This humble artist began his career in performing as a singer at the age of thirteen at his junior high school talent show. The first introduction of his interest was inspired by Stevie wonder who lived around the block from Sheb Schwae in Detroit. He got the opportunity to meet Stevie through his younger brother named Tim, who he played with as a child. Tim would take Sheb Schwae downstairs to play and hear Stevie experimenting with the many instruments in his home studio. His curiosity would soon drive him to ask tim to introduce him to stevie. Stevie soon took Sheb Schwae under his mentorship by encouraging him to play the drums in his studio; this in fact was the spark that led him to become a skilled and master drummer of r&b and most importantly reggae music. Sheb Schwae's first music recording session was with Stevie, although it was a demo produced in his basement it served as a magical moment to hear the tape being played back and hearing his recorded voice with Stevie Wonder. According to Sheb, as small as the opportunity was it played the most significant influence in his drive to excel in the business.
Growing up in Detroit exposed Sheb Schwae to the many great artists in the Motown stable and also helped to refine his style as a singer. Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, David Ruffin, Stevie Wonder and Eddie Kendrick's were his favorites. The appreciation for other musical styles became apparent through funk, pop, rock, jazz, fusion and rap. Music from the middle east and Africa were picked up as a result of his travels to those regions as a child and adult. The most important influence that helped to develop his craft in producing reggae music was seeing Bob Marley and The Wailers perform.
Sheb Schwae's strengths as an artist are his abilities to sing, play drums, percussion, guitar, songwriting and produce as well as the mentors who schooled him through the years as attested by the quality of the masterful recording projects: tranquility, we go deal with the system, & we go deal with the system 2 (I found that girl). "Outstanding, energetic, awsome, dynamic, invigorating, contagious, the virtuosity shown by the tribe produces immedediate results for those who undertake to enjoy their renditions" Sheb Schwae & the Makah Rhythm Tribe is a highly progressive and versatile band that displays elements of all popular music, blended with the unique sounds of reggae, r&b, caribbean, arabic/r&b music. The artist has performed live on several college campuses in the u.s. and an array of clubs in the mid west, on the east coast, southeast, southwest, u.s. & ontario canada." Sheb Schwae & the Makah Rhythm Tribe has opended for internationally renowned artist such as: Maxi Priest, Freddie Mcgregor, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Black Uhuru, Steel Pulse, Judy Mowatt, Sly & Robbie. Sheb Schwae has performed live in concert with Bob Marley's former band The Wailers as a guest lead vocalist.
