Shawn Amos Blues Singer, Producer, and Entrepreneur

Shawn Ellis Amos (born September 13, 1967) is a versatile American songwriter, author, blues singer, record producer, and digital marketing entrepreneur. He is perhaps most widely recognized by his stage name, The Reverend Shawn Amos, under which he has released a prolific collection of studio albums, live recordings, and EPs.

Personal Background and Early Life

Born in New York, Amos is the youngest son of Wally Amos, the founder of Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies, and Shirley Ellis Amos, a singer known professionally as Shirl-ee May in the early 1960s. His life was deeply impacted by his mother's struggle with schizoaffective disorder and her eventual suicide in 2003. This personal tragedy, combined with the discovery of her early musical career, served as the primary inspiration for his 2005 album, Thank You Shirl-ee May.

Amos followed in his father's footsteps by working in the William Morris Agency mailroom. He attended the New York University Tisch School of the Arts, though he left during his senior year to pursue a screenwriting deal with A&M Films. In 2011, he shared reflections on his childhood in 1970s Los Angeles through a series published by The Huffington Post.

Musical Evolution

Americana and Early Production (1996–2001)

Amos began his professional music industry career in 1997 at Rhino Entertainment's A&R department. During his tenure, he produced several compilations, including the Grammy-nominated Rhapsodies in Black: Music and Words from the Harlem Renaissance. His first original album, Harlem, was released in 2000, inspired by a museum exhibit on the Harlem Renaissance.

In 2001, Amos produced the career overview Q: The Musical Biography of Quincy Jones. This collaboration led Quincy Jones to appoint Amos as the executive director of the Listen Up Foundation. That same year, he released his second album, In Between.

Record Production and Shout! Factory (2002–2006)

Amos was recruited to oversee the A&R department of Shout! Factory, a company formed by Rhino co-founders. His work during this period included co-producing a remake of Marvin Gaye's What's Going On by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and executive producing a remix of Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass' Whipped Cream and Other Delights.

He also played a pivotal role in overseeing the final three studio albums of soul legend Solomon Burke and the Under the Covers series by Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoff.

The Reverend Shawn Amos Era (2014–Present)

After a period focused on digital marketing, Amos returned to roots music in 2014 with The Reverend Shawn Amos Tells It. He continued this trajectory with The Reverend Shawn Amos Loves You (2015) and the politically charged The Reverend Shawn Amos Breaks It Down (2018).

His creative output expanded into digital media with the YouTube series Kitchen Table Blues (2015–2016). He also contributed harmonica work to the main title of the AMC series Preacher and served as the Artistic Director for Herb Alpert's Vibrato Grill & Jazz from 2017 to 2018.

The Brotherhood (2020–Present)

In 2019, Amos announced the formation of The Brotherhood, featuring drummer Brady Blade, bassist Christopher Thomas, and guitarist Chris “Doctor” Roberts. Their debut album, Blue Sky (2020), debuted at number 6 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart and received critical acclaim from American Songwriter magazine.

Professional Career in Digital Marketing

Since 2009, Amos has balanced his musical pursuits with a career as a digital marketing entrepreneur, applying his business acumen to the evolving landscape of online promotion and brand growth.