Biography & Pics
I am currently a Lead Wellbeing & Lifestyle Coordinator and Dementia Coach working in Care. Previous to that I worked as a Librarian for 35 years. During these years, I moonlighted as a Singer/Songwriter/Musician/Performer. More recently I've become a book author and publisher with 14 books now sitting on my bookshelf.
Over the years, I've played many gigs at many venues. I've been on BBC radio and have always been compared in style to the likes of James Taylor, John Martyn & Jim Croce.
Over my career I've released four albums (40 self-penned songs) - ‘Haunt Me’ in 1993, In A Melody in 1997, ‘Sky Turn Blue’ in 2001 and 'Be Myself' in 2013.
I started playing guitar age 9, taught by my dad.
I started my musical career back in 1986, playing bass and singing with my Dad in his country/rock'n'roll band, working the pubs & clubs of South East England. (Kim Bridges and The Blue Moon Boys & John Smith's Country Band - 'Pony Express').
At this time I was making films and appeared as an actor as 'Richie Fields the bass player' in 'The Wandlebeats' a spoof rockumentary about a 1960s Croydon band alongside Andy Callen (vocals/guitar), Julian Dryden (vocals/drums) and Peter Holm (vocals/lead guitar).
At this time I appeared on stage for the Light Pen Revue Company at various venues with good friend Julian Dryden.
In 1989 I directed, edited and produced my own film (1hr 45minutes long) to the script of Julian Dryden and Richard Roberts (below) called 'Sherlock Holmes and The Curse of The Vampire'. This was filmed on location in Croydon and featured the staff of Croydon Libraries at the time - Chris Batt, Adie Scott, Stuart Bligh, Ian Burns (cousin of David Bowie) and many more. It features some rare clips of the Croydon Clocktower in the old days!
click on this link and watch film here
In 1990, I started writing my own songs and achieved a rarity in the music business by having my home demo of 'Talking 'bout That Feeling' played on national radio (John Dunne Show, BBC Radio 2), with the producer's believing it to be a finished product! The song was taken from my very first cassette release on my newly formed record label called 'Go Crazy Music', set up with brother Dal,
In 1992 I appeared playing acoustic guitar for my sister Sandra Shields' Beanos Record Store competition winning vinyl single 'This Woman Breathes'.
In 1993 I released my first studio album 'Haunt Me', recorded at Moon Studio, Croydon, Surrey and was interviewed by Gloria Hunniford on her BBC Radio 2 show on its release. ALBUM No.1
Moon Studio - L to R - Chris, Dal, Sandra, Phil Husry, Phil Callow, Liz Hollowood, Peter Mayne
Dave Woodhead
Interviewed live by Gloria Hunniford with Bobby Davro BBC Radio 2
Gordon Young engineer Moon Studio with Chris & Dal
Mark Feltham on harmonica
That same year a song from the 'Haunt Me' album called 'The Fool' featured on David Lashmar's ‘Beanos’ Record Store Christmas vinyl 12 inch.
I sent out cassettes to record companies and got a call from Hermione Ross at Zomba Music to appear on backing vocals for her dad - Irish folk singer Christie Hennessy. This meant I was in the studio and working with producer Paul Samwell Smith (Cat Stevens/Carly Simon) singing on Christie’s Warner Brothers album 'Lord Of Your Eyes' at Maison Rouge studios, London, singing alongside Beverley Craven, Tanita Tikaram, Hermione Hennessy and drummer Russ Kunkel.
Christie Hennessy 1994 Ireland Tour including the Point Dublin & Opera House Cork
In November 1994 Hermione gave me the support tour slot and band member place for the Christie Hennessy Band on acoustic guitar and backing vocals. I toured extensively in Ireland playing & singing half an hour solo support for Christie, as well as appearing on guitar & vocals in Christie’s band, appearing at 18 major venues including The Point, Dublin & Opera House, Cork.
Cork Opera House
Waterford
Limerick
In 1997 I released my second studio album 'In A Melody' recorded at Moon Studio & RMS Studios, South London.
ALBUM No.2
Dave Woodhead on trumpet and flugelhorn
Dal on drums, Mark feltham on harmonica
That same year I appeared on acoustic guitar on my sister Sandra Shields' album 'In Solitary Splendour'.
In 2000 I played acoustic guitar for singer Kezi Silverstone (sister to Alicia) in her band at The Borderline, London and recorded with her too.
That same year I engineered and co-produced a radio comedy called 'Holmes And The Doctor: A Criminal Comedy' by Steve Glover (Heartburn Hotel BBC). Two recordings were made of Episode One "A Norwood Builder" starring Kim Wall, Alison Egan, Ifan Huw Daffyd, Stephen Aintree, Alex Lowe and Simon Linnell.
In 2001 I released my third studio album 'Sky Turn Blue' on my new 'Taciturn' record label, mastered at Abbey Road Studios by Chris Blair. From this album, I released my first ever single called 'Gently Fade Away'.
ALBUM No.3
At Abbey Road Studios mastering the album with Chris Blair
SINGLE No.1
I played 3 sell out shows at the Croydon Clocktower (1998,1999 & 2001)
Steve Buckley on sax and Alan Glen on harmonica
and made 21 appearances at The Original Songwriters at the Orange Club Kensington, London also playing the Mean Fiddler Acoustic Room, Kashmir Klub and Marquee Cafe.
Sean Freeman on sax, Ian Iredale on lead guitar, Steve Walters on bass, Dylan Howe on drums
Jimmy Gallagher on sax, Gordon Hulbert on keys
Dal on drums, Geraint Roberts on bass
Liz Jackson and Meli James on BVs
Chris Newland on lead guitar and Steve Lamb on bass
Havana, Cuba 2003
In 2005 & 2015 I performed on harmonica with the Croydon Schools Music Association choir at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon, for conductor Claire Slade.
In 2006 I appeared on Christie Hennessy’s ‘Platinum Collection’ singing on the opening track 'Love's Great Pretender',
appearing that same year on Kezi Silverstone's album 'Whatever It Takes'.
In 2010 I played acoustic guitar for the Stephen Savage 'Legacy' Hollywood film soundtrack and even got my name on the film's scrolling end credits!
I did a few gigs for Foal Farm in Kent.
My fourth album 'Be Myself' was released in 2013 featuring Brendan Power on harmonica, Dylan Howe on drums, Scott Firth on bass, Shanks Putwain on percussion, Alle Pearse on keyboards, Chris Newland on lead guitar, Dal Shields & Sandra Shields on backing vocals, engineered by Andy Le Vien at RMS Studios. ALBUM No.4
A track from that album called 'Daddy I Know What You Mean', received lots of airplay including the Dave Cash BBC Show.
In 2014 I re-recorded 'But The Neighbours Ain't' and released it as a digital download single. Featuring BJ Cole on pedal steel, Mark Feltham (Nine Below Zero) on harmonica, Liam Grundy (Scotty Moore Band/James Burton/Billy Swan Band) on piano & Dylan Howe (Wilko Johnson) on drums.
SINGLE No.2 with BJ Cole on Pedal Steel & Liam Grundy on Piano
I released a Christmas single in 2015 called 'My Christmas Party (Elvis is Coming)'. SINGLE No.3
James Chapman on drums, Alex Broadway on lead guitar, Peter Evans on bass
Over the years my band has included:-
Harmonica- Mark Feltham, Alan Glen, Brendan Power. Saxophone- Frank Mead, Pete Thomas, Steve Buckley. Lead Guitar- Chris Newland, Brian Shields, Alex Broadway. Bass Guitar - Scott Firth, Geraint Roberts, Steve Lamb, Graeme Eve, Peter Evans. Pedal Steel - BJ Cole. Piano - Peter Mayne, Alle Pearse, Liam Grundy, Holly Manktelow. Drums - Dylan Howe, Dal Shields, Greg Leppard, James Chapman, John Brook. Violin - Sara-Jo Izzett, Garry Blakeley. Mandolin - Pete Fyfe. Flute - Sue McCarthy. Percussion - Shanks Putwain.
L to R - 1998 Dal, Mark F, Claire B, Garry Blakely, Sandra Shields, Pete Fyfe, Shanks Putwain, Chris Newland, Greg Leppard, Steve Buckley, Scott Firth
L to R - 1999 Steve Buckley, Greg Leppard, Garry Blakeley, Lead guitarist ?, Pete Fyfe, Shanks Putwain, Alan Glen, Calire Brown, Peter Mayne, Liz Jackson, Dal.
L to R 2000 Selina Ray, Alison Pearse, Chris Newland, Garry Blakely, Steve Lamb, Dal Shields, Nic France, Gordon Young, Shanks Puywain, Pete Fyfe, Brendan Power.
I then started to write non-fiction books. The first, published in 2017, is 'The Beulah Spa 1831-1856 A New Pictorial History'.
At this time I founded the Beulah Spa History Project which I set up to get funding for a granite Beulah Spa well stone and history lectern - achieved September 2018.
In 2018 I was baptised and confirmed at St Mary the Blessed, Addington Village, Surrey.
The second book (published 2018) is a journey through my varied and unusual family tree. Tales of Romanies - the Northamptonshire Smiths, the Loveridges and the Scarrotts and the discovery of Charlie Chaplin’s birth on the Black Patch. The Bakers of Eastbourne. Seaside concert parties – Fred Austin’s Merrie Middies. The Snells of Mortimer. The Shields of Peckham – The Twilights and the Star Club, Hamburg. 'Putting My Past Behind Me'.
My third (published 2019) is 'Christianity: A Modern Historical Perspective'.
In March 2019 I released the song 'You Are Loved' as a digital download single. I sing, play acoustic guitar, bass and lead guitar with Alle Pearse on Keys, Dylan Howe on Drums, Daniel & Amber Shields on backing vocals. Mixed by Andy Le Vien at RMS Studios. Cover art created by Andy Nash.
SINGLE No.4
My fourth book (2020) is a biography of Rik Mayall called 'Early Rik: Thoughts Of A Clown'.
In February 2020 I went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land and in September 2021 I was presented with the Bishop's Certificate scroll by the Bishop of Southwark.
In June 2023 my 5th book was published - ‘101 Romany Faces’ available on Amazon.
In May 2023 I released a new single - ‘Galilee’ available on Spotify/Amazon/iTunes and on this site!
In 2023 I was chosen to be included as a famous local musician by Croydon Museum Service in Croydon, Surrey, with my surname ‘Shields’ being included alongside the likes of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Kirsty MacColl.
In June 2024 my 6th book was published - ‘101 More Romany Faces’ available on Amazon.
In June 2024 I've achieved my first publication by a client author (the renowned Dr Eric Trudgill - an expert on the Romani).
In July 2024 I published book no.2 by Eric Trudgill called Ten Major Smith Gypsy Families Part 2
In August 2024 I published book no.3 by Eric Trudgill called The Family Tree of Five Major Cooper Gypsy Families
I May 2025 I published book no.4 by Eric Trudgill called Ten Major 18th Century Boswell Families: Traced into the 20th century.
In February 2025 I released my 4th album Be Myself on 2 x vinyl albums.
In May 2026 I published book no.5 by Eric Trudgill called Ten Major Lee Gypsy Families.
At the mixing desk, Stockholm.
I've been a big fam of singer songwriter James Taylor over the years and got to meet him on more than one occasion.
