Shelby, NC
Music connected to Shelby
About Shelby
- • Jazz pianist Earl Gardner was born in Shelby, later performing with Count Basie.
- • Shelby is the 'City of Pleasant Living' and birthplace of Cleveland County Fair.
- • The railroad's arrival in the 1870s spurred growth, connecting Shelby to major markets.
- • A 1934 bank robbery saw thieves escape with $30,000, never fully recovered.
- • The Great Depression severely impacted textile mills, leading to widespread unemployment.
- • Named for Revolutionary War Colonel Isaac Shelby, it was incorporated in 1843.
- • With 22,000 residents, it is smaller than Gastonia but larger than Kings Mountain.
- • At 1,073 feet, it offers slightly cooler summers than the coastal plain.
- • Manufacturing, particularly textiles, remains a significant part of the economy.
- • A friendly, slow-paced town with deep roots in Southern hospitality and tradition.
- • The Carolina Panthers (NFL) are nearby; they reached Super Bowl 50 in 2016.
- • Shelby High School's football team has won multiple state championships.