Shawn Richards

Shawn Richards' roots in country music began at a very young age. The first concert he ever attended was in Austin, Texas in 1983 at the age of four, where he saw a brand new artist named George Strait. From then on, country music was in his blood. He began singing in middle school choir at the age of 12 where he performed numerous solos. At 13, he joined his first band, performing throughout central Indiana at county fairs, festivals, and other venues. At 14, Shawn began performing solo shows, quickly gaining a reputation for his vocal maturity and high-energy style of entertaining. 

At 16, Shawn joined the Country Music Association of Indiana. At the state competition in August of 1995, he won multiple awards, including the Entertainer of the Year. At the national competition in October of that year, he was part of the National Vocal Duo of the Year, and was awarded the National Rising Star of the Year. The following year, 1996, he again won multiple awards at the state level, and at the national competition, he was awarded National Male Vocalist of the Year. 

After graduating high school in 1997, Shawn moved to Austin, Texas where he performed with multiple bands and other solo shows. During that time, he played for crowds of anywhere from 3 to 30,000. In January of 2000, he enlisted in the United States Army as a line technician, receiving an honorable discharge in 2002. He continued to play music again until 2013. 

Shawn took a break from music for the next eight years. In March of 2021, at the urging of friends and family, he began performing again and by June, his calendar was already filled up for the year. 

In February of 2023, Shawn would write what became his signature song, "My Indiana Home." A tribute to his hometown of Lapel, the song's poignant lyrics continue to resonate with fans and strangers alike, telling a story of small-town values and a love for life's simple pleasures. "It always amazes me," Shawn says, "when I get an email from a soldier, a sailor a Marine... And they say, 'Hey man, this song reminds me of home. Thank you.' It's very humbling, and I think it's the greatest compliment a songwriter can receive."

Since then, Shawn has continued writing and recording music in Nashville, TN. His debut EP, "Livin' the Dream", was released on December 15, 2024. It featured five of his original songs, including a song he co-wrote with his father. Shawn released his first full-length studio album on April 19, 2026, titled "Open Road, Open Hearts". The album features nine original songs that Shawn wrote over the last 18 months. He is very proud to have written, recorded, and helped produce all nine songs in the Hoosier state. 

Shawn has gained a loyal and rapidly-growing following over the last several years. His unique blend of acoustic performance paired with backing music tracks gives him a song library of well over 1500 songs. His live performances have been widely praised, not only for their high energy and crowd engagement, but also for the enormous variety of music. At any given show, one could expect to hear a Sinatra song one moment and 80s hair band music the next. Don't break out the Aqua Net yet though, cause after that you're likely to hear classic rock tunes from Bob Seger or Marshal Tucker, followed up by hard rock anthems by Nickelback or Godsmack. In the end, you'll hear plenty of classic and modern country, including Shawn's own country music originals. His four-octave vocal range allows him to sing every things from Josh Turner and Johnny Cash to Steve Perry and Bruno Mars without missing a beat. 

In June of 2025, Shawn was nominated for three Josie Music Awards. The Josies are the most prestigious independent music awards show in the world, and the event is held annually at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. His nominations included Country Male Vocalist of the Year, Country Male Artist of the Year, and Country Song of the Year (Sundown in a Small Town). On November 2nd, Shawn was honored to win the Country Song of the Year Award at the JMAs!

With more than 600 shows over the last four years, Shawn is not slowing down. He currently has more than 150 dates scheduled for 2026, and is already booking for 2027 and beyond. 

In late 2025, Shawn began working with a band for the first time in many years. Featuring three seasoned musical veterans, Shawn Richards and The RadioFyre Band are fired up to play a number of shows throughout Indiana in 2026 with an expanded schedule in 2027!

Shawn currently resides in northern Indiana with his wife and their four cats. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, fitness, writing music, and reading. He is an avid gamer and is currently playing a variety of games, including Overwatch, World of Warcraft, and Pax Dei. He continues to write songs, always looking for something that connects people through his lyrics.