Biography on
INTERNATIONAL DANCE DIVA
PEPPER MASHAY

Pepper MaShay exploded on the dance scene in the summer of 2000 with her mega smash hit “Dive in the Pool” (the un-official theme song from Showtime’s Queer As Folk & best described as the “It’s Raining Men” of the 21st Century). This song has truly taken her to all ends of the earth, including Rio, Singapore, Hawaii, Israel, Puerto Rico, Japan and the Philippines. She followed up with the Billboard dance chart toppers “I Got My Pride” (from Queer As Folk & Sex In the City) and “You and Me (Feels So Good)” (Queer As Folk) and her mega dance hit “I Can’t Stop.”

Late May 2005, Pepper released her newest dance song which is a remake of the classic Pop song called “Send Me An Angel,” which will be remixed by Manny Lehman and  the highly talented Dave Aude (who has remixed Annie Lennox, Sting and Seal). The song is currently sitting on the Billboard Charts at #18.

In August 2005 Pepper will finally release the “Remixes” for her song “Beauty Shop” which is taken in part from the movie of the same name. Her song will also be included on the DVD release of  “Beautyshop” the movie as well.

On February 2004, Pepper and Colton Ford (the former Adult Video Star and vocally trained singer) released the Stevie Wonder classic,  “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” on the Centaur Records label. A major video for this song was released as well. The remixes for this anthem song, are by Ralphie Rosario (which is slamming) , Mac Quayle, and Solar City, and went to #9 on the Billboard Dance Charts.

In early summer of 2005 Pepper is planning to release her highly anticipated full-length CD called “SOS” (which stands for “Singer of Songs”). She has gathered many of the top Grammy Award winning writers (which are listed below) in the country, (which whom she has worked for in the past 25 years) to contribute to this this very special project.

Pepper has been given songs from Alan Rich (he wrote “Run To You” for Whitney Houston), Desmond Child (who wrote numerous hit songs for Ricky Martin, Kelly Clarkson and Gloria Estefan) Stephen Bray (who wrote “Express Yourself” and “Into the Groove” for Madonna) and Dennis Lambert (who wrote “Pink Cadillac” and “Night Shift”).

Pepper’s recent smash hit “I Can’t Stop” was accompanied by a hot video directed by the “taudry” Chi Chi LaRue, along with “Pink” bedding provided by Anna Nicole Smiths “interior designer” Bobby Trendy. The “adult video stars” Matt Summers, Jason Land and Rob Romoni as well as 3 other beautiful model boys. A “behind-the-scenes” DVD of the “steamy” music video is scheduled for release in the near future.

Hence, “I Can’t Stop” is more than Pepper MaShay’s recent hit single, it's her mantra as well. Pepper drew inspiration for writing “I Can't Stop” from her past loves, including the one she recently divorced. “I concentrated on the good times in the relationship; when I couldn’t live without him,” she says.  “Anyone who has experienced their own great love will relate.  It’s that feeling of loving someone so much that you can’t get enough of that person.” “Finally, we get to hear her sing,” exclaims luminary porn-diva and Director of the music video for “I Can’t Stop,” Chi Chi LaRue.  “And what an amazing voice she has!

Along with Pepper’s recent song and video, fans are sure to notice the new “glamour-personified” Pepper MaShay, courtesy of Chi Chi.  “Pink, pink and more pink!” declares Chi Chi LaRue of Pepper’s transformation. “Plus long, pretty spider eyelashes.” “I would never have been seen in those eyelashes before,” laughs Pepper MaShay, “but when Chi Chi handed them to me and I put them on, I came alive.  They were just so much fun!  As I learned from Tina Turner, that’s what’s important – having fun!”  With “I Can’t Stop”, Pepper’s sharing her fun with everyone.

It all began twenty-some years ago when a young Jean McClain, as she was known then, left Muncie, Indiana to pursue a career in music.  She spent her early years playing Las Vegas hotels and casinos and singing back-up for singers like Cher and Tina Turner.  “Tina was wonderful,” remembers Pepper. “I worked with her for two days on the “What’s Love Got To Do With it” soundtrack.  The first day I met her, she asked me to sing and when I did, she hit me in my stomach!  She said, ‘I wanna hear it from your gut.  There’s no need to be nervous or scared,  we’re here to have a good time.’ I carried that wisdom with me.”

Surprisingly, Pepper’s original focus was on a career in rock music. As a child, she spent many afternoons in front of the mirror singing Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan songs.  But a night out at a European discotheque changed those aspirations.  She was in her early forties, already considered past her prime in most genres of music, still waiting to be signed to a record label.  The owner of the club advised her to stop waiting on the labels and to pursue a career in dance music instead.  “Dance music is perfect for a powerful singer like you,” he said.  But McClain knew little about dancing or dance music.

She teamed up with producer Michael O’Hara who, drawing from the way her freckles appeared to be sprinkled with pepper, renamed her Pepper.  She added MaShay, despite opposition from friends who thought “Pepper MaShay” sounded like a drag queens name.  She found immediate success singing background vocals on Taylor Dayne’s “Naked Without You,” Jennifer Holliday’s “A Women’s Got the Power” (Pepper recorded the demo. which enticed Jennifer to record the song) and Abigail’s “If It Don’t Fit.”  It was disheartening, however, when Pepper found out the one line she recorded (“My mama said if it don’t fit, don’t force it”) was spun into a remix and turned it into a 12-inch record.  “I had friends from New York calling me, ‘Girl, you’re all over the radio and it’s under someone else’s name!  Who’s Abigail?” She mentioned it to producer Barry Harris (half of remix duo Thunderpuss) who promised he would make things right.

Three months later Harris called Pepper into the studio to record what would become her breakout single.  “It took two and a half hours,” explains Pepper MaShay.  “Two months later, I’m in Japan on a jazz tour and I find out I’m on Billboard.  I couldn’t believe it.” “Dive in the Pool” climbed to #2 on the Billboard’s Dance chart on September 23, 2000, (Madonna was #1), and was later named the #2 Billboard Club Play Song of the year 2000 (again, Madonna was #1). The song was extensively featured on the Showtime hit series Queer As Folk and was included on the shows soundtrack, put out on RCA Records.  “Dive in the Pool” won the Best Underground 12” award at the Winter Music Conference in Miami and was also honored as one of the “Top Dance Songs for the Year 2000” by ASCAP. “Dive” continues to be un-stoppable and “new mixes” were released in the summer of 2003 by Nervous Records.....

When Pepper does have the time, she is highly committed to the fight against AIDS. Some of her favorite charities are the Matthew Shepard Foundation, Glaad, AIDS Project Los Angeles, Human Rights Camp., Equality California and Project Angel Food, which helps homebound people with AIDS.

Pepper says “I feel like I has been adopted by the gay community” and “I’m committed to helping my children out however I can”!!!!!

In 2001 alone, Pepper embarked on a grueling tour schedule to promote the song “Dive”, and logged in over 250 club appearances.  Since then, other hits have followed including “I Got My Pride” and “You and Me (Feels So Good)”, “I Pledge” and “Signed, Sealed, Delivered.”

For the last few years, Pepper has remained highly visible on the circuit. “It’s wearing me out, she admits." “But its to the point where I don’t want to stop.  Its like an addiction. There’s no better high than performing in front of gay and lesbian people who love me.”

Its been a long road traveled by the once Jean McClain, now Pepper MaShay, but for Pepper, its been well worth the trip. “No matter how long it takes,” advises Pepper, “Never give up your dreams.  I didn’t and I’m living them now and working non-stop.”

 

Please visit Pepper’s "official" website at www.PepperMaShay.com