His Story
Shawn Scheller is a singer-songwriter from the Tampa Bay area. Well known as the lead singer/guitarist for TazBull Records Recording Artist: Save The Radio, a modern rock band who were, as of recently, one of the top live draws in the region landing on the Billboard charts in 2014 and reaching #37 on the Mainstream Top 40 Indicator Chart. STR's last performance was at the 97X Back Yard BBQ featuring top alternative acts as : Panic! at the Disco, AWOLNATION and Robert DeLong.
As the fate of Save The Radio remains undetermined, Shawn took to rebooting a solo career backed by a top-notch backing band of musicians he has named The Contenders. The live shows, both solo-acoustic and full ensemble, feature a mix of blue-eyed soul originals, Save The Radio songs and cover material ranging from the 40's Big Band era to what he refers to his "wheelhouse" a music known as sax driven/yacht rockin' retro 80's.
Shawn Scheller & The Contenders are a diverse 6-piece dance-rock and soul band from Tampa Bay, FL. The group, formed in 2016 by Scheller and Scott Lockhart while on hiatus from Billboard charting alt-rock act Save The Radio, finds a collection of fun-loving pranksters, music & movie nerds and family guys who met in high school (Shawn & Scott), the mall (Shawn & Ric Santiago), a bus-stop (Shawn & Junni B) and others kindly permanently borrowed from other bands (Mateo Olivo of Dosage and newly added Ezara Sanders formerly of Michael McDonald). SS&TC (for short) site artists like Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Hall and Oates, INXS and Doobie Brothers and templates for musical success. Their unique brand of entertainment fuses vocal harmonies and soulful horn lines with high energy performances honoring the integrity of the original artist that will drive you to dance, consume adult beverages, reminisce and hug your friends .Now hailed as 'Florida's most dangerous dance-rock n' soul band ' by Fans and Critics, Shawn Scheller & The Contenders have performed over 1000 shows and have had the pleasure of opening for iconic bands Bryan Adams, Rob Thomas, REO Speedwagon, Eddie Money, Panic! at the Disco, Pearl Jam, Billy Joel, Muse, Duran Duran, Neon Trees, Saigon Kick, 3 Doors Down and many more. "There are 6 bands you should know in Tampa/St Pete right now, Shawn Scheller & The Contenders is high on that list" -TheBurg- Currently, the band is working on a new single called "Ghost on the Inside " that they plan to release in May 2021. For updates, you can follow the band on social media https://www.facebook.com/
Shawn Scheller & The Contenders are:
Ric Santiago – Sax, Synth, Piccolo, Percussion, Vocals
Mateo Olivo – Lead Guitar, Vocals
Scott Lockhart – Lead and Backing Vocals, Drums, Guitar, Keyboards
Junni B. – Bass Guitar, Hype Man
Ezara Sanders – Keyboards, Lead Backing Vocals
Shawn Scheller – Lead Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars