About

Shelley Hamilton is a multi-talented vocalist, songwriter, musician and electric performer! Her stunning, soulful voice hits all the right notes, as she engages a variety of audiences with her country, blues, and jazz songs to standing ovations.

A native Nova Scotian, Shelley’s Africville and indigenous roots shine. She fell in love with country music at an early age when her father shared his love of legendary artists Ray Charles and Charlie Pride. In her teens, Shelley heard the raw, authentic emotion that Billie Holiday so perfectly conveyed. She then took on studying the great women of jazz. This led her to create her acclaimed tribute show “The Queens of Jazz”.

“No one can do what Shelley Hamilton does. She’s a raw, natural talent! Shelley makes you feel as powerful and beautiful as each powerhouse performer she brings to life, with each incredible note she delivers.”

 - Reshmi Nair, Host “The Rush”, CFRB Toronto, iHeartRadio Canada 

Shelley’s release  “Think on Me“, which pays homage to the iconic Portia White, reached the top 30 on the Canadian Indie country charts in February, 2023.

Shelley has been nominated twice for the Canadian Folk Music & East Coast Music Awards & is the winner of the 2020 African Nova Scotian Music “Artist of The Year” award. At the request of the Canadian High Commission, Shelley has performed at a number of jazz festivals across the Caribbean. 

One of Shelley’s biggest thrills? Performing for an outdoor audience of thousands at the world-renowned Winnipeg Folk Festival (2023) 

“It was exhilarating performing with The Black Opry on stage to a huge, energetic crowd. A dream come true.” - Shelley Hamilton