Jeremiah Joseph Shea (J. J. Shea) is a singer/songwriter and former Canadian Foreign Service Officer whose diplomatic postings included assignments in India, the United States, Europe, Africa, Brazil, Sri Lanka and the Caribbean.
J.J. Shea has been writing and recording original songs since his early teens - a love that continues to this day (he's working on an album of new songs).
This year, J.J. Shea's songs received three finalist placements in the USA Song of the Year songwriting contest:
- Genetic Wonder - Lyrics Only Category (Top Finalist)
- Earthly Heaven - Folk Category (Top Four)
- Manhattan Girl - Rock Category (Top Finalist)
(The contest has been running since 2004. Notable winners include Meghan Trainor, Folk Category, 2010.)
Shea's global diplomatic postings provided unique musical collaboration opportunities:
- Daddy's Car and New York (is Falling in Love), cut in Kingston, Jamaica, feature Jamaica's outstanding Grammy award winning percussionist Sly Dunbar and have a distinct pop-reggae-fusion feel;
- By the Buffalo Harbour showcases exceptional Upstate New York rock and roll guitar and percussion work by Mark Krurnowski, Ken Rutkowski and Cave Wilson (on drums), and,
- A California Girl, recorded in Sri Lanka, was backed by the legendary Sri Lankan folk-rock band Alien Accent: (In 2007, during Paul Simon's holiday in Hatton, Sri Lanka, Alien Accent gave him a 40 minute private performance which he described as “fabulous, it's just great”).
Shea's dynamic hockey sports theme track Faceoff Time also features Sly Dunbar; this time with his fellow Grammy Award winner Robbie Shakespeare on bass. The song is a shout out to Canada's much-loved Saturday night broadcast, Hockey Night in Canada.
Please visit Spotify or iTunes to hear all of J.J. Shea's music. You may also click play below or the Songs link above to hear a selection of ten tracks.
J. J. Shea's songs receive very high ratings in SHAZAM: His tracks Daddy's Car, Earthly Heaven, Till the End of Time, A California Girl, Dreams That Come From Love, It's Always Sunny , New York (is Falling in Love) and Oh Canada, I Miss You So, all receive high ratings for "Melodicness" – catchy tunes and lyrics, with singable and memorable melodies.
J. J. Shea is open to publishing opportunities, sync licensing and artist coverage. He owns 100% of his songs' master and publishing rights and is a member of SOCAN, the Canadian music rights organization.
Shea's family has a distinguished history in the entertainment world, having built several Shea's Theatres in Toronto, Canada and Western New York. Shea's Theatres have hosted a range of entertainment greats over the years. For more on the Shea’s Theatres please click here.
To learn more about J. J. Shea, please click here,