Shai (band)
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Shai is an early 1990s vocal R&B/soul quartet. Their biggest hit was an a cappella single, "If I Ever Fall in Love", which made #2 in the U.S. Top 40.
Band history
Shai was formed at Howard University in Washington D.C. Three of the four members, Marc Gay, Carl Martin, and Darnell Van Rensalier, belonged to the same fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, and along with good friend, Garfield A. Bright (b. 12 October 1969), decided to take a chance at turning their hobby of singing into a career. While still in DC, Carl met a DJ from WPGC at a softball game and passed the demo, "If I Ever Fall in Love" to the DJ. That same week the DJ played it on air. Other stations soon followed, and suddenly the record labels came calling. After signing with Gasoline Alley, Shai began putting together their debut album.
Carl E. Martin wrote the chart-busting single "If I Ever Fall In Love" on his long ride back from his home in Louisiana to Washington, DC. The song was written about his ex-girlfriend Camille, who also attended Howard University. [citation needed]
"If I Ever Fall in Love" was 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" both reached #10. The group's next CD was Right Back At Cha, a remix album largely consisting of new versions of their previous hits. A revised version of the song "Baby I'm Yours" simply titled "Yours" was released from it, 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 Shai's final R&B Top 20 single, "Come With Me" (#43 Pop). The group's last chart appearance was the followup single, 1996's #89 single "I Don't Wanna Be Alone" (the remix featuring Jay-Z), although they have continued to record. 1999's album Destiny was recorded without Carl Martin (who left the group after Blackface release), and their latest 2004 studio album Back From The Mystery System ... The Love Cycle was done with new Shai member - Erik Willis.
In 2008 Garfield A. Bright and Darnell Van Rensalier released their duet album "Worldwide" as "D-n-G of Shai" on label Fight 4 Mu (ALIVE) in Germany.
Members
- Garfield Bright
- Marc Gay
- Darnell Van Rensalier
- Erik Willis
Former members
- Carl Martin
Discography
Albums & EPs
- 1992: ...If I Ever Fall In Love (3x Platinum)
- 1993: Right Back At Cha
- 1994: End Of The Road (Gold)
- 1995: Blackface (Platinum)
- 1999: 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
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"