GO BANANAS! Florida's award-winning Shana Banana became a full-time children's songwriter and enternainer in 1996, after growing up on the grounds of her mother's preschool, enjoying a successful a successful career in folk music, and obtaining a Master's degree in Oceanography.  Her shows and songs encompass a variety of themes, including reading, movement, imagination, acceptance of others, hopscotch, tooth brushing, dionosaurs, the ocean, and the environment.  She also enjoys presenting songs and stories from other cultures, from Japanese to Caribbean to American Indian, while encouraging kids to learn simple foreign language words, phrases, numbers.  Her lively stage presence, dynamic voice, wonderful video and CD's have earned her Parents' Choice and NAPPA awards.  She has also received a Kids First! endorsement, 2000-2001 nominations for Campus Activities Family and Children's Entertainer of the Year, an invitation to perform at the White House, and best of all, lots of big banana hugs from kids of all ages, all over the country!  She is now hosting a new segment called "Family Time" on Tampa Bay's weekly "Daytime Show" on NBC.  She tours nationally both as an independent performer and with the national group KIDSTOCK which also feels such well-loved artists as Joanie Bartels, Lyle Cogen, Scooter, Gaia, Dan Crow, and David Jack.  In 2003, she will share the stage with Steve Trash and Trout Fishing In America.  Her performance venues include performing arts theatres, college campuses, schools, festivals, family attractions, and libraries.

Bookings Find out more about how to book your very own Shana Banana performance!

Nashville Scene describes her as "a cross between Joan Armatrading, Cassandra Wilson, and the jazzy excursions of Joni Mitchell." Ft. Lauderdale's City Link Magazine remarks that she "sings with sophistication and style, calling into mind Pat Benatar-rock at one moment, and at another the keening of a Scottish lament." Listen.com said: "This versatile singer-songwriter can croon her way through smoky, late-night lounge jazz, or soar over uplifting, hand-clapping acoustic folk-rock." Call it folk, jazz, or blues, Tampa Bay-based Shana Smith is one dynamic singer/songwriter. She performs nationwide, including some of the following noted venues: the Olympic Village in Atlanta, the White House, the Seattle Center, Florida Seminole Indian reservations, and at colleges across the U.S. She has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with such national artists as Jonathan Edwards, Ann Rabson, Seminole Chief Jim Billie, and Roy Bookbinder.

Writing and singing original songs is her first love, but Shana also performs a range of cover material, from contemporary artists to classic standards. She is equally appropriate for and comfortable at a fine arts event, a college cafeteria, a folk festival, or a late-night blues joint. She performs as a solo artist, but also works with some "killer" musicians in duo, trio, or full band combinations. "Just give me a mic and a place to sing. I'll bring the guitar and, if you want, a whole band. We can lose ourselves to music for the next one, two, three, (four?) hours."

For booking, touring, or other information, call Shana at (727) 550-0128, or write her at the following address:

Shana Banana
2312 NW 177 Ave.
Gainesville, Florida 32609