The journey of the “Soul” singer
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Being familiar with Oklahoma, often you find yourself backroading into some unknown little community. I have backroaded all my life down Highway 59 from Payne, to Wayne, To Rosedale, through Byars. It was a true shock to me as I sat elbows length from Shelly Phelps when she told me, with a smile and a chuckle, “There isn’t any news media in home town, it’s too small.” Shelly began singing at the age of 6, with The Sundowners and from there on any stage she could climb up on. “I thought this is what all little 6 year old girls do.” Phelps stated. Of course, growing up in the heart of the bible belt, Southern Gospel music was a must. Phelps career blossomed when she and two friends entered 4-H Share The Fun, where the trio performed as “flappers”. Chuckling Shelly, stated. “It wasn’t my fault I cut the dresses a little short, alright, way to short. Let’s just say the boys really liked us that day.”
At an early age, Shelly was crowned the Peach Princess, of Stratford, OK at the age of 14. At 15, Phelps saved up her earning from babysitting, and bought her own pa system.
Shelly thought she was the only one, with the yearning desire to leave that small town environment and felt the need to know more about society and knew she had to chase that Rainbow. Shelly chased her dreams to OKC, and from there music has been her soul.
Phelps had a stint on the road with a variety show, until a terminal illness impacted her life as her brother needed her. So, Shelly did what her heart told her to do, which was come home to help. Coming home didn’t mean hanging up her dreams, as Shelly found herself digging deeper into making things happen in Oklahoma.
Phelps, a self taught graphic artist, has a job which allows her to work at her own pace, enables her the opportunity to work for other artists designing CD covers. Often times you can find her singing background vocals for a new release, or scribbling down notes for one her own songs. After hearing Shelly, a few times, personally I was having a hard time distinguishing her genre. However, Phelps set me straight, as she said “I’m a soul singer. I sing with my soul.”
You can catch Shelly, live on Thursday nights in OKC at Jazmo’s in Bricktown, the fourth Sunday of the month, at Frankies. But her eyes take on a whole new type of sparkle, when you talk to her about live theatre. Shelly loves to act with her soul too. Memories were flowing as we spoke of when she played the part of Patsy Cline in OKC at The Boom starring as Cline in “ Always...Patsy”.
Shelly performs with awesome style, and rich throbbing vocals with ranges of all levels. This one gal, you will want to catch live.