Christa

I have to admit, I've been a fan of Christa Shuford's since she was a young Miss Hickory and competed in pageants (she won Talent at Miss North Carolina, by the way!) Today, however, I am amazed at the growth, depth, and maturity of her talent! Her amazingly versatile vocals coupled with her stunning beauty (can you tell I have a little crush?) make for a dynamite combination! This woman should be singing on national stages! Well, she HAS sung on national stages! But she should be touring more than just the Southeast! Of course, then she probably wouldn't give me the time of day! No, I take that back. She's one of the most lovely people I've ever met.
So I enter the lovely restaurant/bar on South Boulevard that houses Christa's talent this evening along with her backup band L.A. Jazz Project. I brought two friends with me this evening who had never heard her sing, because, you know, I don't want to be biased! We sit, and I'm expecting the rock explosion that we normally get from her incredible stage vibe. However, she starts with a smoking hot rendition of Stormy Weather. Be still my heart! It was light and smoky in certain spots and full and powerful in others. Standing ovation on the first song? Okay, maybe that was just me (well, and a few others I should say.) But it was worth humiliating myself. She smiled at me and waved! As the night wore on, and the band took a break, I had to ask Christa if I could hear two of my favorite songs. These songs were never favorites of mine until I heard Christa sing them. I wanted to hear RESPECT and LAST DANCE. And of course, with a wry smile and a twinkle in her eye, Christa announced that she was dedicating the song to me! I can die a happy man now! What power! What a voice! What a woman! She belted out RESPECT just like it was the Queen Aretha herself up there! The crowd is on their feet at this point (not just me!) They're going wild! Then, right after the powerhouse vocals on RESPECT, I hear the familiar plink of the keys for LAST DANCE. And Christa's lovely lilting voice beginning the gentle part of this song. We're ALL on the dance floor at this point, just waiting with anticipation to hear "So, Let's Dance ..." to get things pumping. And once she starts the fast part of the song, what does Christa do? She comes down into the crowd with us and dances while she's singing, without missing a note! Perfection. And RIGHT after this amazing rendition of Last Dance, she starts right into the impossible vocals of Christina Aguilera! (When did she add this to her set?) Christa sings AIN'T NO OTHER MAN, and she sings it to me! Her vocals are extraordinary! This woman has a range that Celine would beg for! Not just a range vocally, but a range in genre as well. She can sing Allison Krauss as sweetly and beautifully as Allison, and she can belt out Christina like Christina herself.
So the night is over, and I ask my friends what they think. Remember, I didn't put this idea in their heads! I wanted an impartial note to put in my article. This is a direct quote from one of my friends. "I have truly never seen such a versatile performer with such amazing vocals! If you didn't know better, you'd think that you were listening to recordings of the actual artist when you hear her! And she's so nice!" And all I can say is Wow! What a woman! - Charlotte Observer

I have to admit, I've been a fan of Christa Shuford's since she was a young Miss Hickory and competed in pageants (she won Talent at Miss North Carolina, by the way!) Today, however, I am amazed at the growth, depth, and maturity of her talent! Her amazingly versatile vocals coupled with her stunning beauty (can you tell I have a little crush?) make for a dynamite combination! This woman should be singing on national stages! Well, she HAS sung on national stages! But she should be touring more than just the Southeast! Of course, then she probably wouldn't give me the time of day! No, I take that back. She's one of the most lovely people I've ever met.
So I enter the lovely restaurant/bar on South Boulevard that houses Christa's talent this evening along with her backup band L.A. Jazz Project. I brought two friends with me this evening who had never heard her sing, because, you know, I don't want to be biased! We sit, and I'm expecting the rock explosion that we normally get from her incredible stage vibe. However, she starts with a smoking hot rendition of Stormy Weather. Be still my heart! It was light and smoky in certain spots and full and powerful in others. Standing ovation on the first song? Okay, maybe that was just me (well, and a few others I should say.) But it was worth humiliating myself. She smiled at me and waved! As the night wore on, and the band took a break, I had to ask Christa if I could hear two of my favorite songs. These songs were never favorites of mine until I heard Christa sing them. I wanted to hear RESPECT and LAST DANCE. And of course, with a wry smile and a twinkle in her eye, Christa announced that she was dedicating the song to me! I can die a happy man now! What power! What a voice! What a woman! She belted out RESPECT just like it was the Queen Aretha herself up there! The crowd is on their feet at this point (not just me!) They're going wild! Then, right after the powerhouse vocals on RESPECT, I hear the familiar plink of the keys for LAST DANCE. And Christa's lovely lilting voice beginning the gentle part of this song. We're ALL on the dance floor at this point, just waiting with anticipation to hear "So, Let's Dance ..." to get things pumping. And once she starts the fast part of the song, what does Christa do? She comes down into the crowd with us and dances while she's singing, without missing a note! Perfection. And RIGHT after this amazing rendition of Last Dance, she starts right into the impossible vocals of Christina Aguilera! (When did she add this to her set?) Christa sings AIN'T NO OTHER MAN, and she sings it to me! Her vocals are extraordinary! This woman has a range that Celine would beg for! Not just a range vocally, but a range in genre as well. She can sing Allison Krauss as sweetly and beautifully as Allison, and she can belt out Christina like Christina herself.
So the night is over, and I ask my friends what they think. Remember, I didn't put this idea in their heads! I wanted an impartial note to put in my article. This is a direct quote from one of my friends. "I have truly never seen such a versatile performer with such amazing vocals! If you didn't know better, you'd think that you were listening to recordings of the actual artist when you hear her! And she's so nice!" And all I can say is Wow! What a woman! - Charlotte Observer