Shawn Z. fills the house full of rock, americana, country, folk music and humor.

He has worked in all aspects of the music business for many years, and presents a dynamic concoction of jokes, stories and songs designed to awaken the slumbering subconscious of the crowd.

Influences?  "Steve Earle, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Kris Kristofferson, Billy Joe Shaver, Tom Petty and my friend Todd Snider."

His seemingly bottemless song bag provides the soundtrack to observations of life on the thin highways of a Fat America.

Whether he is playing cover songs or originals, the audience is able to identify with his unique performance.

Many of the pieces Shawn performs feature tongue and cheek humor sprung largely from his prolific imagination.

Shawn's first independent release titled "Wishful Drinkin" received airplay throughout the US and the world on Americana, Rock, Country and NPR stations .. as well as airplay on Xm Satellite Radio's X-Country 'channel 12' and Sirius Satellite Radio 'Outlaw Country', and reached 11 after 14 weeks while on the Americana XM X-Country (channel 12) Charts.

He's written and continues to write songs with some of the best songwriters in all genres of the music world..

"I guess being famous and well known started off being important... But over time I’ve found that fame isn't nearly as much of a focus as doing something significant with my music or my songwriting. Not that it's significant yet, but at least I'm getting there."

Perhaps not surprisingly, the new outlook on the music scene and life all around has turned things around for Shawn.

The debut release "Wishful Drinkin" has opened doors worldwide, and his second release titled "Saint Jude Avenue" has just been released on September 23rd, 2008.  And it's already causing much buzz in the industry.

"Tried and true 100% pure Americana .. That's what it's all about." Shawn says.

Shawn has had medical problems through much of his life. He’s also had battles with substances and was also in an accident in which he was thrown from a moving vehicle. Even as a child, he sustained a gypsy lifestyle and says he’s lived in more towns than he can even name. And though all of these experiences also help shape his music, he’s a remarkably positive person who seems to have no use for whiners.

“I’m just trying to open my heart and not be a coward about what’s in there,” he says. “That’s how I make my living. I tell the stories that I know, and if you learn from them, that’s your own fault. Music is fun for me.”