B I O G R A P H Y
Shonda, a native of Boston, MA, is a multi-gifted spiritually-grounded force to reckon with, now residing in the state of South Carolina. She can compose traditional music to satisfy the most conservative church-goers then blend gospel music with an urban twist to make the young generation get their praise on!
The youngest of four children, she is the music director for Greater St. Paul Non-Denominational Church where her father, Bishop W. T. English, is the pastor. In 1989, as a junior in high school, she formed her choir Great Jubilation whom she patterend after the late Rev. Milton Brunson's Thompson Community Singers. Great J, as they are affectionately called, travel and perform with her whenever possible. In 2002 they were featured at the Annual Music Heritage and Jazz Festival in New Orleans. In 2009, Shonda was showcased twice on two different episodes of the Bobby Jones Gospel Show. She was also privileged to perform on opening night with Great J at Pastor Shirley Caesar's annual "Wilt Thou Be Made Whole" conference. A few months before the passing of the Queen of Gospel, Albertina Walker, Shonda and Great Jubilation paid tribute to her at the Florence Civic Center in Florence, SC. After the concert, the Queen informed Shonda that she was grateful to have met her. They shared a brief but intimate conversation, and Shonda was given her blessing. Shonda promised the Queen that her music would live on for as long as Shonda lived. In comparison, Shonda also feels the same humbling gratitude with her years of performing with the late and great Margaret Allison of the Angelic Gospel singers. For over 20 years, Shonda has shared the stage with Allison and felt and honor and privilege to sing and play keyboards with the Angelic Gospel Singers each year since 1996 to the year of Allison's passing at the annual Gospel In the Park event held in Sumter, SC.
Additionally, she has shared the stage with some of Gospel Music's MOST ELITE including Donald Lawrence and Tri-City, Ricky Dillard and New G, Dorinda Clark Cole, Lamar Campbell, VaShawn Mitchell, and more. In November of 2009 at the Nettles Auditorium of USC Sumter, hundreds gathered to witness the Anointed Pace Sisters who traveled to Sumter, SC to help Shonda and Great Jubilation celebrate 20 years in the gospel music industry.
With the release of her debut solo CD, Shonda is quickly gaining notoriety on the airwaves as "The Gospel Diva".
