Roscoe Shelton

Roscoe Shelton (August 22, 1931 – July 27, 2002) was an American electric blues and R&B singer. He is best remembered for his 1965 hit single, "Strain on My Heart," and his working relationships with both The Fairfield Four and Bobby Hebb. Other notable recordings include "Think It Over" and "Baby Look What You're Doin' To Me". Fred James, who produced much of Shelton's later work, noted that Shelton moved effortlessly into soul, unlike many of his 1950s blues and R&B recording contemporaries.

In the early 1950's Roscoe Shelton (born in Lynchburg, TN), joined the legendary gospel quartet the Fairfield Four, and after a stint in the military joined secular spinoff group The Skylarks. Between 1956 and 1957 the Skylarks recorded for Excello Records subsidiary label Nashboro Records. Roscoe recorded his 1961 album debut, "Roscoe Shelton Sings" for Excello during a subsequent period and finally managed to get a followup released on a new label in 1966 called "Soul in His Music, Music in His Soul". With success continually eluding the singer on a series of singles for small labels, by the early 1970's he was retired from performing. After reissues of his early recordings in the 1990's caused renewed interest in his career, he recorded a series of new albums and material before his passing in 2002.