This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Brother Rice Product Shawn Riley and His Band Love to Rock Metro Detroit

The Shawn Riley Band will play at Northville's Town Square on July 15.

Shawn Riley first picked up a guitar in the sixth grade and really hasn’t put it down since.

The Northville father works real estate during the day and rocks his “other job” to an appreciative audience at night.

Riley's band plays next in downtown Northville's Town Square on  July 15th.

Find out what's happening in Bloomfield-Bloomfield Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Riley said his love of performance really got rolling in high school. He was building a float for homecoming at Brother Rice in Bloomfield Hills, when one of the guys started singing an old '50s song.

“A couple of us just jumped in on harmonies, and that created a group we put together for a talent show that year,” Riley said.

Find out what's happening in Bloomfield-Bloomfield Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

They won that talent show and it was the start of something special for him.

“We got fifty bucks,” Riley said. “We spent that money on Chuck Berry’s Greatest Hits and the Soundtrack to American Graffiti, and learned a bunch of songs off of them. We did that for a few years until we all went off to college and went in different directions.”

After playing solo gigs throughout college and several years after, all over the state, Riley teamed up with some of his favorite fellow musicians and formed the Shawn Riley Band in 1998.

With Riley on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Russell Klausing playing lead guitar, Jim Cracraft on bass and Alan Dante on drums, they hit the Metro Detroit concert circuit with a playlist of hits from the '50s to current top 40.

Three years ago drummer Jerome Day joined the band to help cover the busy concert schedule. This summer they’re keeping busy with community concerts in Plymouth, Northville and Wixom.  They also play private events, weddings and the popular Amerman Ice Cream Social.

“We all have regular jobs,” Riley said. “Jerome is really the only full-time musician. He toured with Uncle Kracker for five years, opening for Kenny Chesney and he’s Mitch Ryder’s current drummer, so we fit him in when we can.”

A long time Northville resident, Riley has gotten to know many members of his community through his music.

“It’s a really fun hobby," he said. "You can still make money at it, but we also do a lot of it to give back to the community. That’s why we play the parade every year.”

Riley and his band mates have performed in the Northville Fourth of July parade for the last nine years free of charge for the city and its residents. They’re actually up on a float moving down Main Street.

“It’s one of the best performances because you just travel past thousands of people,” Riley said. “Because I’ve lived in the community for thirteen years, we’ve all got to know a lot of these people. It’s a great way to give back to the community and make music.”

Their shows draw attention by keeping their music as diverse as possible. Bassist, Jim Cracraft says there’s something for everyone to enjoy during their sets.

“I think the ability of the band, to pick a wide variety of music and styles from different influences; whether it’s oldies, '50s music, Celtic & Gallic, and of course, the '70s, '80s and modern rock and roll; the band, Shawn particularly, offers something for everybody.” Cracraft said.

Keeping the band in tune takes more than four guys that know how to play instruments. Their commitment to entertain and have fun while doing it, keeps them rolling.

“I think the best thing about this band is that it’s guys that are friends first and have a respect for each other and a respect for the music and we’re open to new ideas.” Riley said. “I don’t see an end in sight. My wife might like it to be sooner than later, but to me, it’s a great release. If it gets to a day when I’m struggling to hit notes, then that’s when I’m going to gracefully bow out.

Cracraft added “We all really have a passion for the music, and over the years have become great friends, it’s been great.”

For more information on the Shawn Riley Band, go to www.myspace.com/shawnrileyband or email shawnrileyband@gmail.com.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Bloomfield-Bloomfield Hills