Shelby Lynne

Shelby Lynne's career path is as twisted as that of any contemporary performer, and it shows no signs of straightening out anytime soon. She bowed in 1989 with Sunrise, which Epic Records marketed as country. But her inability to color within the genre's lines caused her to bump from label...

By Michael Roberts

April 17, 2008

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Shelby Lynne's career path is as twisted as that of any contemporary performer, and it shows no signs of straightening out anytime soon. She bowed in 1989 with Sunrise, which Epic Records marketed as country. But her inability to color within the genre's lines caused her to bump from label to label until the Island imprint issued 2000's I Am Shelby, which earned her a Best New Artist Grammy a decade-plus after her debut. Regrettably, Lynne, joined on this bill by Basia Bulat and David McMillin, promptly sabotaged her rehabilitated cred with 2001's slicked-up Love, Shelby, and a pair of subsequent albums for Capitol failed to get her back on track. Just a Little Lovin' (released by yet another company, Lost Highway) is an improvement — a tribute to the late Dusty Springfield that Lynne delivers with class. Still, it's more of a stopgap than a breakthrough for a talented performer who's taken a lot of rocky roads.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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