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Biography
unreferenced|date=June 2007Infobox musical artist | name = Shai| image =| caption =| image_size =| background = group_or_band| alias = Right Back At Cha| origin = Washington D.C. , U.S.| genre =| years_active = 1992–present| label = Gasoline Alley/MCA (1991-1996) Big Play (1998-1999) Shai Music (2003-2004) 9 World Wide (2007-2008) Fight 4 Mu (ALIVE) (2008-present)| associated_acts =| website =| current_members = Darnell Van Rensalier Garfield A. Bright Dwayne Jones George Spencer III| past_members = Carl Martin Marc Gay Erik Willis| notable_instruments = Shai is an early 1990s vocal Contemporary R& B|R& B / soul music|soul quartet . Their biggest hit was " If I Ever Fall in Love ," which reached #2 in the United States|U.S. Top 40 .
History
Shai was formed at Howard University 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-FM|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 MCA Records|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. Citation needed|date=February 2007 "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 Blackface 's 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
Members
Darnell Van Rensalier
Garfield Bright
Dwayne Jones
George Spencer III
Former members
Carl Martin
Marc Gay
Erik Willis
Discography
Albums & EPs
1992: ...If I Ever Fall In Love (3x Platinum)
1993: Right Back At Cha
1994: End Of The Road (unreleased)
1995: Blackface (album)|Blackface (Platinum)
1999: Destiny (Shai album)|Destiny
2004: Back From The Mystery System: The Love Cycle
2007: Love Cycle: Back From The Mystery System (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 Shai
2011: If I Ever Fall in Love - The Best of (3 re-recorded tracks from original album)
Singles
" If I Ever Fall In Love " - 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
Filmography
1993: "Video Personification, Vol. 1"
External links
http://www.myspace.com/shaimusicworld Shai Official Myspace page
DEFAULTSORT:Shai (Band) Category:American rhythm and blues musical groups Category:American soul musical groups Category:MCA Records artists Category:American boy bands
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