Chris Shinn

Chris Shinn

Charlotte has a lot of celebrities hiding in plain sight. One of which is the ever-humble Chris Shinn who grew up into inevitable stardom. As the child of the legendary owner of the Charlotte Hornets (and other sports franchises), George Shinn, Chris cut his teeth surrounded by famous people. He doesn’t name drop and trust me he knows more celebrities (comedians, athletes, and musicians) than you can list. He just quietly lives here making music and gracing the occasional stage, most recently with Blind Melon and as the front man of Live.

When I first met Chris in the ‘90’s, he was walking around with the swagger of a white Lenny Kravitz with dreads longer than his torso. Girls were obsessed and guys wanted to be his friend. Even with all of the attention, he was down-to-earth and genuine. Still very much is. Those dreads are in the past, and now in a baseball bat frame, but the charisma and magnetism is everlasting.

This big fish in a little pond is happy to call the Queen City home, but always makes it back to his natural environment and is currently gearing up for a tour this February with some notable musicians. Chris has spent some time in his studio completing an album with a project he has spearheaded simply called Shinn. He will be taking with him Dave Krusen (of Pearl Jam), Christopher Thorn (of Blind Melon), and Patrick Dahleimer (of Live). He downplays the impressiveness of it all and states, “I’m just going to a few cool cities to play music with my boys”. Always sincere and continuously grateful for the opportunity, Chris is a class act. Catch him for his one date in Charlotte and follow him on the socials to keep up with what he will do next.

2.10 @ Chickie Wha Wha (New Orleans)
2.12 @ Snug Harbor (Charlotte)
2.13 @ the Earl (Atlanta)
2.15 @ Local 506 (Chapel Hill)
2.16 @ the Pour House (Charleston)

words: Ellen Gurley
photo: Michael Kravetsky
(at Fireside Sound – Joshua Tree, CA)

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