Biography

HOW THE MUSIC STARTED

Shirley's talent was discovered by accident when her brother injured his hand. Her parents bought him a theater organ to help rebuild the dexterity in his hand. It was during that time Shirley took an interest in music from listening to her brother. Years later, her Mom decided to purchase Shirley her first synthesizer. Four more keyboards followed, enabling her to expand her sounds.

During her early years, life dealt Shirley her first tragic blow, her Mom became ill and passed away. A few years later she then joined a band called QUEST. They toured the U.S. and the Virgin Islands. Shortly after coming home from the tour, life once again would be unkind. Shirley lost her major source of inspiration, her dad, that built all her keyboard frames & sets for her 6 keyboards. The music died within her. She retired from the music industry and pursued a college degree in accounting finance. While attending college, a good friend mentioned that the university had a grand piano in the mansion’s ballroom at FDU. From that point on, a secret marriage developed between Cason and that baby grand piano. At night, after class, she would go to the ballroom when no one was there and fill that grand ballroom with one spirited soulful song after another. During this time is when she was able to heal her wounded spirit to be able to return to the world of music. Shirley then went on to build her recording studio, at the lake, and started her own music company, My Peaceful World and Peaceful World Music

After recording her first two CDs, Forever In Bloom and then her Holiday album, Simply Christmas, life again would be unkind and her oldest sister Carol passed away. Choosing to record another “easy listening new age” CD or "record the truth" of how she felt inside was a commercial risk to her new company. But being truthful to herself as an artist, believing that art should reflect the "heart of the writer”, the next CD emerged, A Summer Dream CD from all the tears that one soul could bear. The "Summer Dream" CD went on to get high reviews, from Kathy Parson from Mainly Piano.com & Bill Binkelman from Zone Music Report.com, for being so brave to "wear her heart out on her sleeve". From that point on Shirley promised herself to only record music that she felt with all her heart & soul full of emotions.

The following CD Shirley recorded was, which received such wonderful reviews again "Winter Mornings" from Kathy Parson & Bill Binkelman and letters from fans from all over the world, Shirley knew that recording what moves her emotionally is definitely what people love and enjoyed about her music.

Then there came a "gap in time", after the Winter Mornings CD was recorded until her next CD release, Shirley states, "After I recorded my Winter CD, I lost my best friend of 25 years to cancer. It was a real blow to my heart. During that time, I kept trying to record another CD, but I just couldn't focus. Every song that I was recording was another "Picasso's blue moods" song like those on my A Summer Dream CD . I just didn't have the strength to record anymore. Depression had taken over everything I was writing and creating & time stood still for me. Maybe, one day I'll release my Carpe Diem CD with all the emotional songs I wrote during that time for my best friend. But for now though, I'm not ready to share those songs. With accepted that, I took a back seat from my music and worked with people on their music.”

Then, Inner Peace emerged from the studio. Finally, the gates were open again & the music was flowing. A brighter sounding CD was born with uplifting music that has a gentle romantic love story. Once again, Shirley’s recordings received high reviews from Kathy Parson & Bill Binkelman for honest heartfelt music.

During this time, the Peaceful World Music team thought that it would be the right time to release the SPA MUSIC COLLECTION, which is a compilation CD of the most relaxing and peaceful songs from Shirley’s CD catalog.

The following year Shirley recorded, RELAXING PIANO MUSIC CD at FDU college, outside of New York City, without any takeout’s, cuts or studio edits. It was recorded for a fan that wrote to Shirley asking her to record just a “Piano CD” in memory of her father that was also a fabulous pianist. Since Shirley could relate so well from losing both her parents, sister and best friend, this e-mail really inspired her to record this album. It includes piano versions of songs from her CDs, with a few new songs included! This piano solo CD is a wonderful way to hear how the songs sounded as Shirley wrote them before added orchestra arrangements to them. As soon as RELAXING PIANO MUSIC CD was released, Shirley’s fans started writing and posting on how much they loved it and wanted more of her just playing the piano. RELAXING PIANO MUSIC CD became her Best Selling album at Amazon.com under the New Age Instrumental Music and Self Help Music categories. How wonderful it is that this request, from a fan’s heart, inspired this piano CD with plans now for Shirley to record more relaxing & peaceful piano albums in the future.

Besides recording her albums, at Shirley’s website, you can listen to My Peaceful World Music, her online radio show, to listen songs from her CD along with some "Un-release music" that she is working on in the studio. Sometimes, Shirley will mix in her famous JAM Sessions that people love. You'll hear her play just about anything from Jazz to Classical to some cool slowdown Chill out grooves she likes to have fun with in the studio. Her website is known a place where people can go to relax, slow down and just breathe in life for of peace & calm.


CALIFORNIA DREAMING. Shirley currently is recording her next Piano solo album, After it is completed, her plans are to start going out and meeting her fans. She will start accepting Concerts, Charity events, In-Stores appearances & House concert.

People always ask who Shirley’s biggest music influences are.

Barbra Streisand: for her fabulous voice & wonderful music orchestra arrangements.

Janis Ian: for her brilliant song writing & her piano playing on her Columbia records albums.

David Foster: for being a genus producer, especially on Barbra Streisand’s, Josh Groban and Andrea Bocelli albums.


People compare her recordings & sound to.

Jim Brickman
George Winston
Kevin Kerns


Shirley studio keyboards are:

Korg Kronos
Kurzweil 2500
Roland Fantom X7
Yamaha Extreme XS7
Korg M50