David Joseph Shelley (November 23, 1957 – August 10, 2015) was an American blues rock musician who performed with Cher and released two critically acclaimed albums, That's My Train (2012) and Trick Bag (2013).

Shelley's mother, actress and singer Martha Stewart, sang in big bands with Glenn Miller and Harry James and acted on Broadway and in films and TV, including In a Lonely Place (1950) starring Humphrey Bogart.

[2] Returning to Florida in 1979, Shelley founded Ocean Sound Studio, a sixteen track recording facility, with childhood friend Michael Couzzi (who would go on to engineer hit albums like Santana's Supernatural).

The David Shelley Band was a regional success, opening for Dennis Brown, The Kinks,[6] Laura Branigan, Cheap Trick,[4] Eddie Money, and among the headliners at Miami's Big Orange Festival.

Two more songs followed in October, recorded at New River Studios in Fort Lauderdale with producer Alan Blazak, who had recently hit with Glenn Frey's The Allnighter.

[7] Shelley's appearance in And God Created Woman caught the eye of casting directors and he was hired to portray a guitar player in the video for "You Wouldn't Know Love" from Cher's Heart of Stone album.

Featuring Native American musicians (Vigil Gray being Jicarilla Apache/Kiowa Apache, Gasper Zuni Pueblo, additional singer Canadian-born vocalist Star Nayea Ojibwe), Seventh Son played events such as Redstock and annually at Santa Fe's Indian Market, eventually taking over the name of Vigil Gray's previous band, The Mud Ponies (from the Pawnee legend).

Shelley also played with a country and western band in Nashville[14] and got bit parts in the movies Basquiat (1996) and New Rose Hotel (1998) starring Christopher Walken.

Playing around South Florida most often as a two guitar, bass and drums quartet with occasional fifth piece, band members included Billy Vazquez and JP Soars on guitar; Jason Rosner, Alaina Reed and "Kilmo" Carl Pacillo on bass; Jeff Renza, Goetz Kujack, John Yarling and Raul Hernandez on drums; Bob Taylor and Dean Sire on keyboards; Kellie Rucker on harmonica, among others.

In 2008, Shelley put out a promotional CD of live recordings made during the band's long-running residency at Fort Lauderdale jazz and blues cafe O'Hara's.

"Too Far Gone", a shuffling blues remake on That's My Train of Shelley's showcase reggae rocker from And God Created Woman had caught the ear of beach music programmers and was charting.

Rave reviews of the band's performances at this and other events plus increased rotation of That's My Train and Trick Bag brought attention to Shelley's music and a European label offered the artist a record deal.

In addition to packing South Florida venues as the main attraction, Shelley hosted open jams, participated in benefits for others, produced recording sessions and cut tracks with friends during this time.

In August, the band appeared at the Trois-Rivieres en Blues Fest[34] in Quebec, Canada and in October, Shelley joined Warren Haynes and Gov't Mule on stage during their Miami concert encore.

[1] On Sunday, August 23, 2015, David Shelley's ashes were spread on the ocean off Fort Lauderdale beach, attended by a paddle out memorial for the surfer by his family, friends and fans.

Performing his original music in the movie And God Created Woman, Shelley brought South Florida reggae-rock to its widest audience.

"[2] The Fort Lauderdale-based guitarist and singer...makes no apologies for infusing old-time blues with Caribbean soul, early ‘70s rock and jam-band vibes.

Seventh Son/Mud Ponies played at Indian events around the Southwest where Shelley performed with such artists as John Trudell, Keith Secola, Floyd Redcrow Westerman and the late Jesse Ed Davis.

[39] Shelley produced and co-wrote Ojibwe vocalist Star Nayea's Somewhere in a Dream album, which won the 2001 Native American Music Award for Best Independent Recording.

[40] After joining Florida Seminole singer/songwriter Chief Jim Billie's backing band in 2000, Shelley performed at pow wows and festivals around the country and gained even more exposure to the Native American music scene.

He continued supporting Native American artists, producing singer Paula Bowers and teenage Seminole blues rock trio The Osceola Brothers,[41] who often covered his songs in their live shows.

"War Party" on Trick Bag was co-written with Hunkpapa Lakota spirit singer Delbert "Black Fox" Pomani, a respected member of the Native American Church who gave Shelley the name "Pink Buffalo".