Melvin Seals & JGB Announce Lineup Change

Melvin Seals & JGB confirmed a major change to their lineup. After years of service, vocalists Cheryl Rucker and Shirley Starks have parted ways with the band. Lady Chi and Sunshine Becker have joined Melvin Seals & JGB.

Melvin Seals held down the keyboard seat in the Jerry Garcia Band for 18 years. He has spent most of his performing career since Garcia died leading Melvin Seals & JGB. Lady Chi is a Bay Area vocalist, who has worked with such acts as P-Funk, Con Brio and Angelo Moore over the years. Becker is best known for her long tenure in Phil Lesh & Bob Weir’s Furthur.

Read the official statement from the band:

As we push forward and grow as a band, we want to sincerely thank Cheryl Rucker and Shirley Starks for their many years of singing and touring with Melvin Seals and JGB. We, as the Keepers of the Flame, strive to be the greatest band we can be. To best serve Jerry Garcia’s music, and with the fans in our best interest, we’d like to introduce the two ladies that will be taking the reins: Lady Chi and Sunshine Becker. We can’t wait to show you how this lineup sounds on our upcoming tour!

Next up for Melvin Seals & JGB are a pair of shows in California, which will be followed by a Northeast-focused Spring Tour.

[Sunshine Becker Sings “Sugaree”]