Shawn de Salazar has been featured in several publications, including The Miami Herald, Sun-Sentinel, Miami's Community Newspapers, The Forum, Broward News, Hollywood Gazette, The Volunteer Broward Connector, The Happy Times, Happy Herald and Davie-Cooper City Gazette.

Here is the online, text-only version of a feature article that ran in the Sun-Sentinel:

Young crooner's got an old soul

Seniors fall for singer who stirs memories of their tender years.

By Yvonne Carey
Special Correspondent

June 10, 2005

Seniors at the Palm Court Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Wilton Manors got a musical trip down memory lane.

Shawn de Salazar, 17, of Davie, sang Frank Sinatra tunes and other songs during a recent performance there.

"I sing the standards because they say exactly what they mean," said de Salazar, a student at Nova High School. "The music and lyrics really move me. I love old people. And when I sing the standards to them, we connect."

"This kid is very good. One of our staff saw him perform before and highly recommended him," said Sandi Crupi, the center's administrative director. "He has an animated show and establishes real contact with the residents."

Palm Court resident Clara Gato, 86, was moved by de Salazar's performance, clapping along to his singing.

"He's wonderful!" she said.

De Salazar, who has been in several school and church choirs, began crooning to seniors this past school year as a way to merge his passion for singing and need to earn community service hours.

Last month, he recorded a three-song CD, Shawn de Salazar -- Singing the Standards, at a North Miami Beach recording studio. The CD features Let's Fall in Love, The Way You Look Tonight and All of Me.

"I'm going to try to become a crooner, like Frank Sinatra and Harry Connick Jr., by writing my own songs," he said. "Right now I'm just focusing on getting the experience."

He also helped found The Singing Ambassadors, composed of top choral students at several area high schools, who also perform at community events.

Caron Conway, Shawn's mom, said he has paying gigs booked through October. He's a hit with condo associations and he recently performed before more than 400 people during the recent Broward League of Cities installation ceremony, she said.

Other recent performances include stops at the Broward Outreach Center, a homeless center in Hollywood, and Azalea Gardens, a Hollywood assisted-living facility.

"Singing is my true passion in life, and being a volunteer performer is a great way to share that passion with others," Shawn writes on his Web site. "It gives me a really good feeling to be able to bring a smile to someone's face."

For more information, visit www.shawndesalazar.com.