Shirley Bunnell has been making music since she was a school girl. Growing up in Southern California, she came of age surrounded by the very musicians who launched the Contemporary Christian Music genre. Her grade school music teacher was none other than Peter Jacobs of Children of the Day, and she learned from the likes of Roby Duke,The Archers and 2nd Chapter of Acts. By the time Shirley was about 12-years old, she was already in the recording studio herself, singing background vocals for Honeytree.

Shirley took up guitar at age 9 and discovered in her early high school years that she had a passion to share her own music. She started writing songs, performing solos at her church and gigging at outside venues.

By the time she hit her late teens, Shirley had fallen more in love with rock music and began looking for more aggressive outlets. She became lead singer for a Northern California rock band called Phyre, whose gifted musicians helped Shirley develop an edginess, both in her voice and in her songwriting. Phyre eventually became Alldrin/Bunnell, an award-winning collaboration that caught the attention of music industry executives.

While gigging around Northern California, Alldrin/Bunnell regularly bumped into another rocker named David Grow, a man who has since become an influential and prolific producer and songwriter (Jim Brickman, Anne Cochran). Within a few years, Shirley had moved to Californias Central Coast, and David had relocated to Southern California. They began collaborating, and David ended up co-producing Shirley's first solo CD, "What I Need". Thanks to Grows contacts, some of the Los Angeles area's hottest musicians lent their talents to Shirley's project -- Matt Laug & Lance Morrison(Alanis Morrisette), Keith Howland (Chicago), Sachi McHenry (Yanni).

In the middle of producing What I Need, Shirley found herself uprooted by her husband's career. Thankfully, they landed in Harrisburg, PA, which was developing its own vibrant music scene at the time. Shirley caught the attention of the guys at The Green Room studio, who ended up co-producing the project and making "What I Need" a reality.

It was in Central Pennsylvania that Shirley really blossomed as a performer. With some of the Green Room's best musicians, the Shirley Bunnell band became a regular at the capital region's most popular venues. It was Shirley's first real foray into the club scene, rocking out in smoky bars and college-crowd coffee houses. She developed quite a following and garnered glowing reviews.

Once again, the Bunnells relocated, this time back to Northern California. In Sacramento, Shirley immediately got plugged in at Warehouse Christian Ministries, a church with a rich history of producing Christian Music heavyweights (Charlie Peacock, The '77s, Brent Bourgeois). It was there that Shirley developed a rich friendship with Ralph Stover, a gifted and accomplished music producer (Plus One, Natalie Grant). Ralph joined Shirley's new band and ended up producing her latest CD, Release.

Shirley and Ralph also collaborated on the worship album Hands to Heaven, which was picked up by Maranatha Music. Maranatha ended up using some of Shirleys songs on several other projects as well, and her song To Please You, even caught the attention of Kathie Lee Gifford, who recorded it on her album Gentle Grace.

It was also in Sacramento that God blessed Shirley with two beautiful children. Shauna and Joshua provided the inspiration for many of the songs on Release, as God used them to demonstrate His faithfulness, to demonstrate that, even through the years she and her husband had struggled with infertility, He had had a perfect plan in place. The deep friendships Shirley established in Sacramento also inspired several other songs on Release.

"There are those who sing and write music that pleases the ear. Shirley Bunnell sings and writes music that stirs the soul! She filled our seats with people and then spilled her heart. If possible, I would have set the clocks back a couple hours in between her sets, but alas, I have each of her 3 CDs and they have found a permanent home in my CD Player. For those booking musicians, I hope you have an open slot on your 'A-List.'"

Jeff Coleman - Studio 150