Playing with legends such as The Wailers and grammy award winning blues pioneer John Lee Hooker.

Shawn’s talent has carried him to stages all over the world, and has influenced a catalog of hundreds of original songs. After traveling to Europe 9 times since 2004, Shawn has relocated recently to the east coast to spread his worldly blues/rock sounds around the New Jersey, New York area.

Originally from northwest Ohio, Shawn began playing in 1988 at the age of 14. With an interest in Jimi Hendrix and the idea of moving ahead with guitar, he worked with several teachers in the first few years. In 1992 he found himself a winner of a guitar contest, successfully competing against some of his mentors. That same year he met bass player Calvin "Fuzzy" Samuels (CSNY) and developed a friendship as they played almost every weekend over the next four years. Performing multiple styles, including delta blues, folk, funk, reggae, and several others, helped Shawn develop an approach to recording music.

In May of 1995, Fuzzy Samuels introduced the 21 year old Gonzales to The Wailers at one of their performances in Detroit, Mi. Jr. Marvin invited Shawn to play the classic Bob Marley hit "Exodus", in front of a full crowd at the Majestic Theatre. Soon after, Shawn moved out west to pursue his music.

Within the first few months he landed in the bay area of California, and was soon introduced to 6 time grammy award winning blues legend John Lee Hooker. After a few years of performing with his own group, as well as local reggae and blues bands, he joined with friend Archie Lee Hooker and recorded an album "Far from Home" in 1999. Upon John Lee Hooker's request of recording a single with Shawn, he was was blessed to play one of the final recordings that John Lee Hooker made before passing. The song, titled, “I Can’t Hold On,” was recorded in John Lee Hookers home in Redwood City, California. On November 20, 1999, with Shawn on the acoustic slide guitar and John Lee Hooker singing vocals and playing electric guitar, they played blues.

After John Lee Hooker's passing on June 21st, 2001, Shawn switched gears and moved to Berkeley/Oakland Ca, and began performing reggae and acoustic based music. This is where he met a Danish blues band called the "No Shoes Blues". This led to a friendship and connection that lead to performing in Europe over the next several years.

Touring Europe in 2004, Shawn went through England, Amsterdam, France, Denmark and Sweden, joining with Nils Poulin and the No Shoes Blues Band. He reunited with Calvin Fuzzy Samuel to play The Kloften Festival and local pubs in the area. Soon after followed a 10 day tour off the coast of Sweden, Bornholm island, The Samso Festival, Live Danish TV2, and touring the local pub circuit, performing 36 gigs in 6 weeks. The band recorded a CD, "Bar Drinking Boys" in 2004 and "The Play That Never Was" in 2008, both in Danish studios.

Returning stateside in 2004, Shawn produced, hosted and performed at the Black Repertory Theater in Berkeley, CA. He put on the “Berkeley Theater Jam,” bringing together 10 independent artists, backed by Shawn’s former reggae band, “Dreaded Truth.” With a packed 250 seat theater, it was the perfect backdrop for the filmed event.

Shawn has since produced several albums including “To The Floor, “Dubwave”, “Dirty Pocket,” “Down the Path,” and “Never Give Up.” These albums showcase the unique breath of his talents with influences stemming from Delta and world blues, and Caribbean and reggae sounds.

Shawn returned to performing professional reggae music in 2010 with The Fyah Squad Band in Northern California, backing 28 artists in 2 years such as: Winstrong, Jr. Toots, Irae Divine, Rocker T, Black Lung, Arc Angel and severl others. Performing two days in a row with two different reggae bands at the 28th annual Reggae On The River 2012 was a great way to leave California after 17 years.

As of September 2012, Shawn has relocated to North Eastern New Jersey where he is building recordings for his new CD "In The East", due out summer 2013.