“Michelle Harrison-Timol, aka “Shelly Thunder” was born on February 23rd in Kingston Jamaica. She attended the Harbour View Primary and Excelsior High Schools before migrating to New York City in 1980. Known as a tomboy, and hanging out with “the boys in Brooklyn”, she began deejaying in 1985 and her first single, “Shock mi a Shock” became an instant # 1 on the US reggae charts. Shelly continued to successfully top the reggae charts with singles such as “Small Horsewoman”, “85 Vision” and “Man A Rush Me”. In 1988 Shelly wrote what was to become a dancehall anthem. Her number one hit record “Kuff”, a humorous suggestion that Jamaican women should give their men a smack on the head if they stepped out of line, launched her into the forefront of the international dancehall scene along with artistes such as Shabba Ranks and Super Cat. Shelly crossed over to a wider audience where women libbers loved her and bad boys respected her. She signed a deal with Island Records and continued her stint of success with her album “Fresh Out The Pack” which included the hit singles “Working Girl” and “Break Up To Make Up”.
The eyes of the world were now on “The Thunderous One”, however, she just did not find happiness in what the world saw as success. In search of fulfillment, she started to attend church in 1994 and after being convicted by the Holy Spirit, she made her commitment to Christ in 1995. “Accepting Christ as my personal Lord and Savior has brought tremendous change to my life. My feelings of confusion and emptiness have now been replaced by a sense of purpose. Although I wish I had found Christ at an earlier stage in my life, I thank God for all my experiences because it has helped to mold me into the person I am today”.
During her transition from roughneck Dancehall Queen to Christian Soldier, Shelly Thunder discovered that she had a talent for acting. This was not a big surprise to friends and family members as her eldest brother, Stafford Ashani Harrison, is a renowned Jamaican actor and playwright. She made her debut onstage in “Obeah Wedding” and then went on to play lead roles in “Undercover Lover”, “Man Smart, Woman Smarter” and Aston Cooke’s “Front Room”. Her best performance to date however has been her role as Donna in Basil Dawkins “Same Song Different Tune” which after getting a great review by Claudette Spence for The Weekly Gleaner, “This is Thunder’s best performance I have seen. She artfully portrays the aggrieved and abused young adult and woman, without anger and rage, who grows from a poor insecure childhood to a woman of confidence and self-reliance”, was revived in the Summer of 2003 with none other than the illustrious Leonie Forbes.
After being out of the limelight for a number of years, (her last major project was with Lauryn Hill on the multi-Grammy Award winning album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”, where she was featured on the track “Forgive Then Father”), Shelly Thunder, now a new creation, is singing up a storm for the kingdom of God. She has done numerous performances, including shows in Jamaica and Antigua, following the release of her first gospel single, “The Race”. Produced by Paul Barclay on the Katalys label, “The Race” and “The Devil Get Kuff”, a single on the Main Street label, are enjoying excellent airplay in Jamaica and on local “Jamaican” radio in New York. She is currently in the studio working on her follow up singles and album.
Shelly Thunder can be contacted at:
Heart 2 Heart Communications Inc.
DBA Radikal Praise Multimedia Inc.
203.971.9521 (Office)
203.383-2410 (fax)
203.449.3408 (cell)
Email: shellythunder1@gmail.com