Conversations with Shannon Martin-Paul

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Martin-Paul.

Hi Shannon, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am a Professional Vocalist from Avon Lake, Ohio. I have been married to my husband Brian since 2001 and together we raised my son Nate and shared custody of raising his 3 kids Brian Jr, Hannah & Abby. They are all amazing young adults now with great careers and we could not be prouder of them. My husband works in the building trade and like me, has been a musician most of his life.

I have worked with and led many local bands over the past 30 + years. I started singing at the age of 9 at the urging of my 4th-grade music teacher Susan Vance Koch and never stopped. I attended LCCC to study music (1993-95) and The Art Institute of Pittsburgh for Photography (2013-2016).

For the past 22 years I have led various bands with my husband and bass player Brian C. Paul Sr., including “Nomad Soul” and “Nomad Soul Acoustic Group” and have managed his Dj Service, ” DJ Superfly Inc. My husband and I also ran a music mentoring clinic for girls ages 13-18 who donated their time and talents to The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation from 2010-2016.

In 2016, I was asked to sit in as “Stevie Nicks” at a “Rumours” show in Rocky River, Ohio by my long-time friend and vocalist Claudia Doman, who sings “Christine McVie” in the band.

“Rumours” is Ohio’s Premier Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band and they have been playing in and around Ohio since 1997.

Because of my absolute adoration of everything Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac, my ability to channel Stevie’s vocals, stage presence, and my attention to detail when it comes to Stevie’s wardrobe, I was asked to permanently join “Stevie Nicks” at the end of January 2018. We have been playing all over the state to huge crowds, and I feel like I’m absolutely living my dream of a lifetime playing with this amazingly talented group of tribute musicians.

The lead guitarist Lance Horwedel, who plays “Lindsey Buckingham”, and I currently have an acoustic duo as well and have had quite the busy year playing out together with both bands.

I was invited to perform in New Orleans in January 2020 at The ” Night of 1,000 Stevie’s Event” at “One Eyed Jack’s” in the French Quarter where I opened the show with Fleetwood Mac’s “Seven Wonders”. It was a wonderful experience to meet so many talented people from around the world.  was invited back again back this year on Oct. 8th to perform with Stevie Nick’s hit “Stand Back”.

It’s an absolute honor to be only 1 of 12 performers in the World to be picked to perform at that show in New Orleans.

In my free time, I enjoy live music photography and I love to go to my friends’ events to photograph their live bands or do charity work for local dog rescues. Our band and Dj Service donate our time to local dog rescues and charity events every year. I also shoot senior pictures and family portraits in my free time.

You can check out my photography here:

http://www.facebook.com/SMPphotographicservices or here

https://sbpaul01.myportfolio.com

For more information on Shannon’s other projects follow her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/shannonmartinpaul

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My life has been something of a challenge physically since the mid 90’s. I fractured 5 vertebrae in my neck in a car accident in 1996, basically breaking my neck, but not bad enough for MRI or X-ray to see it. I worked 2 jobs, raised kids, and played in bands for 12 years like that pretty much self-medicating and seeing the wrong doctors with really bad advice because I was in so much pain all the time until one day I got home from work, sat down and something in my neck shifted and I was paralyzed from my neck down.

In 2008, I was rushed to the hospital, and they did emergency surgery on my C3-C7 vertebrae.  The doctor explained to my husband, the vertebrae in my cervical spine had disintegrated. They replaced them with a titanium rod, screws, cadaver bones, and plates. The clincher though, they had to go through my throat to do it and it was going to take up to a year to recover and a lot of physical therapy and speech therapy. It did take that long and even longer for me to be able to sing again.

My life drastically changed, and it has not stopped changing since. In 2013 I became very ill, and we couldn’t figure out why. I was blacking out, having major migraines, and had no appetite. I lost 105 lbs. in 6 months. I had had a small stroke, called an Ischemic Stroke, and they found lesions on the white matter in the frontal lobe and in the small of my brain. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis, chronic migraines, I now must take medication for these thigs daily. I get checked for MS every year as it runs very heavily in my family as well.

All in all, the physical struggles just make me appreciate every day that I do I feel well and get to go out there and perform. The days I don’t, I push through them and put on some music or go outside and play with my 2 dogs. Being able to perform for me is an absolute gift. Music is a definite lifeline for me as well as family, and friends, photography, and my animals.

I’ve accepted the fact that my medical condition is progressive, and that I have some physical limitations. I’ve been sober for 10 years now, and think that I must take things day by day. I am grateful for every day I have with less pain, and every day I get to step onto a stage.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
It’s easier for me to show you!

https://rumoursband.us

www.facebook.com/rumours1997tribute

www.facebook.com/lanceandshannonacousticduo

https://www.facebook.com/NomadSoulAcousticGroup

https://www.facebook.com/NomadSoulBandCleveland

I’m a Stevie Nicks Tribute Artist in Ohio’s Premier Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band “Rumours” and the lead vocalist is 3 other bands.

I’m also a photographer in whatever spare time I may have and love to get out with my camera.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I’m not sure luck really has anything to do with my career. I think my career is based on my hard work and dedication to being a great vocalist and building a good reputation for myself for being reliable on and off the stage. I like being easy to work with, I think it’s important to make as many connections as possible. It is very important to me to run a dependable business for any band I’m in or photoshoot I’m on for the clients or crowd we are working for.

Music is all about feeling and connection. Being able to read the crowd and tell the story so they can connect with you is my business!

Luck runs out but being real and genuine does not.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rumoursband.us
• Instagram: smpmusicinc
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/rumours1997tribute
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzpxlYJlnlUcJV5Znk7Iz5FQrxfQMayk6
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/lanceandshannonacousticduo

Image Credits
Jen Gore