Shelton Becton

About

Shelton Becton (b. 1953), a North Carolinian, was drawn to music at an early age. From the tender age of 4, Shelton’s future was decided. Falling in love with the piano, he taught himself to play. He accompanied his first church choir at 7 years of age. During his intermediate years, Shelton refined his talents by furthering his education through private study. This led him to attend Howard University, where he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance. Being well versed at the piano, pipe organ, synthesizer, and as a vocalist, Shelton has served in a variety of professional capacities. His expertise as a musical director, arranger, and vocal accompanist has been commissioned by such well known artists as Judy Collins, Roz Ryan of TV’s “Amen & The Andersons, Roberta Flack, Phylicia Rashad and Patti Austin. Shelton’s vocal accomplishments are in a multitude of genres. Singing pop, urban contemporary, classical, country and gospel styles are one of the selling features of his vocal agility. Well-known artists such as Anita Baker, Billy Preston, Bette Midler, Rickie Lee Jones, and Wintley Phipps have sought after his signature performance style. Other recording credits include Judy Collins’ “The Times of Our Lives”, Noel Pointer’s “Calling”, Frankie Knuckles’ “Beyond the Mix”, Patti Austin’s “Love Is Gonna Getcha & “Live at The Bottom Line”, and Roberta Flack’s “Christmas Album”. One of his original Christmas spirituals entitled “Oh, How Precious” was featured on the Arsenio Hall Show in 1993. It was also used as the finale for the Christmas tour called “The Colors of Christmas”. The tour featured Patti Austin, Jeffrey Osborne, Roberta Flack, and Peabo Bryson. Metropolitan opera star Denyce Graves enlisted three of Shelton’s original Negro spirituals for her NPR recording of “Angels Watching Over Me. His compositions have been televised on the Cosby Show, Christmas in Washington, and the UNICEF Broadcast taped in Amsterdam. He was awarded the very first accompanist trophy at the Jung und Musik Festival in Vienna for pinch-hitting for competing choirs in the performance of Borodin’s “Polovtsian Dances”. Currently he can be heard in the orchestra of the Broadway musical The Color Purple as Associate Conductor, synthesist, and organist. He also serves as vocal coach for many of the cast members.

Related Information

Works by Shelton Becton