SHELLY LARES

MUSIC ARTIST, PRODUCER

San Antonio, Texas

SPEAKER – WIFT TX: SPEAKER SERIES 2025 – “STATE OF THE TEXAS MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY”

Nicknamed “Little Miss Dynamite” for her many talents, San Antonio Texas native, Shelly Lares has been one of the most enduring artists in the Tejano music scene for over 40 years. Over 25 albums, and a member of the Tejano Roots Hall of Fame, Lares has a large devoted following due to her powerful singing voice and charismatic stage presence. She is a Tejano Music Icon, musician, songwriter, producer, guitarist, percussionist, business owner, and activist. She has been nominated and won several categories for the BMI awards, Grammys and Latin Grammys, Tejano Music Awards, Premios Tejano Mundial,  My Tejano Awards, and many more. She is the very first Female in Tejano Music history to have received several Producer of the Year awards.

Lares recorded her first record at the age of 10 with The Hot Tamales Band which is where she was introduced to Tejano Music. Lares stayed with them for four years recording five 45 records before branching out on her own and signing with Manny Guerra at 17, where she began composing and fully producing her own music. She recorded for Manny Music between 1989 and 1995. Her fifth album “Quiero Ser Tu Amante” was a breakthrough and landed inside the Top 40 of the Latin Albums Charts. Her biggest hit “Soy Tu Amor”, that she co-wrote with JJ Reyes was the most Latin played song of 1994. After leaving Manny she signed to Sony Discos and her self-titled 1996 album “Shelly” peaked at 35 on the Top Latin Albums Chart and its single “Siempre Lo Esperare” was recognized by BMI that same year. It reached number 18 on the Regional Mexican charts. 

That success gave Lares the opportunity to showcase her love for country music in turn becoming an album of half country, half tejano and recorded in San Antonio and Nashville Tennessee, alongside country superstar Vince Gill, who was featured on guitar and vocals. It solidified her as a cross over country music artist and performed  several shows with major country artists. Making history yet again with country icon Vince Gill singing in Spanish for the first time ever on Shelly’s hit “Siempre Lo Esperare.” Shelly continued on with Sony for five years and went on to independent label Tejas Records for 10 years.

In 2012 Lares started her own record label Shellshock Records 3 which allowed her full control of recordings, manufacturing, distribution, and sales. “Renacer” in 2012 was the first off her label and did well on the digital charts and continued to rack up sales years after the initial release. Her 2015 album “De Mi Corazon” was nominated for a Latin Grammy in the best Tejano Album category. Her 2019 album “Obra De Amor” earned success in sales and won Single Of The Year for “Devuelveme El Corazon” as well as “Female Vocalist of the year” yet again.

She has done numerous collaborations throughout her career with artists such as Vince Gill, Little Joe, Ruben Ramos, Jay Perez, Elida Reyna, Ram Herrera, David Mares and many others. Earning her other nickname “Queen of collabs” with over 30 collaborations in her career, the most of ANY tejano artist and has received numerous collaboration awards.

One of her most successful collaborations has been with Elida Reyna and Stefani Montiel as LAS TRES DIVAS. They toured the United States, Japan, Guam, and Korea and received a Grammy Nomination for BEST MEXICAN AMERICAN ALBUM as well as a Latin Grammy nomination for their album “Las Tres Divas.” Shelly’s music continues to stream millions on streaming platforms and will forever be a staple of Tejano Music! 

When she celebrated 40 years in the industry in 2022, Shelly decided to retire from the road and as an artist to challenge and reinvent herself, as well as to focus on being CEO of her record label ShellShock Records 3. She signed her 1st artist El Gallo Dez, opened  her recording studio, and is following her love for hospice care through music support for patients, which has been a calling Shelly has had for many years. She was named the VERY FIRST ARTIST IN RESIDENCE for the school of music at UTSA and began teaching late October 2023 for the year and is returning for a 3rd year. 

Lares is composing music for films and television and her remake of “These Boots Are Made for Walkin” appeared in the film “Say a Little Prayer” staring Luis Fonsi. She was also featured on the series LEGUIZAMO DOES AMERICA with John Leguizamo in 2025, highlighting her career. She continues to be a trailblazer and an advocate for new artists, offering numerous services at Shellshock Records 3, including artist development, record production for all genres, marketing, promotion, and all that the music industry entails. She’s passionate about guiding artist careers.

She has since received several lifetime achievement awards and, most recently the Legacy Award from the Human Rights Campaign for her work and representation in her LGBTQ+ community. In 2024, Shelly was honored with The Celestial Award for Excellence in Music by Women in Film & Television Texas, and inducted into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame as well as the nationally recognized Corazon de Oro Award 2025 from SAAHJ – San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists.

Little Miss Dynamite or now known as “LMD” Shelly Lares, continues to strive to inspire and mentor the next generation of artists, succeed as a businesswoman, to achieve her dreams, and encourages others to do the same.