Ralsten Shanklin"Let the music play, we all will hear something!" Ralsten Shanklin’s music has touched many lives. Shanklin grew up in a bicultural home. His father was Jamaican and his mother was of Cuban descent. Because of this, he did not feel accepted in his neighborhood. Growing up, his talents were apparent. He played multiple sports, excelled in dance, and was known for his singing abilities. At high school, his counselor suggested that he explore a career in singing. However, his father, who was a boxer, wanted him to pursue pugilism. He did not follow that path, but did become involved in martial arts. He was also good at basketball and he tried out for the Milwaukee Bucks team, but a hip injury brought him back to music.
Shanklin wrote his first song when he was 18. His first memories of songs were that of his mother singing Gospel in the kitchen. He found inspiration from almost anything he experienced in his life. However there were genre barriers for him as he produced R&B, Hip-Hop, Pop, and Gospel music. He found that music was his escape because, as he explained, it isn’t how he created the music but why he created it that mattered most. Ralsten Shanklin creates music in the hope that his music will help people in need and improve life in Milwaukee’s residents. Ralston Shanklin, interviewed by Damir McCurty and Hyrom Stokes, June 2015 |
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