Pepper MaShay

Pepper MaShay (real name Jean McClain, born March 8, 1953) is an Urban/Soul music, House music and Club/Dance singer-songwriter who has had success as a touring and studio performer.

Personal life

Pepper MaShay, born Jean McClain, grew up in Muncie, Indiana. She left Indiana in her 20s to pursue a career in music, singing backup to performers such as Tina Turner. Growing up, her musical influences were Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan.

In 1995, she was discovered by music producer Michael O'Hara while abroad in Europe. She assumed that since she was over 40, she may not ever be discovered as a solo talent. Upon branding, O'Hara gave her the performer name "Pepper"; she added "MaShay" to it despite friends' objections that the name sounded like one given to a drag queen.

Career

As a lead vocalist, MaShay has released many tracks that have performed well on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart and more recently, the Hot Dance Airplay chart. Those singles , include "Something To Feel" (1995), "Happiness" (1997), "Step Into My Life" (1998), "Sextacy" (2000) and "Send Me an Angel" (2005). Her voice is probably best known from the "Let's get soaking wet!" chanting throughout the Barry Harris track "Dive in the Pool", made famous by its inclusion in the American television series Queer as Folk. Another collaboration with Harris, "I Got My Pride", hit number two on the U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 2001. MaShay has an extensive résumé of work as a background and session singer.

In late 2006, Pepper MaShay earned her first solo chart-topper on the U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart with the song "Lost Yo Mind". It has attained moderate to heavy rotation on dance-oriented radio stations, charting well on the Hot Dance Airplay. Pepper MaShay issued her new single, "Got To Give The People What They Want" in late January 2008 and "Does Your Mamma Know" during the fourth quarter of 2008.

Discography

Singles

• "Something To Feel"
• "By Any Means Necessary"
• "Into You"
• "Happiness"
• "Right Back To Love"
• "Step 2 Me"
• "Step Into My Life"
• "Sextacy"
• "Here's To Life"
• "Not Much Heaven"
• "Love Pretender"
• "You've Got To Go"
• "Dive in the Pool" (with Barry Harris)
• "I Got My Pride"
• "You and Me (Feels So Good)" (with Solar City)
• "I Want You In My Life"
• "I Pledge"
• "Let's Runaway" (with Scott Michael)
• "Happy New Year" (with Ernest Kohl)
• "I Can't Stop"
• "Electro Illusion"
• "You're My Inspiration"
• "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" (with Colton Ford) (cover of Stevie Wonder's 1970 hit)
• "Send Me an Angel" (cover of Real Life's 1983 hit)
• "Beauty Shop" (featured in the film Beauty Shop)
• "Lost Yo Mind"
• "Got To Give The People What They Want"
• "Does Your Mamma Know"
• "Freeway of Love" (cover of Aretha Franklin's 1985 hit song)

See also

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart

External links

• Official website
• - Pepper Mashay's Label site on Myspace
• - Pepper Mashay Fanpage