With over 45 years of playing, performing, and recording experience, George Shelby has been on stage with a vast array of artists. He has recorded and/or performed live with Phil Collins, Beyoncé, Michael McDonald, Chicago, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, Toto, Bruce Springsteen, Hilary Duff, Bono, Sting, Elton John, Natalie Cole, Chaka Khan, Johnny Mathis, and many others.
He has performed on the Grammys 12 times. His TV and movie credits include Encanto, Kung Fu Panda, Robots, Happy Feet, and The Lorax, and he was a member of the American Idol band for 17 seasons, The Voice for 15 seasons, Dancing With The Stars for 15 seasons, BET Awards, TV Land Awards, and The Emmys house band. He also performed for the PBS series Live from the White House: A Tribute to the Women of Soul with Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Jill Scott, Janelle Monáe, Ariana Grande, Melissa Etheridge, and Tessanne Chin. He’s also the saxophone player on Americas Funniest Home Videos. George has released several CD’s with his own group, and continues to perform at jazz festivals around the world, including Montreal, Montreaux, Monterey, Tokyo, Manila, Nice, and Paris.
As a clinician, George has travelled extensively giving clinics and master classes. His varied topics include interactive discussions on tone production, working as a professional, and excerpts from his book The Improvised Life. He also hosts a music/talk show titled Noteworthy.
George has played Yamaha instruments since 1985, when he purchased his first and only soprano saxophone, which he still plays to this day. He switched to a gold plated EX alto in 2003, an Atelier tenor saxophone in 2015, and rounded out the family with a silver plated baritone saxophone. Along with various Yamaha flutes, clarinets, a WX5 Wind Controller, and anything else that might require a good deal of hot air.