Shai (band)
Encyclopedia
Shai is an early 1990s vocal R&B
/soul
quartet
. Their biggest hit was "If I Ever Fall in Love
," which reached #2 in the U.S.
Top 40.
in Washington, D.C.
Three of its four members, Marc Gay, founding member Carl Martin, and Darnell Van Rensalier, belonged to the same fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha
, and along with good friend Garfield A. Bright decided to take a chance at turning their hobby of singing at talent shows into a career. While still in DC, Carl met a DJ from radio station WPGC
at a softball game, and passed a demo tape of "If I Ever Fall in Love" to him. That same week, the DJ played it on the air. Other stations soon followed suit, and in short order the record labels came calling. After signing with Gasoline Alley
, Shai began quickly putting together their debut album, which was recorded in three weeks.
Carl E. Martin wrote the single "If I Ever Fall in Love" on a long ride back from his home in Louisiana to Washington, DC. It was written about his ex-girlfriend Camille, who also attended Howard University.
"If I Ever Fall in Love" was released as the first single, and peaked at #2 in the U.S. The next two releases from the double-platinum album, "Comforter" and "Baby I'm Yours," each peaked #10. The group's next album release was Right Back At Cha, a remix album of sorts that largely consisted of new versions of their previous hits, with a couple of new songs as well. A completely reworked version of their previous hit "Baby I'm Yours," simply titled "Yours," was released as a single, and peaked at #63.
Shai returned in 1994 with "The Place Where You Belong," from the Beverly Hills Cop III
soundtrack. It was the group's final Top 40 single. In late 1995 their followup album Blackface was released (#42 Pop, #15 R&B). It featured their final R&B Top 20 single "Come With Me" (#43 Pop). The group's last chart appearance was the follow-up single, 1996's #89 single "I Don't Wanna Be Alone" (the remix of which featured Jay-Z
), although they have continued to record. The 1999 album Destiny was recorded without Carl Martin (who had left the group after Blackfaces release), and their 2004 studio album Back From The Mystery System ... The Love Cycle was recorded with new member Erik Willis.
In 2008 Garfield A. Bright and Darnell Van Rensalier released their duet album "Worldwide" as D-n-G of Shai on the Fight 4 Mu (ALIVE) label in Germany. Marc Gay and replacement member Erik Willis had left the group and are now replaced by Riff
& Men Of Vizion member Dwayne Jones & Men Of Vizion
member George Spencer III
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
/soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
quartet
Quartet
In music, a quartet is a method of instrumentation , used to perform a musical composition, and consisting of four parts.-Western art music:...
. Their biggest hit was "If I Ever Fall in Love
If I Ever Fall in Love
"If I Ever Fall in Love" is an a cappella song by Shai, which reached #2 in the US charts in 1992, and spent one week at number-one on the US R&B chart. Its eight weeks at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US meant that it held the record for the second-most weeks at number two in the chart's...
," which reached #2 in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Top 40.
History
Shai was formed at Howard UniversityHoward University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Three of its four members, Marc Gay, founding member Carl Martin, and Darnell Van Rensalier, belonged to the same fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
, and along with good friend Garfield A. Bright decided to take a chance at turning their hobby of singing at talent shows into a career. While still in DC, Carl met a DJ from radio station WPGC
WPGC-FM
WPGC-FM is one of the most popular among Washington, D.C.'s urban format radio station's, and has been ranked as one of its top rated radio stations for over 20 years, according to the Arbitron ratings. It has a city of license of Morningside at the 95.5 MHz frequency on the FM dial...
at a softball game, and passed a demo tape of "If I Ever Fall in Love" to him. That same week, the DJ played it on the air. Other stations soon followed suit, and in short order the record labels came calling. After signing with Gasoline Alley
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
, Shai began quickly putting together their debut album, which was recorded in three weeks.
Carl E. Martin wrote the single "If I Ever Fall in Love" on a long ride back from his home in Louisiana to Washington, DC. It was written about his ex-girlfriend Camille, who also attended Howard University.
"If I Ever Fall in Love" was released as the first single, and peaked at #2 in the U.S. The next two releases from the double-platinum album, "Comforter" and "Baby I'm Yours," each peaked #10. The group's next album release was Right Back At Cha, a remix album of sorts that largely consisted of new versions of their previous hits, with a couple of new songs as well. A completely reworked version of their previous hit "Baby I'm Yours," simply titled "Yours," was released as a single, and peaked at #63.
Shai returned in 1994 with "The Place Where You Belong," from the Beverly Hills Cop III
Beverly Hills Cop III
Beverly Hills Cop III is a 1994 action-comedy film starring Eddie Murphy and directed by John Landis, who had previously worked with Murphy on Trading Places and Coming to America...
soundtrack. It was the group's final Top 40 single. In late 1995 their followup album Blackface was released (#42 Pop, #15 R&B). It featured their final R&B Top 20 single "Come With Me" (#43 Pop). The group's last chart appearance was the follow-up single, 1996's #89 single "I Don't Wanna Be Alone" (the remix of which featured Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
), although they have continued to record. The 1999 album Destiny was recorded without Carl Martin (who had left the group after Blackfaces release), and their 2004 studio album Back From The Mystery System ... The Love Cycle was recorded with new member Erik Willis.
In 2008 Garfield A. Bright and Darnell Van Rensalier released their duet album "Worldwide" as D-n-G of Shai on the Fight 4 Mu (ALIVE) label in Germany. Marc Gay and replacement member Erik Willis had left the group and are now replaced by Riff
RIFF
The Resource Interchange File Format is a generic file container format for storing data in tagged chunks. It is primarily used to store multimedia such as sound and video, though it may also be used to store any arbitrary data....
& Men Of Vizion member Dwayne Jones & Men Of Vizion
Men Of Vizion
Men of Vizion is an R&B quintet that came to fame in 1996, with the debut album, Personal, which featured the songs "Housekeeper" and "Do Thangz", produced by Teddy Riley, "Lil" Chris Smith.-Career:...
member George Spencer III
Albums & EPs
- 1992: ...If I Ever Fall In Love (3x Platinum)
- 1993: Right Back At ChaRight Back at ChaRight Back at Cha is an EP containing unreleased material, remixes and live performances of tracks from the debut album by Shai.-Track listing:#"Live Introduction" - 0:55#"Yours [Acappella]" - 5:20#"Show Me" - 5:49...
- 1994: End Of The Road (unreleased)
- 1995: BlackfaceBlackface (album)Blackface is a studio album by the R&B group Shai. It is the follow-up to their debut album ...If I Ever Fall in Love.- Track listing :#"Come With Me" – 4:39#"During the Storm" – 4:38#"I Don't Wanna Be Alone" – 4:54#"Mr...
(Platinum) - 1999: DestinyDestiny (Shai album)Destiny is the third studio album from American R&B group Shai, released on February 16, 1999 by Big Play Records.-Track listing:#"Destiny" – 5:14#*Featuring KRS-One#"Before I Go" – 3:54#"Zodiac" – 4:52#"He's Doing You Wrong" – 4:24...
- 2004: Back From The Mystery System: The Love CycleBack from the Mystery System: The Love CycleBack from the Mystery System: The Love Cycle is the fourth album by Shai, released on May 4, 2004. It was distributed electronically by CDBaby.com.-Tracklisting:#"Tell Me"#"Sexcapade"#"Sunshine"#"Fools Rush In"#"Complete Love"#"Runaway"...
- 2007: Love Cycle: Back From The Mystery SystemLove Cycle: Back from the Mystery SystemLove Cycle: Back from the Mystery System is a re-release of the album Back from the Mystery System: The Love Cycle and included newly recorded tracks. The album is available through iTunes and CD Baby.-Tracklisting:...
(re-release of the 2004 album) - 2008: Worldwide (as D-n-G of Shai)
Compilations
- 2001: 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Shai20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Shai20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Shai was released on August 14, 2001. The compilation album contains several hit singles of the R&B group.-Track listing:...
- 2011: If I Ever Fall in Love - The Best of (3 re-recorded tracks from original album)
Singles
- "If I Ever Fall In LoveIf I Ever Fall in Love"If I Ever Fall in Love" is an a cappella song by Shai, which reached #2 in the US charts in 1992, and spent one week at number-one on the US R&B chart. Its eight weeks at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US meant that it held the record for the second-most weeks at number two in the chart's...
" - November 28, 1992, MCA
US #2 US R&B #1 - "Comforter" - February 2, 1993, MCA
US #10 US R&B #4 - "Baby I'm Yours" - May 11, 1993, MCA
US #10 US R&B #19 - "Together Forever" - September 7, 1993, MCA
US R&B #89 - "Yours" US #63 US R&B #56
- "The Place Where You Belong" - August 2, 1994, MCA
US #34 US R&B #21 - "Come With Me - September 26, 1995, MCA
US #43 US R&B #15 - "I Don't Wanna Be Alone" - April 2, 1996, MCA
US #89 US R&B #51 - "Tell Me" - 2003, Shai