Jan Baynard Shockley was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania into a musical family. He received his first guitar at age 12 on Christmas Day and immediately started taking lessons from his older cousin Donnie Shockley.
Later, Jan studied bass guitar privately in Philadelphia with two legends of the jazz world: guitar genius Pat Martino, and, teaching guru, Dennis Sandole’ who’s ‘famous students’ roster includes: John Coltrane, and Stanley Clarke. Encouraged by both mentors to compose original music, Jan moved to New York City to attend weekly songwriting symposiums sponsored by ASCAP (American Society of Authors Composers and Publishers) in Manhattan for one year.
Jan moved to Augusta, Georgia that following year and performed in a Jazz / R&B group comprised of 3 members from James Brown’s Band. Their performances continued throughout the southern states for the next two years.
For the next three years,Jan surrounded himself with musicians,recording artists,publishers and writers,by living in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee’s famous Music Row area. There he further cultivated his songwriting skills, and musicianship by networking with some of the finest professional musicians and songwriters in the world.
In 1991 Jan moved to Fort Lauderdale and began performing as a singer / bass-player in combos aboard cruise ships…. Even while sailing throughout the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, Africa, Europe, Central & North America and residing on some of the world’s largest luxury ocean liners, Jan continued writing more songs.
After touring worldwide, 10 months per year, for 19 years,Jan finally ended his adventure filled maritime lifestyle in March 2010.
Today,Jan,who admits to being reclusive,stays home inside his mini recording studio working at the computer digitally recording his forever evolving,large and still growing,catalog of original music.
