Shaun Shankel is an American Grammy nominated, Dove Award[1] winning songwriter and record producer, who has written and produced for some of the biggest selling artists in the pop and Christian and Country music markets, selling over seven million albums and singles. He has had 12 No. 1 hits and song placements in over 18 film, television and commercial campaigns.

Early life

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Shankel grew up playing music in his family and with his grandfather on harmonica (he made several albums singing in a quartet with the Gospel Harolds), his father on guitar and Shaun on piano, they would sing and harmonize old hymns. He started studying piano professionally at 7 and by 10 was writing and performing his own songs in school. In high school he wrote for the glee club and played in several Indianapolis area rock bands. Shaun went to Indiana University, where he graduated with a double degree in Audio Technology and Music and Telecommunications. Also while at school, he wrote music for television shows on the PBS affiliate, WTUI.

Music career

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After college, Shankel moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to work for writer/producer Keith Thomas, in various capacities. He assisted him in all aspects including engineering, writing and production management. During that time he also worked with Vanessa Williams, Amy Grant, Mandy Moore, 98 Degrees, and Michael Bolton.

After five years, Shankel decided to leave and pursue his own production career, and set up shop at Lealand Studios.

During the next few years, Shankel became one of the most sought after producer/writers. Some of the artists he has worked with include Kimberley Locke, Hilary Duff, Clay Aiken, Nicholas Jonas (and the Jonas Brothers) Jadyn Maria (Herbal Essences national campaign), RJ Helton, Natalie Grant, Mandisa, Chronicles of Narnia, Rebecca St. James, Jump 5, Tyler Hilton, Mark Schultz, Plumb, Avalon, ZOEGirl, Michael English and For King & Country.[2]

During this time he also spotted a talent in songwriter in Kyle Jacobs and signed him to a joint venture, Fortune Favors the Bold Music Publishing, with Curb Music Publishing. Jacobs has recorded with Tim McGraw, Kellie Pickler and Garth Brooks, whose Jacobs penned hit single, "More Than a Memory", is the only song in history to debut at #1 on the country charts.

In 2005, Shankel signed with Warner Chappell Music and while pursuing his own projects created another joint venture, Shankel Songs and signed Ben Glover, Billboard's Christian writer of the Year, 2010, Joy Williams of The Civil Wars, and For King & Country: The EP, whom he also produced.

Discography

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Year Album Artist Credit
1995 Greatest Hits Expose Production Coordination
1996 Kissing Rain Roch Voisine Production Coordination
1996 NBA at 50: A Musical Celebration Various Artists Production Coordination
1996 Miracle Puff Johnson Production Coordination
1996 This is the Time: Christmas Album Michael Bolton Production Coordination
1997 Takes a Little Time Amy Grant Production Coordination
1997 Speed 2: Cruise Control Original Soundtrack Production Coordination
1997 We Need a Little Christmas Andy Williams Engineer
1997 Next Vanessa Williams Production Coordination
1997 Behind the Eyes Amy Grant Production Coordination
1997 Anytime Brian McKnight Digital Editing
1997 One Night with You: The Best of Love, Vol. 2 Luther Vandross Production Coordination
1997 All that Matters Michael Bolton Digital Editing
1997 Faith of Our Fathers Various Artists Producer
1998 Yours Faithfully Rebbie Jackson Production Coordination
1998 Audra & Alayna Audra & Alayna Production Coordination
1998 Everything's Gonna Be Alright Deana Carter Digital Editing, Production Coordination
1998 Touched By an Angel: The Album Original TV Soundtrack Production Coordination
1998 Greatest Hits: The First Ten Years Vanessa Williams Production Coordination
1999 Mountain High…Valley Low Yolanda Adams Production Coordination
2000 Center Stage (Sony) Original Soundtrack Editing, Production Coordination
2000 I Wanna Be With You Mandy Moore Editing, Digital Editing, Production Coordination
2000 At Last Gladys Knight Production Coordination
2001 Jump5 Jump5 Digital Editing
2003 Beautiful Lumps of Coal Plumb Engineer, Programming, Producer, String Arrangements
2003 Simple Things Amy Grant Production Coordination
2003 For You Jonathan Pierce Producer, Digital Editing, Engineer, Synthesizer
2003 WOW Hits 2004 Various Artists Producer
2003 Ultimate Christmas Hits, Vol. 2: This is Christmas Various Artists Arranger, Producer
2004 8th World Wonder Kimberly Locke Audio Production, Arranger, Producer
2004 Real Life RJ Helton Arranger, Synthesizer Programming, Engineer, Producer, Sound Design, Digital Editing, Vocals (Background), String Arrangements
2004 One Love Kimberly Locke Keyboards, Vocal Arrangement, Digital Editing, Bass, Keyboard Programming, Producer, Arranger, Drum Programming, Engineer, Programming
2004 Even More Anthony Evans Percussion, Keyboards, Piano, Arranger, Producer, Engineer, Digital Editing, Audio Production, Programming, String Arrangements
2004 Dreaming in Color Jump5 Producer, Engineer, Synthesizer Programming, Digital Editing, Audio Production, Audio Engineer
2004 Hilary Duff Hilary Duff Mixing, Producer
2004 Best of Mandy Moore Mandy Moore Pro-Tools, Production Coordination
2005 You Raise Me Up (Curb) Various Artists Producer
2005 Love Rocks (Centaur) Various Artists Composer, Producer
2005 Undisguised Kara Williamson Composer
2005 Room to Breathe ZOEgirl writer/producer on: "About You" Keyboards, Composer
2005 Very Best of Jump5 Jump5 Producer, Audio Production
2005 Awaken Natalie Grant Keyboards, String Arrangements, Piano, Composer, Engineer, Producer, Arranger, Digital Editing. Producer: "Held", "What Are You Waiting For", "Another Day", writer/producer: "Bring It All Together"
2005 Women & Songs, Vol. 8 (Bonus DVD) Various Artists Composer
2005 Absolute Smash Hits, Vol. 2 Various Artists Producer, Composer
2005 Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia Original Soundtrack Composer, Producer, Keyboards, Arranger, Engineer, Programming, String Arrangements
2005 WOW Hits 2006 Various Artists Composer, Producer
2005 If I Had One Chance to Tell You Something Rebecca St. James Audio Production, Programming, Engineer, Composer, Producer, Arranger, String Arrangements. songs, "I Need You", "Forgive Me", "Beautiful Stranger", "I Can Trust You"
2005 With All of My Heart: The Greatest Hits ZOEgirl Composer, Producer
2006 Absolute Modern Worship (2006) Various Artists Producer
2006 Stand Avalon Digital Editing, Producer, Composer, Arranger, String Arrangements, Engineer, Piano, Programming, Keyboards
2006 Chaotic Resolve Plumb Composer: "Better", "Jeckle & Hyde"
2006 WOW Worship: Aqua Various Artists Producer
2006 24 (2003) Point of Grace Drum Programming, Bass, Synthesizer, Overdub Engineer, Producer
2006 Absolute All Time Favorites Various Artists Producer
2006 Greatest Hits: In Christ Alone Michael English String Arrangements, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards
2006 Broken & Beautiful Mark Schultz Composer, Programming, Digital Editing, Engineer, Keyboards, Arranger
2006 WOW Hits 2007 Various Artists Producer
2006 Faith: A Hymns Collection Avalon Producer, Programming, Engineer
2007 Worship Together: Favorites Various Artists Producer
2007 Gifted: Season One Various Artists Producer, Keyboards, Arranger, Programming, Digital Editing
2007 Alive in Florida (CD/DVD) Rebecca St. James Composer
2007 Only the World Mandisa Producer, Vocal Arrangement, Arranger, Engineer, Digital Editing. "Only the World", "Only You"
2007 True Beauty Mandisa Composer, Vocal Producer, Digital Editing, Programming, Producer, Engineer, Audio Production
2007 WOW Hits 2008 Various Artists Producer
2007 Blink Plumb Composer, "My Sweet, My Lovely", "Always"
2007 Indigo Dying Indigo Dying Composer
2008 Grace Was Free Danielle Marshall Composer
2008 Two For One: Accelerate/Dreaming in Color Jump5 Audio Production
2008 Two For One: Room to Breathe/With All of My Heart ZOEgirl

Composer, Producer

2008 Relentless Natalie Grant Engineer, Programming, Arranger, Keyboards, Digital Editing, Piano, Producer, Composer on: "Perfect People", "Wonderful Life", "Safe", "Let Go"
2008 Another Time, Another Place: Timeless Christian Classics Avalon Producer, Engineer, String Arrangements, Programming, Arranger, Digital Editing
2008 Prodigal Comes Home Michael English String Arrangements, Arranger, Keyboards, Producer
2008 Ultimate Collection Rebecca St. James Producer, Composer
2008 Phil Stacey Phil Stacey Composer, "What I'm Fighting For"
2008 Rynn Rynn Composer
2008 Awaken/Deeper Life Natalie Grant Digital Editing, Composer, Keyboards, Producer, Piano, Arranger, Engineer, String Arrangements
2008 Chaotic Resolve/Beautiful Lumps of Coal Plumb Producer, String Arrangements, Engineer, Programming, Composer
2008 WOW Essentials: All-Time Favorite Christian Songs Various Artists Producer
2008 Natalie Grant Collector's Edition Natalie Grant String Arrangements, Composer, Arranger, Engineer, Piano, Keyboards, Producer, Digital Editing
2008 Greatest Hits Jump5 Producer
2008 Greatest Hits ZOEgirl Composer, Producer
2008 Mark Schultz Gift Tin Mark Schultz Keyboards, Digital Editing, Composer, Programming, Producer, Arranger, Engineer
2009 Better Together: 17 Hit Duets and Collaborations by Your Favorite Christian Artists Various Artists Producer, Composer
2009 Crazy Days Adam Gregory Composer
2009 Dare to Love: Songs of Unconditional Love for Couples Various Artists Producer
2009 Love, Save the Empty Erin McCarley Composer, "Bobblehead"
2009 Greatest Hits Avalon Producer
2009 Ultimate Collection ZOEgirl Composer, Producer
2009 Gnome Groove DJ Kimberly S. Composer
2009 Let Your Love Out Luke Benward Keyboards, Bass, Composer, Digital Editing, Engineer, Arranger, Producer
2009 Stand/The Creed Avalon Composer, Producer
2009 Come Alive Mark Schultz String Arrangements, Keyboards, Producer, Bass
2009 Beautiful History: A Hits Collection (2 Disc) Plumb Composer
2009 Workout & Worship Various Artists Producer
2010 Christian Music's Best: Pop Various Artists Producer
2010 Singer Songwriter Collection Amy Grant Production Coordination
2010 Love Like Crazy Lee Brice Composer, "Picture of Me"
2010 WOW: Best of 2004 Various Artists Producer
2010 WOW: Best of 2007 Various Artists Producer
2010 Pawn Shop Kings Revolution Universal/Stetson
2011 For King & Country Busted Heart EP Producer/writer
2011 Sidewalk Prophets Deluxe Edition Word Records/Curb/Warner Brothers
2012 For King & Country Crave Producer/writer
2014 Nashville (The TV Show) Episode 214 Is That Who I Am? Writer (Sung by Will)

References

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  1. ^ "Word Entertainment artists, projects, songwriters, contributors collect 62 nominations for 41st annual Gospel Music Awards" (Press release). Warner Music Group. February 22, 2010. Archived from the original on September 18, 2013.
  2. ^ Shaun Shankel at AllMusic