Shaun Escoffery

Shaun Escoffery, who broke through with “Space Rider” and “Days Like This”, isback with a brilliant new album In The Red Room. The album combines glorious Curtis Mayfield/Isleys-like falsetto - as on opening track Nature’s Call - with soulful subtlety on Perfect Love Affair, which evokes Marvin Gaye circa “I Want You”, and Do U Remember.

The London-born singer began recording with UK band D’Influence while still in his teens. Along the way he has enjoyed support from Elton John - who has hailed Escoffery as one of his favorite new artists - and actor Idris Elba (The Wire, Long Walk To Freedom), a lifelong friend with whom he has co-written songs and who has contributed remixes.

Escoffery has pursued a parallel career in musical theatre, which began when he appeared alongside Chaka Khan and Deniece Williams in the soul-gospel musical “Mama I Want To Sing”. Shaun recalls: “It was an amazing experience performing on stage with Chaka and such great singers. Everyone came to see that show - mainly to see Chaka - Luther, Prince, Stevie Wonder. I got to meet them all. One night I got to sing a song with Stevie, and on one occasion I was singing on stage with Prince”.

In 2002 he was honored to be asked by UK boxer Lennox Lewis to sing the National Anthem at his Memphis title bout with Mike Tyson.

More recently, he has been starring as Mufasa in the London production of The Lion King for the past four years.

The co-writer and producer of In The Red Room is Gil Cang, whose past credits include writing “Whatever Happens” on Michael Jackson’s “Invincible” album.

In the UK national station BBC Radio 2 has been playing Nature’s Call in Power rotation