Shelley Carrol

born October 26, 1964

Instrument tenor sax
Birthplace Houston, Texas

Available Leadsheets

Shelley Carrol is a tenor saxophonist carrying on the tradition of the big-toned, blues-infused “Texas tenor” sound. Born into a musical family in Houston, he studied early on with Texas tenor legends Arnett Cobb and Don Wilkerson.

When at University of North Texas in the late ‘80s, Shelley was invited to join the Duke Ellington Orchestra under the direction of Duke’s son, Mercer Ellington. Shelley’s debut album as a leader, recorded in 1997, was “Shelley Carrol With Members Of The Duke Ellington Orchestra.” Two years later, he went to New York to record with bassist Curtis Lundy on his "Against All Odds" album featuring an all-star lineup that included trumpeter Roy Hargrove and alto saxophonist Bobby Watson. Curtis Lundy also played on Shelley’s second album “Distant Star,” released in 2001. Shelley is currently based in Dallas but also tours as a sideman with rock and r&b stars such as Sheryl Crow and Kool & The Gang. In 2007 he was named Jazz Artist Of The Year from the Sammons Center For The Arts, the highest honor for musicians in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.