Vicky Shell

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Vicky Shell

| image =

| caption =

| background = solo_singer

| birth_name = Belkis Arias

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|6|14}}

| birth_place =Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

| origin =

| genre = Latin, Tropical, Salsa, Merengue, World

| instrument = Vocals, percussion, maracas,bongos,guiro,idiophone,clave

| occupation = Singer, educator, songwriter

| website = [http://vickyshell.com/ www.VickyShell.com]

}}

Belkis Arias, known professionally as Vicky Shell (born June 14, 1967) is a Dominican singer, educator and songwriter.{{cite web|title=Vicky Shell Official Website|url=http://vickyshell.com/}} She is known as an artist{{cite web|title=Vicky Shell se prepara para un gran retorno – El Caribe|url=http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/5998/vickyshell2img138a.jpg|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008125530/http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/5998/vickyshell2img138a.jpg|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 8, 2011|date=August 5, 2000}} of Latin tropical rhythms in addition to other styles of music.{{Cite web|title=Vicky Shell '10A Entrega Anual LATIN GRAMMY Magazine'|url=http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/9477/vickyshellgrammy.jpg|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726010157/http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/9477/vickyshellgrammy.jpg|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 26, 2011|date=November 5, 2009}}

Early life

Vicky Shell was born in the Dominican Republic in 1967.{{cite web |date=November 5, 2009 |title=Vicky Shell – Life |url=http://www.life.com/search/?type=images&q0=vicky+shell}}{{cite web |date=November 5, 2009 |title=Vicky Shell – Exposay |url=http://www.exposay.com/vicky-shell-the-10th-annual-latin-grammy-awards---arrivals/p/34132/11/}}{{cite web |date=April 29, 2009 |title=Vicky Shell 'Billboard' |url=http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/2003/54724734.jpg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928140219/http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/2003/54724734.jpg |archive-date=September 28, 2011}}{{cite web |date=June 30, 2011 |title=Vicky Shell – SAG Hollywood |url=http://postimage.org/image/g8x8y6tg/}}{{cite web |date=2009–2010 |title=Vicky Shell – LMAC |url=http://postimage.org/image/g93v3ksk/}}{{cite web |date=June 30, 2009 |title=Vicky Shell 17th Screen Actors Guilds Awards 2011 |url=http://encyclopedia.mitrasites.com/imgs/17th-screen-actors-guild-awards.html}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} She came to the United States at the age of 9.

Career

Vicky Shell started early in her life with local bands and as time went on she went solo leading her own band.{{cite web|title=Vicky Shell – Eco Latino Cantante, Lider de Orquesta|url=http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4411/vickyshell2img143b.jpg|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329075645/http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4411/vickyshell2img143b.jpg|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 29, 2012|date=June 15, 1994}} Independently she recorded{{cite web|title=Vicky Shell – El Dia – Vicky Shell|url=http://postimage.org/image/cjlu66is/|date=December 7, 2006}} her first album. In 1988 she pursued her musical studies in the Bronx Community College,{{cite web|title=Vicky Shell y La Tropicalisima – Radio & Music|url=http://postimage.org/image/rb9gpll0/|date=January 29, 1996}} where she took various credits in music. She had continued her studies in the university of City college of New York City{{cite web|title=Vicky Shell una cantante sexi, conqueta y sensual que se destace en NY – El Nacional|url=http://postimage.org/image/rd0b4sck/|date=April 17, 1994}} and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education.{{cite web|title=Vicky Shell – Listindiaro.com – Cantante Vicky Shell ahora se sumerge en la salsa(Spanish) |url=http://www.listindiario.com/app/article.aspx?id=52720|date=March 25, 2008}}

She became a school teacher in New York City schools and Yonkers public schools. She eventually decided to take up a career in music and recorded her second tropical album.

Vicky Shell released her album Salsa Con Pimienta.{{cite web|title=Vicky Shell y su 'Salsa con Pimienta' HOY digital Alerria (Spanish)|url=http://www.hoy.com.do/alegria/2008/9/4/246197/Vicky-Shell-y-su-Salsa-con-pimienta|date=August 4, 2008|access-date=February 21, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719133241/http://www.hoy.com.do/alegria/2008/9/4/246197/Vicky-Shell-y-su-Salsa-con-pimienta|archive-date=July 19, 2011|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Vicky Shell – Diario Libre – Revista Espectaculos "Cantante Vicky Shell promueve nuevo tema"|url=http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5129/5231030368_66fc9df4c0_b.jpg|date=March 15, 2008}} She has been acknowledged for her magnificent elucidation of the renowned songs such as "Como Una Sombra",{{cite web|title=Cantante Vicky Shell promueve nuevo tema (Spanish) |url=http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias_det.php?id=12395|date=April 15, 2008}} "Mueva Las Maracas", "Hombre de Hierro", and "Musica Latina". In which these songs follow the genre styles of rhumba, Latin jazz, bolero son, salsa romantica, and Descarga. Music producer Oscar-nominated and Grammy Award winner Ray Santos{{cite web|title=Vicky Shell – Ray Santos Latin Jazz Legend|url=http://www.prlog.org/10208080-music-greats-gather-to-celebrate-latin-jazz-legend-ray-santos-80th-birthday.html}}{{cite web|title=Vicky Shell Trae 'Salsa con Pimienta' – El Nacional (Spanish)|url=http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/7025/vickyshell2img139.jpg|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928144426/http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/7025/vickyshell2img139.jpg|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 28, 2011|date=August 25, 2008}} arranged and collaborated, as well From Fania All-Stars{{cite web|title=vicky Shell Rumba |url=http://zonarumbera.wordpress.com/2008/09/05/vicky-shell-lanza-un-cd-de-"salsa-picante"|date=September 5, 2008}}{{cite web|title=Vicky Shell lanza un CD de 'salsa picante' |url=http://www.listindiario.com/app/article.aspx?id=72393|date=August 3, 2008}}

Although absent from the music industry for some time, Vicky Shell returned in 2017 with the music video for the single "La Musica Latina." Vicky Shell has received numerous awards and acknowledgements throughout several countries for her musical contributions throughout the years.