Primarily a singer, billed as "The Big Voice from New York", he also played guitar and blues harmonica.

Selby was born at Lake Landing, in Hyde County, North Carolina.

He started a band The Midnight Rockers and performed in colleges and clubs in the NY area.

[8][9] In 1982, he went to Berlin, Germany with New York guitarist Nick Katzman, and began to attract an audience.

On his recordings and live gigs he was backed by artists such as Katie Webster, Eb Davis, "Detroit" Gary Wiggins, Christian Rannenberg,[10][2] Tyree Glenn Jr., Alvin Lee, Charles 'Honeyboy' Otis, Wild Jimmy Spruill, Benny Bailey, Calvin Owens, Marcos Coll, Thomm Jutz and Hans McMinamin and many others.