SAS Jazz and Blues

SAS is a duo and band that specializes in jazz, blues and soul. Sharon Rae (vocalist and percussion) and Shelly Davis (keyboards) are the core musicians of SAS and have played together since the 80’s at nightclubs, country clubs, resorts, convention centers, festivals, ships and private parties. They add talented musicians for their larger bands and have performed at some of the top venues for entertainment including Universal Studios City Jazz and Downtown Disney House of Blues. As a 5 & 6 piece group, they were the houseband for 11 years on the Grand Romance Riverships on the St. Johns River in Florida, doing summer jazz cruises and other jazz and blues festivals. After many years performing primarily on the east coast, SAS headed west in 2006.  They were based out of Tucson for two years, while working on the Regent Seven Seas Cruiseline and throughout Arizona before moving to Colorado.

Sharon and Shelly have now moved to Southern California (2022) to enjoy the coastal climate and play their delightful music. SAS is the perfect combination of sound and style and have done shows with artists that include Dave Koz, Houston Person, Allan Vache and Marc Antoine, among many others. 

Sharon was educated on jazz, soul and pop while growing up in Detroit and Atlanta. She was influenced by her father Dale Burke (well known bandleader and arranger) and inspired by great jazz artists including Sarah Vaughn, Louis Armstrong and Count Basie. By the time Sharon was 15, she had developed a strong, bluesy voice and was soon working the Top 40 dance and show band circuit throughout the southeastern United States. She became known for her passionate voice and exciting stage presence and began singing jazz and blues with the big bands, as well as smaller groups with the most creative musicians on the scene. She met Shelly at a jazz jam and next step: Sharon Rae and the Shelly Davis Trio.

Shelly Davis grew up in New York, part of a musical family that included a boogie-woogie pianist aunt, swing violin grandfather and jazz sax uncle. Shelly won a Downbeat scholarship for his improvisational music and rounded out his jazz background listening to blues and 60’s r&b. In 1968 he joined Johnny Maestro (16 Candles et al.) and the Del Satins (Runaround Sue et al. with Dion) to form the Brooklyn Bridge (gold record – Worst That Could Happen). Later, Shelly played for several years in Nashville, Aspen, Boulder and Kansas City with his jazz, blues and original groups and has done shows with Mose Alison, Larry Coryell, Roy Orbison, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and Bonnie Raitt. In 2006, Shelly was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.

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SAS JAZZ AND BLUES: 4 PIECE BAND AUDIO TRACKS

SAS BLUES: 5 PIECE BAND AUDIO TRACKS

SHARON RAE live with Dale Burke Orchestra