Shawn Pander

“… a folk gem that improves with each listen…his music wouldn’t be out of place on a modern rock playlist next to John Mayer or Dave Matthews.” Texas Music Magazine

“Shawn Pander has a great voice and is a great song” – Ahmet Ertegun – AOL’s “The Biz”

“No broken arrows… Shawn’s aim as a writer is stunningly true and his soulful voice sends his words straight through the heart.”

-Kimmie Rhodes

Texan born singer-songwriter Shawn Pander has an appeal to his roots-pop

acoustic narratives that was come by honestly. A deep appreciation for his

own soulful upbringing has given him the empathy to connect with listeners

in a sincere and direct way. Pander’s blues-jazz-influenced songs strike

deeply and precisely, provoking the same type of authentic emotional

experience achieved lyrically by some of music’s greatest storytellers.

In fact, he was destined to tell a good story. Pander’s musical journey began

as a five-year-old boy. While keeping his father company at work— a used

car lot on the outskirts of Houston— Shawn befriended an elderly blues man

they called Homeless James, who played guitar along the sidewalk. An odd

couple they were, as James dealt young Shawn a strong and very real dose

of true Americana roots music. Eventually the business “went under” so

Shawn went to say goodbye to his unlikely mentor and that fateful last

encounter set him on a lifelong journey as a musician. “If I’m not going to see

you again, you’ll need this,” James said, selflessly handing over his beloved

Yamaha SG75 guitar. Now, decades later, Shawn’s strives to honor the story

that started with James. He still writes most all of his material on that old

guitar and has changed nothing except its strings. And old Homeless James

would be so very proud.

In 2006 Pander released his debut album, Memories 4 Sale. Tracks from the

album were spun regularly in a dozen different AAA, Hot AC and Country

markets, immediately breaking him onto the national airwaves. His first

single release, “Tell Mama”, gained him the full support of the Veterans of

Foreign Wars Organization and can still be heard on USA military base radio

stations across the country.

Shawn’s music attracted national media attention, earning critical acclaim

from such publications as Texas Music Magazine, which called his record,

“a folk-gem that improves with each listen” going on to say, “his music

wouldn’t be out of place on a modern rock playlist next to John Mayer or

Dave Matthews.”

Pander has appeared on nationally televised programs Fearless Music TV

(FOX) and the 30-minute documentary Behind the Lyrics. He also performed

on The Dr. Phil Show, after which he sold 3,000 albums in two days through

his own website. In 2008 he not only won the John Lennon Songwriting

Contest Grand Prize in the folk category but was also recognized as a Nokia

Featured Artist.

In 2009 Hub City Music released some of Pander’s sessions that had been

recorded across the US on a limited-edition EP titled “Claire,” each

individually numbered with hand printed liner notes. (Streaming online and

on terrestrial radio “Claire” can now be purchased exclusively through

Panders website and at his performances.)

In December of 2009 Shawn received the very prestigious ASCAP Harold

Adamson Lyric Award which celebrates the most talented and promising

young songwriters in the “pop” category. Along with the honor of accepting

the award, Pander was also invited to perform his song “Tell Mama” at The

Lincoln Center during the awards program.

Pander’s 2013 release, “BLACK and WHITE”, was followed by the single,

“This Side of the Dirt,” and became the theme song to “Tito Beveridge,” Tito’s

Handmade Vodka’s sold-out play, staged at the Scottish Rite Theatre. His

various record production credits include “Making Space” an album released

by L.A. based singer, Hannah Ascher.

Today, Shawn resides in Austin, Texas where he has just completed his new

album, “Forever and For Now” which features eleven songs penned and

produced by himself and Gabriel Rhodes. It is slated for release soon

beginning with a waterfall of singles that will be available for listening across

all streaming platforms. Downloads will be available on his website and a

special limited-edition vinyl will be available for purchase at his promotional

performances.

He has also joined fellow songwriters, Kimmie Rhodes, Johnny Goudie and

Gabriel Rhodes to form “Austin’s new feel-good band” — Happyland. A debut

single by that same title featuring a duet with Pander and Rhodes WAS

release on September 17 with shows to follow, including The Rockport Music

Festival (that honors the birthday of legendary songwriter Guy Clark) and

also Austin’s annual Armadillo Christmas Bazaar.