Charles Shaw (singer)
Encyclopedia
Charles Shaw is a rapper and singer who, in 1988, performed on recordings credited to Milli Vanilli
.
Shaw, a US Army
veteran, was reportedly paid $6,000 to perform the rap on Milli Vanilli's hit "Girl You Know It’s True". In December 1989, Shaw disclosed to New York Newsday writer John Leland
that he was one of three singers on Milli Vanilli's hit debut album, and that Milli Vanilli frontmen Rob Pilatus
and Fabrice Morvan were impostors. Milli Vanilli producer Frank Farian
reportedly paid Shaw $150,000 to retract his statements.
Morvan and Pilatus went on to win the 1990 Grammy Award
for Best New Artist, but rumors about Shaw's involvement persisted. Eventually the true story of the band was exposed in November 1990 when Farian broke the story himself, and the duo's Grammy Award was subsequently withdrawn.
Farian re-launched the group in 1991 as The Real Milli Vanilli
, using Shaw with Brad Howell and John Davis, the singers from the original studio sessions. This group lasted for one album, Keep on Running.
In August 1998, Shaw was arrested in Cologne, Germany as part of an embezzlement
investigation. Shaw had been sought for allegedly pocketing money that was meant to be invested in a 1996 Real Milli Vanilli tour of Hungary
.
song "Girl You Know It's True".
In 2006, he issued an album under the name Charles Shaw's Iris. The disc featured a song called "Does Your Mother Know" which included the famous beat from "Girl You Know It's True", and other Milli Vanilli references.
Milli Vanilli
Milli Vanilli was a pop/dance music project formed by Frank Farian in Germany in 1988, visually fronted by Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus. The group's debut album achieved international success and earned them a Grammy Award for Best New Artist on Feb. 21, 1990. Milli Vanilli became one of the most...
.
Shaw, a US Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
veteran, was reportedly paid $6,000 to perform the rap on Milli Vanilli's hit "Girl You Know It’s True". In December 1989, Shaw disclosed to New York Newsday writer John Leland
John Leland (journalist)
John Leland is an author and has been a New York Times journalist since 2000. During a stint in 1994, he was editor in chief of Details magazine...
that he was one of three singers on Milli Vanilli's hit debut album, and that Milli Vanilli frontmen Rob Pilatus
Rob Pilatus
Robert "Rob" Pilatus was a German-American model, dancer and singer. Pilatus was best known as half of the pop music duo Milli Vanilli.-Early life:...
and Fabrice Morvan were impostors. Milli Vanilli producer Frank Farian
Frank Farian
Frank Farian , is a German record producer and songwriter. He started out as a trained cook before moving into the music industry...
reportedly paid Shaw $150,000 to retract his statements.
Morvan and Pilatus went on to win the 1990 Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best New Artist, but rumors about Shaw's involvement persisted. Eventually the true story of the band was exposed in November 1990 when Farian broke the story himself, and the duo's Grammy Award was subsequently withdrawn.
Farian re-launched the group in 1991 as The Real Milli Vanilli
The Real Milli Vanilli
The Real Milli Vanilli was the name of a music group which contained some of the original singers from Milli Vanilli - Brad Howell, John Davis, Jodie Rocco, Linda Rocco and Charles Shaw...
, using Shaw with Brad Howell and John Davis, the singers from the original studio sessions. This group lasted for one album, Keep on Running.
In August 1998, Shaw was arrested in Cologne, Germany as part of an embezzlement
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
investigation. Shaw had been sought for allegedly pocketing money that was meant to be invested in a 1996 Real Milli Vanilli tour of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
.
New recordings
In 2000, Shaw released an updated version of the Milli VanilliMilli Vanilli
Milli Vanilli was a pop/dance music project formed by Frank Farian in Germany in 1988, visually fronted by Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus. The group's debut album achieved international success and earned them a Grammy Award for Best New Artist on Feb. 21, 1990. Milli Vanilli became one of the most...
song "Girl You Know It's True".
In 2006, he issued an album under the name Charles Shaw's Iris. The disc featured a song called "Does Your Mother Know" which included the famous beat from "Girl You Know It's True", and other Milli Vanilli references.
External links
- Milli Vanilli biography via MTV.com