Shai
Origin	Washington D.C., USA
Years active	1992–Present
Genres	Urban contemporary
Labels	Gasoline Alley
Members	Garfield A. Bright Marc Gay Carl Martin (left the group) Darnell Van Rensalier Erik Willis (new member)

Shai was an early 1990s vocal R&B/soul quartet. Their biggest hit was an a cappella single, "If I Ever Fall in Love," which made #2 in the U.S. Top 40. Image File history File links Shai. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... The present is the time that is perceived directly, not as a recollection or a speculation. ... A music genre is a category (or genre) of pieces of music that share a certain style or basic musical language (van der Merwe 1989, p. ... The term urban contemporary was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Music Corporation of America, commonly known as MCA, is a United States based corporation in the music business. ... See also 1990s, the band The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive, sometimes informally including popular culture from the very late 1980s and from 2000 and beyond. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... For other uses, see Soul music (disambiguation). ... A quartet is a group of four identical or similar objects, or a grouping of four persons for a common purpose. ... A cappella music is vocal music or singing without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. ... United States is the current Good Article Collaboration of the week! Please help to improve this article to the highest of standards. ... Top 40 is a radio format based on frequent repetition of songs from a constantly-updated list of the forty best-selling singles. ...

Band History

Shai was formed at Howard University in Washington D.C. Three of the four members, Marc Gay, Carl Martin, and Darnell Van Rensalier, belonged to the same fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, and along with good friend, Garfield A. Bright (b. 12 October 1969), decided to take a chance at turning their hobby of singing into a career. Moving to New York City, New York, the foursome tried to secure a record deal, but they couldn't find any takers. With their money running out and their future looking bleak, the members of Shai took a chance on a radio contest that radio station WPGC was sponsoring. They chose to perform a song that Carl Martin wrote, "If I Ever Fall in Love," which they sang a cappella. The song won the contest and began finding airplay on WPGC. Other stations soon followed, and suddenly the record labels came calling. After signing with Gasoline Alley, Shai began putting together its debut album. Howard University is a historically black university in Washington, D.C. Howard was established in 1867 by congressional order and named after Oliver O. Howard. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... Alpha Phi Alpha (ΑΦΑ) is an intercollegiate service fraternity generally recognized as the first established by African Americans. ... October 12 is the 285th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (286th in leap years). ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... New York, New York redirects here. ... Official language(s) English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 54,520 sq mi (141,205 km²)  - Width 285 miles (455 km)  - Length 330 miles (530 km)  - % water 13. ... WPGC could refer to two Washington, D.C. area radio stations: WPGC, an Urban Gospel radio station broadcasting at 1580 kHz on the AM band. ... A cappella music is vocal music or singing without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. ... The Music Corporation of America, commonly known as MCA, is a United States based corporation in the music business. ...

"If I Ever Fall in Love" was the first single and peaked at #2 in the U.S. The next two releases from the double-platinum album, "Comforter" and "Baby I'm Yours" both reached #10. The group's next CD was Right Back At Cha, a remix album largely consisting of new versions of their previous hits. A revised version of the song "Baby I'm Yours" simply titled "Yours" was released from it, and peaked at #63.

Shai returned in 1994 with "The Place Where You Belong", from the Beverly Hills Cop III soundtrack. It was the group's final Top 40 single. In late 1995 their followup album Blackface was released (#42 Pop, #15 R&B). It featured Shai's final R&B Top 20 single, "Come With Me" (#43 Pop). The group's last chart appearance was the followup single, 1996's #89 single "I Don't Wanna Be Alone", although they have continued to record, 1999's album Destiny was recorded without Carl Martin (who left the group after Blackface release), and their latest 2004 studio album Back From The Mystery System ... The Love Cycle was done with new Shai member - Erik Willis. 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... Beverly Hills Cop III is a 1994 Eddie Murphy motion picture that was directed by John Landis, who had previously worked with Murphy on Trading Places and Coming to America. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Trivia

Shai made a guest appearance on a 1992 episode of Family Matters, during a dream sequence in which Laura Winslow fantasizes about the four young men in the band...until they all turn into doppelgangers of her nemesis, Steve Urkel. 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Family Matters was an American sitcom about a middle class American family living in Chicago. ... Steve Urkel Steve Urkel (full character name: Steven Quincy Urkel, portrayed by Jaleel White) is a character on the 1990s sitcom Family Matters. ...

"If I Ever Fall In Love" was one of 12 songs American Idol contestants could choose to sing during Hollywood week of Season 5. There are several cover versions of this song, inluding If you ever by East 17 feat. Gabrielle. American Idol, formerly known as American Idol: The Search for a Superstar, is an American television series. ... ... Gabrielle on her 2004 album Play To Win Louise Gabrielle Bobb (born April 16, 1970, London) is a British singer who records under the name Gabrielle. ...

"If I Ever Fall In Love" is often erroneously credited to Boyz II Men because of its four part harmony and style. It is no wonder that this error is propagated, as a google search for the lyrics to "If I Ever Fall In Love" lists Boyz II Men as the first hit.

Discography

Albums:

"...If I Ever Fall In Love" (CD) - December 22, 1992, MCA
"...If I Ever Fall In Love" (Cassette) - December 22, 1992, MCA
"...If I Ever Fall In Love" (Vynil) - December 29, 1992, MCA
"...If I Ever Fall In Love" (Europe CD) - January 26, 1993, Universal
"...If I Ever Fall In Love" (Cassette) - March 10, 1993, MCA
"...If I Ever Fall In Love" (UK CD) - March 24, 1997, Universal
"...If I Ever Fall In Love" (Japan CD) - December 2, 2003, Victor
"Right Back At Cha" - December 7, 1993, MCA
"Right Back At Cha" (Cassette) - December 7, 1993, MCA
"Right Back At Cha" (Vynil) - December 21, 1993, MCA
"Blackface" - October 17, 1995, MCA
"Blackface" (Cassette) - October 17, 1995, MCA
"Blackface" (UK) - December 23, 1999, Universal
"Blackface" (Japan) - December 2, 2003, Victor
"Destiny" - February 16, 1999, Big Play
"Destiny" (Cassette) - February 16, 1999, Big Play
"Back From The Mystery System : The Love Cycle" - May 4, 2004, Shai, Electronic Distribution, CD Baby

Compilations:

"20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Shai" - August 14, 2001, MCA
"20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Shai" (Canada) - November 23, 2001, Megaphon Importservice

Singles:

"If I Ever Fall In Love" - September 30, 1992, MCA
"If I Ever Fall In Love" (Cassette) - September 30, 1992, MCA
"If I Ever Fall In Love" - November 10, 1992, MCA
"If I Ever Fall In Love" (Vynil) - November 10, 1992, MCA
"If I Ever Fall In Love" (Cassette) - November 10, 1992, MCA
"Comforter" - February 2, 1993, MCA
"Comforter" (Cassette) - February 2, 1993, MCA
"Baby I'm Yours" - May 11, 1993, MCA
"Baby I'm Yours" (Vynil) - May 11, 1993, MCA
"Baby I'm Yours" (Cassette) - May 11, 1993, MCA
"Together Forever" (Cassette #1) - September 7, 1993, MCA
"Together Forever" (Cassette #2) - November 2, 1993, MCA
"The Place Where You Belong" - August 2, 1994, MCA
"The Place Where You Belong" (Vynil) - September 6, 1994, MCA
"Come With Me - #2" - September 26, 1995, MCA
"Come With Me - #1" - October 31, 1995, MCA
"I Don't Wanna Be Alone" - April 2, 1996, MCA
"I Don't Wanna Be Alone" - April 9, 1996, MCA
"I Don't Wanna Be Alone" (Vynil) - April 9, 1996, MCA
"I Don't Wanna Be Alone" (Cassette) - April 9, 1996, MCA
"I Don't Wanna Be Alone" - June 6, 1996, MCA
"I Don't Wanna Be Alone" (Cassette) - October 1, 1996, MCA
"I Don't Wanna Be Alone" (Vynil) - October 30, 1996, MCA
"Tell Me" - 2003, Shai

Videos:

"Video Personification, Vol. 1" (VHS, NTSC) - June 22, 1993, MCA

Appears On:

"Beverly Hills Cop III: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" - May 10, 1994, MCA
"Good Life" album, by E.V.E. (Ebony Vibe Everlasting) - October 10, 1997, MCA