Life & Work with Pepper MaShay of Rancho Palos Verdes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Pepper MaShay.

Hi Pepper, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started as a background singer for a recording studio in Monterey,Calif. While there, I sung for The Mark/Almond Band,Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys,and Paul Anka, and other acts who would hire me to sing on their demos while vacationing on the Peninsula. I was discovered by a Production Assistant who worked for Billy Davis and Marilyn McCoo. I was invited to meet Billy and Marilyn after they had heard me as a songwriter and Lead vocalist. After meeting them, I was asked to go to Las Vegas to learn how to be a performing artist. I spent 2 1/2 years working in the lounges until I was ready to go to Los Angeles. Once I got to Los Angeles, I started to get work as a Background singer in the recording studios. My first big break was singing for a group called Jules and The Polar Bears, they had just finished working in England with Peter Gabriel and were in need of a Background Singer. I worked with Jules Shear from ’81 to ’84 in the height of the New Wave Movement In The late 70″s thru the ’80s.

Let’s Fast Forward toward the end of the 80’s. I got a chance to work with Dianne Warren, which basically changed my Session Work Life. The First series of records I did were with Cher(“If I Could Turn Back Time”) then came Celine Dion,Michael Bolton,Tom Jones, Olivia Newton John,etc. The work with Dianne Warren lasted until ’93. My name started to be known within the Studio Session Work Crowd. From Dianne Warren came Countless Sessions with the great Songwriters during that time, people like Dennis Lambert,Franne Golde(They wrote Night Shift For The Commodores),Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil (famous for countless Hits in the 60’s and 70’s),singing for Richard Perry was a delight even if He would spend most of the time screaming at the musicians for whatever the reason. He showed me respect and kindness at every turn. I’ll never forget him.I got 2 Big breaks from Singer/Songwriter Robbie Nevil for Mick Jagger’s 2nd Solo album “Wandering Spirit” and Tina Turner’s Film Soundtrack for “What’s Love Got To Do With It”. My 2 Singing partners and I got the chance to spend 3 glorious days singing with Tina while she would work with the cast at the Disney Studios in Burbank,CA. This was all going on when I was singing for “Ally McBeal’s Vonda Sheppard and then Smooth Jazz/Pop Artist Bobby Caldwell. A member of Vonda’s Band brought Bobby to a show I was doing for Vonda. He was in need of a BG singer and I got the job on the spot. It was a whole new beginning of me going on the road for extended periods of time. My Sons were on their own, and My only worry at the time was my mother.
It was very hard for me at the time. I was coming out of a marriage that had grown cold and distant.
I spent a glorious 5 years singing with Bobby while still doing session work when not on the road.
After the road with Bobby, I got discovered by a record label called “Azuli”in London. Some DJ had gotten hold of 1 of my demos I had did in New York when I was going back and forth singing for artists in the city. This period started my introduction into DJ driven “Dance Music”.I felt I had found my niche, being able to write and sing my own songs was very exciting. But it was short-lived because the music
changed from singers being the main artists, the DJ had turned the tables on us singers. I’m fast forwarding again.
Pepper MaShay is a 5-Time Top 10 Billboard charting artist who was influenced by the 80’s music scene. “I changed my life’s journey from wanting to be a journalist to a singer after getting on stage
to perform my own songs and in finding an instant connection with the audience”. In 2000,I transitioned
into a full time solo recording artist, who had an international hit song “Dive In The Pool” from the Showtime Series”Queer As Folk”. “I was amazed that a song with me talking would end up one of the biggest songs released in 2000. The song ended up being the unofficial theme of “Queer As Folk”.
I had no idea how impactful the song would be toward all of my fans who belonged to the LGBTQIA
community at that time. Young people would come up to me and tell me they had came out as gay
to their family members after hearing me do the song. I was shocked to say the least. I repeated my success in 2005 with “Send Me An Angel”(remixed by Dave Aude),BeautyShop,and in 2006,I went
#1 with a song I wrote called “Lost Yo Mind” on Billboard’s Dance Club Chart. This helped me establish
my own record label “Freckle Bandit Records”. In 2008,I started writing alot of songs and 1 in particular
called “Does Your Mamma Know”(winner of The 2008 USA Songwriting Competition-Dance/ Electronica). “I decided in 2010, I wanted to do a couple of my favorite remakes “Freeway Of Love” and
the incomparable “Use Somebody”. They did well, but I could feel a change was starting to happen in
the Music Industry. I was getting older and I decided to go back to background singing and had an opportunity to sing on actor Hugh Laurie’s solo albums “Let Them Talk” and “Didn’t It Rain”. I had stopped singing with Bobby Caldwell mainly over the 2008 financial crisis. I couldn’t believe that anyone like Hugh would ask me to go on the road with his Band. And when he did, I was over the moon. While out on the road with Hugh, I was able to do 2 Blues oriented albums”Back To the Root”
and “Requiem For A Heavyweight(Tribute To Odetta) I picked Bobby’s guitar Player Carlyle Barriteau as my guitar player/Producer. He’s very versatile in being able to produce all of my music when I I show him what I want to sing about and how the arrangement the song should go.

I believe that “no matter how long it takes, never give up your dreams”.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like anything in Life, You have your ups and downs. Being a wife, a mother and a woman sometimes felt like I belonged in a 3 Ring Circus. But somehow I managed to juggle my responsibilities and my
music career. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve made a list of things I still want to accomplish in my remaining
years.I try to place at least 2 or more songs into the Grammy submissions each year. I’ve been doing that since 2011. It helps in giving some of my songs exposure by my peers.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Besides being Pepper MaShay, writing and singing Dance/Electronica music, I also use my real name when I sing the Blues. I go by Sista Jean McClain. I perform as a duo with my guitar player Carlyle.
We call ourselves Sista Jean & CB.We released 2 albums “Back To The Root” & “Requiem For A Heavyweight(Tribute To Odetta).While I was on Tour with Hugh Laurie, I decided to do music like
what we were performing in Hugh’s Live Shows.
As Pepper MaShay”International Dance Diva I’m known for the Unofficial theme for the Showtime
series “Queer As Folk”.As as Songwriter, I’m well versed in all different kinds of genres of music.

As Sista Jean,My next music endeavor will be Country/Soul Music. I’m in the planning stages of presenting 2 songs for Sista Jean & CB

What sets me apart from my fellow artists is that I usually go my own way when it comes to writing
and singing the songs that I want to do. I’m the epitome of what it means being an independent
recording artist.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I Love L.A. and all of the other surrounding cities that comprise of Los Angeles County.
No matter where you come from you can make yourself right at home as long as you
do your homework on where you want to live. I love the Restaurants where you can
pretty much eat any kind of food that your heart desires. What I Like most about L.A. Is
the ability to perform in clubs no matter what kind of music you present to people. I know
first hand that pursuing your dream of live entertainment can be daunting at times but I found
it has an exhilarating feeling when you call up a club and offer your services under a specific
genre.

Now, I don’t like the City when there is not enough places for people to live economically.
I was hurt to see College Students having to live in their cars while attending a University.
That is unacceptable.Living in food deserts are not helpful in how people try to work and save
for groceries.I flipped my wig when I saw eggs were priced at $12.99 for a dozen. Not Right!
People have a right to work on a livable wage and live in a city of their choosing.

Pricing:

• I don’t understand the question Sorry!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.reverbnation.com/peppermashay
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peppermashay53
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanpeppermcclain
• Twitter: https://www.X.com/PepperMaShay
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/peppermashay1555
• Soundcloud: https://www.soundcloud.com/peppermashay

Image Credits
D’Andre Michael
Makeup and Photographer