about shep
Born in England, I worked with many bands and performers, as a musician or tech, playing drums mainly with John Goodsall in what would latter become Brand X and working with artists in the arts scene at the Richmond Hill Gallery.
I came to America in January of 1973 and continued working in the performing and recording world, working with The J Geils Band, The Doobie Brothers and Toto both in the studio and touring mixing live shows, staying with the Doobies for seven years from 1975-1981 and with Toto for six years from 1981 until 1987. During this time period these two bands received a total of 11 Grammies.
During breaks between their recording and touring I found time to join "Charlie" playing drums. I recorded one album with them, " Fight Dirty " and did two tours, The first conveniently playing drums with Charlie then mixing The Doobie Brothers and the second opening for Robert Palmer, The Kinks and Alice Cooper.
While working with Toto I found myself working with different artists on other projects and when the opportunity arose in 1987 I left Toto stopped touring and accepted a position as a staff engineer at The Complex, Greg Ladanyi and George Massenburg's Studio in Los Angeles.
Feeling the need to play again, I started sitting in on Sunday nights at O'Brien's on Main Street in Santa Monica with a local band called Gaelic Storm. These Sunday night jams turned into party central with lines around the block and people dancing on the tables and so when James Cameron was looking for an out of control Irish band for his movie he picked us featuring us in his blockbuster hit TITANIC - So it was back to touring again!
As well as playing I also produced, engineered and mixed our first self-titled CD which remained on Billboards World Music charts for over 30 weeks. The four Gaelic Storm CD's on which I appeared all charted, the third CD charting twice reaching #5 when first released and then getting to #2 a year later.
While I was in the band Gaelic Storm played to record-breaking crowds headlining at the biggest Irish festivals including Milwaukee's famed Irish-fest, Celtic Fest Chicago, the Pittsburgh Irish Festival as well as the Festival Interceltique in Lorient, France. We likewise played to capacity crowds at countless performing arts centers all over the world.
Nominated as "performers of the year" in 1999 and 2000 by the National Association of Campus Activities, we garnered a huge following among collage students. A mini-documentary about Gaelic Storm aired on Cinemax and the band appeared many times on national and international TV, including being featured on two episodes on the award-winning prime time drama "Providence". The band, with two original members, continues to tour and record.
And now Foundaround Sound!