The Sha La Das

Harmony is a family affair for the Sha La Das, a vocal quartet whose music is steeped in R&B and doo wop tradition while also adding elements of '60s soul, rock & roll, and psychedelic pop to create a sound that is moody but lush and soulful. Featuring a veteran harmony vocalist and his three sons, two members of the Sha La Das have worked with retro-soul artist Charles Bradley before a producer was knocked out by their close family harmonies and convinced them to record as headliners. They made their debut with a 2016 single before moving on to a full-length album two years later. The Sha La Das story begins with William Schalda, Sr., who hailed from Brooklyn, New York and grew up with a love of music. Schalda was a gifted singer and developed a passion for vocal harmonies, and in the early '60s, teenaged Schalda was a member of the Montereys, a popular local doo wop group. While Schalda cut a pair of singles with the combo, neither made an impression on the national sales charts, and in 1968 the Montereys split up.