Shai (band)

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Shai
Origin	Washington D.C., USA
Years active	1992–Present
Genres	Urban contemporary
Labels	Gasoline Alley
Members	Garfield A. Bright Marc Gay Carl Martin (left the group) Darnell Van Rensalier Erik Willis (new member)

Shai was an early 1990s vocal R&B/soul quartet. Their biggest hit was an a cappella single, "If I Ever Fall in Love," which made #2 in the U.S. Top 40.

[edit] Band History

Shai was formed at Howard University in Washington D.C. Three of the four members, Marc Gay, Carl Martin, and Darnell Van Rensalier, belonged to the same fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, and along with good friend, Garfield A. Bright (b. 12 October 1969), decided to take a chance at turning their hobby of singing into a career. While still in DC, Carl met a DJ from WPGC at a softball game and passed the demo, "If I Ever Fall in Love" to the DJ. That same week the DJ played it on air. Other stations soon followed, and suddenly the record labels came calling. After signing with Gasoline Alley, Shai began putting together its debut album.

Carl E. Martin wrote the chart-busting single "If I Ever Fall In Love" on his long ride back from his home in Lousiana to Washington, DC. The song was written about his ex-girlfriend Camille, who also attended Howard University.

"If I Ever Fall in Love" was the first single and peaked at #2 in the U.S. The next two releases from the double-platinum album, "Comforter" and "Baby I'm Yours" both reached #10. The group's next CD was Right Back At Cha, a remix album largely consisting of new versions of their previous hits. A revised version of the song "Baby I'm Yours" simply titled "Yours" was released from it, and peaked at #63.

Shai returned in 1994 with "The Place Where You Belong", from the Beverly Hills Cop III soundtrack. It was the group's final Top 40 single. In late 1995 their followup album Blackface was released (#42 Pop, #15 R&B). It featured Shai's final R&B Top 20 single, "Come With Me" (#43 Pop). The group's last chart appearance was the followup single, 1996's #89 single "I Don't Wanna Be Alone", although they have continued to record, 1999's album Destiny was recorded without Carl Martin (who left the group after Blackface release), and their latest 2004 studio album Back From The Mystery System ... The Love Cycle was done with new Shai member - Erik Willis.

[edit] Trivia

Shai made a guest appearance on a 1992 episode of Family Matters, during a dream sequence in which Laura Winslow fantasizes about the four young men in the band...until they all turn into doppelgangers of her nemesis, Steve Urkel.

"If I Ever Fall In Love" was one of 12 songs American Idol contestants could choose to sing during Hollywood week of Season 5. There are several cover versions of this song, inluding If you ever by East 17 feat. Gabrielle.

"If I Ever Fall In Love" is often erroneously credited to Boyz II Men because of its four part harmony and style. It is no wonder that this error is propagated, as a google search for the lyrics to "If I Ever Fall In Love" lists Boyz II Men as the first hit.

[edit] Discography

Albums:

"...If I Ever Fall In Love" (CD) - December 22, 1992, MCA
"...If I Ever Fall In Love" (Cassette) - December 22, 1992, MCA
"...If I Ever Fall In Love" (Vinyl) - December 29, 1992, MCA
"...If I Ever Fall In Love" (Europe CD) - January 26, 1993, Universal
"...If I Ever Fall In Love" (Cassette) - March 10, 1993, MCA
"...If I Ever Fall In Love" (UK CD) - March 24, 1997, Universal
"...If I Ever Fall In Love" (Japan CD) - December 2, 2003, Victor
"Right Back At Cha" - December 7, 1993, MCA
"Right Back At Cha" (Cassette) - December 7, 1993, MCA
"Right Back At Cha" (Vinyl) - December 21, 1993, MCA
"Blackface" - October 17, 1995, MCA
"Blackface" (Cassette) - October 17, 1995, MCA
"Blackface" (UK) - December 23, 1999, Universal
"Blackface" (Japan) - December 2, 2003, Victor
"Destiny" - February 16, 1999, Big Play
"Destiny" (Cassette) - February 16, 1999, Big Play
"Back From The Mystery System : The Love Cycle" - May 4, 2004, Shai, Electronic Distribution, CD Baby

Compilations:

"20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Shai" - August 14, 2001, MCA
"20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Shai" (Canada) - November 23, 2001, Megaphon Import service

Singles:

"If I Ever Fall In Love" - September 30, 1992, MCA
"If I Ever Fall In Love" (Cassette) - September 30, 1992, MCA
"If I Ever Fall In Love" - November 10, 1992, MCA
"If I Ever Fall In Love" (Vinyl) - November 10, 1992, MCA
"If I Ever Fall In Love" (Cassette) - November 10, 1992, MCA
"Comforter" - February 2, 1993, MCA
"Comforter" (Cassette) - February 2, 1993, MCA
"Baby I'm Yours" - May 11, 1993, MCA
"Baby I'm Yours" (Vinyl) - May 11, 1993, MCA
"Baby I'm Yours" (Cassette) - May 11, 1993, MCA
"Together Forever" (Cassette #1) - September 7, 1993, MCA
"Together Forever" (Cassette #2) - November 2, 1993, MCA
"The Place Where You Belong" - August 2, 1994, MCA
"The Place Where You Belong" (Vinyl) - September 6, 1994, MCA
"Come With Me - #2" - September 26, 1995, MCA
"Come With Me - #1" - October 31, 1995, MCA
"I Don't Wanna Be Alone" - April 2, 1996, MCA
"I Don't Wanna Be Alone" - April 9, 1996, MCA
"I Don't Wanna Be Alone" (Vinyl) - April 9, 1996, MCA
"I Don't Wanna Be Alone" (Cassette) - April 9, 1996, MCA
"I Don't Wanna Be Alone" - June 6, 1996, MCA
"I Don't Wanna Be Alone" (Cassette) - October 1, 1996, MCA
"I Don't Wanna Be Alone" (Vinyl) - October 30, 1996, MCA
"Tell Me" - 2003, Shai

Videos:

"Video Personification, Vol. 1" (VHS, NTSC) - June 22, 1993, MCA

Appears On:

"Beverly Hills Cop III: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" - May 10, 1994, MCA
"Good Life" album, by E.V.E. (Ebony Vibe Everlasting) - October 10, 1997, MCA