, she made the decision to totally walk away from the school and put all her eggs in baskets that were parallel. Her perspective towards her goals were beginning to become narrow. She accepted another cover band invitation to join the Valerie Tyson Band which would also produce additional income. This particular band was known for its pristine reputation which made it perfect for Shanna Lee. She used that platform to increase her standard of excellence and to sharpen her performance skill. She took notes from Valerie Tyson, on and off stage. Valerie had mastered the art of “wooing the crowd” and Shanna Lee wanted that too. Valerie Tyson, would also share warm wisdom with Shanna Lee. She would say things like, “don’t get ready… be ready,” and “Miss Shanna, it’s time for some new track shoes,” and “you never lose when you invest in you. You’re worth it!” Within a year, Shanna Lee, began to receive opportunities to travel and sing background for celebrity performers, to include, Kymani Marley and Mikey Spice.
Recently, Shanna Lee has been asked to define her sonic identity as an artist. She believes that all these experiences play a significant role in her musical and artistic evolution and she doesn’t believe that will ever end. However, to date, Shanna Lee has been named, authentic, stylish, humble, distinct, and classical. She has a one-in-a-million sound and intends to make a legacy in entertainment that will become history worth mentioning.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Building a fan base and establishing the business structure on my own that would otherwise be provided by a major label or label affiliate.
Please tell us about OneShannaLee, LLC.
I am a Singer, Songwriter, Entertainer, and Entrepreneur
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Put groups together and singing.
Contact Info:
- Address: 7972 PINES BOULEVARD #245704, Pembroke Pines, FL. 33024
- Website: 1shannalee.com
- Email: oneshannalee@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/oneshannalee
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/oneshannalee
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/oneshannalee
Image Credit:
Pantha Photography; Djazz Photography; BWhite Photography; Oneshannalee, LLC.
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