Charles Shaw (singer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other persons of the same name, see Charles Shaw.

Charles Shaw is an Army veteran and rapper who sang songs credited to Milli Vanilli.

Shaw was paid $7,500 to rap on "Girl You Know It’s True." In December 1989, Shaw told New York Newsday writer John Leland that he was one of three singers on Milli Vanilli's debut album All or Nothing and that Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan were imposters. Producer Frank Farian reportedly paid Shaw $150,000 to retract his statements.

Milli Vanilli went on to win the Grammy Award for best new artist in 1990, but rumors about Shaw's involvement resurfaced, and the band was exposed in November 1990 when Farian broke the story himself.

Farian re-launched the group in 1991 as the Real Milli Vanilli, using Brad Howell, Johnny Davis and Shaw, the singers from the original studio sessions.

Shaw was arrested in Cologne, Germany in August 1998 as part of an embezzlement investigation. Shaw had been sought for allegedly putting money in his own pocket that was meant to be invested in a 1996 tour of Hungary.

In 2006, Charles Shaw released a new album called, Charles Shaw's Iris. It featured a song called, "Does Your Mother Know" that included the beat from Girl You Know It's True and other Milli Vanilli references.