David Shelley & Bluestone

Charles Gasper - Bass

John Yarling, Raul Hernandez - Drums

Powerful blues rock guitar. Soulful testifying vocals. Heartfelt original songwriting. Passionate percussion with a hard grooving band. These elements make up the music of David Shelley and Bluestone. They are a South Florida based Blues Band founded by California born David Shelley.

David Shelley is the lead singer and guitarist of Bluestone, the son of a Jazz singer/actress, Martha Stewart, and grandson of Buddy De Sylva, songwriter of “Birth of the Blues”, “Sunny Boy” and the “Best things in Life are free”. David Shelley has been to a crossroads called Earth, where glitz and grime meet on the boulevard between swamp and desert, creating jamming blues rock music that is ancient and modern and truly original.

David began his career as a Blues artist in 1990 after touring the world as a guitarist with show business icon, Cher. Writing and creating his own brand of blues, David uses world rhythms, traditional blues instrumentation and soulful vocals as a vehicle for his songs. His songs call to mind the struggles and joys of real life.

David played percussion with jazz fusion artist Randy Bernsen and was guitarist, singer and songwriter with reggae band T’shan. T’shan was wildly popular in local clubs and David took the sound even further with his own band, opening for everyone from The Clash and The Kinks to reggae star Dennis Brown, rocking the house with an eclectic mix of worldbeat and blues roots.

David then moved to the desert in an effort to reconnect with his musical roots. Roaming the West, he hooked up with some Native American musicians in Santa Fe. Featuring members of the Apache and Zuni tribes, The Mud Ponies (sometimes called Seventh Son) played hard rocking Indian based blues throughout the Southwest.

For many years David has worked in the Native American community, performing on the bill with John Trudell, Floyd Redcrow Westerman and the late Jessie Ed Davis. He co-wrote and co-produced for Native American vocalists Paula Bowers and Grammy Award winner Star Nayea. He also performs in Native American singer/songwriter and former Seminole Tribal Chairman Chief Jim Billie’s backup band.

David also had Blues Farm, an LA based band often featuring blues star Coco Montoya, who encouraged Shelley to pursue his dreams of being a blues artist. David is often invited to play with Allman Brothers guitarist Warren Haynes’ band Gov’t Mule, he has shared the stage with Allman Brothers alumnus Dan Toler, blues artists like Anson Funderburg, Billy Branch, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Tommy Castro, Larry McCray and many more.

David Shelley has done the work to become one of the region’s top blues performers. He headlines annually at the Riverwalk Blues Festival in Fort Lauderdale, one of the largest of such events in the country. In 2007 David represented the South Florida Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. There The David Shelley Band competed with almost 160 bands from around the world, proudly making it to the top 10 finalists.

After competing with 24 other bands, David Shelley and Bluestone won the chance to open for The Charlie Daniels Band at Sunfest, Florida’s largest waterfront music and art festival, in 2010. David also beat the competition for a repeat opportunity to represent the South Florida Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge in 2011.

A trip to Nashville in late 2009 reinvigorated David’s songwriting and 2010 found him hard at work on writing, performing and recording original songs for a new CD to be released in early 2011.

Bluestone guitarist Dave Scott, is one of the most talented guitar players anywhere. His passionate approach to blues guitar playing has the roots of the blues’ masters with a modern melodic sensibility. He has spent most of his life playing guitar and song writing. At the age of 17, he had his first record, “Tuff Luck”, released on New Renaissance Record Label. During this time he was featured in many National Publications such as, “Guitar Player”, “Guitar for the Practicing Musician” and “Guitar World” magazines, just to name a few. David moved to Los Angeles in the 90’s where he worked with many well-known musicians writing, recording and performing on the LA music scene. Dave has opened a new chapter and is now playing guitar with David Shelley and Bluestone.

Bass player Charles Gasper of Zuni, New Mexico began his musical career playing the Southwest circuit with Alien Lovestock. Charles continued pursuing his musical aspirations by joining the San Francisco music scene, performing and recording with the legendary funk pioneer, George Clinton and various world beat projects. He later joined long-time Bay Area Latin rockers Orixa, whose crossover sound of rock/reggae/funk/ska helped garner accolades and to establish the band as the premier rocken espanol group in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2010, Charles relocated to South Florida to join up with long time friend David Shelley and Bluestone.

John Yarling originally hails from the Motor City - Detroit, Michigan. He has recorded with many well-known artists including Pink, OV7 and Sarah Foon and has performed with Tumbling Dice [Nicky Hopkins, Mick Taylor, Bobby Keys (Rolling Stones), Fuzzy Samuels (Crosby, Stills,Nash and Young), and Lester Chambers (Chambers Brothers)], Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88s and Josh Smith, among others. John has extensive international touring experience. He is the drummer of choice for many South Florida performers of note as well as national artists appearing in the South Florida area.

Raul Hernandez, his life reads like a novel. Born in Cuba, he came to America on a raft at 21 years old, risking his life and bringing with him the music of the island. Raul came on the blues scene and was taken under the wing of Florida Bluesman and IBC winner, Joey Gilmore. Raul is also an accomplished percussionist and saxophone player.

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