Name: Who Really Wrote Shannon's "Let the Music Play"?
Uploaded: 2026-10-25T18:12:14.000Z
Description: Who really wrote Shannon's "Let the Music Play"? DJ Sir Daniel and Jay Ray tell the story behind the 1983 record widely credited with launching freestyle: Ann...

Who really wrote Shannon's "Let the Music Play"? DJ Sir Daniel and Jay Ray tell the story behind the 1983 record widely credited with launching freestyle: Ann Godwin, who Shannon says wrote the lyrics but couldn't take the credit while signed to Motown's publishing company; Jimi Tunnell, the session singer on the hook; and Chris Barbosa, who built the beat in his Bronx bedroom. The single went to No. 1 on Billboard's dance chart, No. 2 R&B and No. 8 on the Hot 100.

The Rundown
- Friday Night Videos and growing up on '80s New York radio
- "Fire and Ice": the bedroom demo behind the Shannon Sound
- The Shannon break in Janet Jackson's "All for You" video
- Ann Godwin, Jobete Music and the credit that went to her brother
- Freestyle's arena circuit today and Chris Barbosa's legacy

Chapters
00:00 Hook
00:22 Intro Theme
00:26 Intro: Back to 1983 New York
01:58 Sir Daniel's Memories of Friday Night Videos
03:46 Jay Ray's Childhood and Freestyle's Origins
05:41 Chris Barbosa Builds the Beat
08:09 Janet Jackson Sample and Freestyle's Hip Hop Roots
09:54 Shannon's Unlikely Discovery
12:21 Just Gig and Work: Organic Stardom
13:09 Rhythm and Romance: The Lyrics Story
15:57 The Hook Isn't Shannon
16:59 Freestyle Shows and Regional Scenes
21:02 Community, Collaboration, and Chris Barbosa's Legacy
22:20 Closing Thoughts
23:56 Outro Theme

Where did you first hear "Let the Music Play": the radio, a club or a Friday night video show? Tell us in the comments, and subscribe for more Black music history.

Read the Red Bull Music Academy "Key Tracks" piece with Shannon and Chris Barbosa: https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2015/09/key-tracks-shannon-let-the-music-play/

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#QueuePoints #Shannon #LetTheMusicPlay #Freestyle #BlackMusicHistory

Disclaimer: Episode Descriptions were developed using AI assistance and were subsequently reviewed, fact-checked, and edited by the Queue Points team to ensure accuracy and voice.

Disclaimer: Episode Descriptions were developed using AI assistance and were subsequently reviewed, fact-checked, and edited by the Queue Points team to ensure accuracy and voice.

Queue Points, DJ Sir Daniel, Jay Ray, shannon, let the music play,