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Shirazette Lezitta-Amara Tinnin (Performer/Educator) also known as “She Beats” is a native of North Carolina. She grew up surrounded by the depths of gospel and soul music within the southern churches of North Carolina. It was at an early age that she discovered her love for rhythm. Her family could recall days where she would pull out pots and pans or even the wall and make sounds of rhythm occur on just about anything. It was at the age of four while on the floor watching the music awards that she saw her inspirational genesis for her life in music. It was Sheila E. who brought drumming to her attention during a performance on television. Unlike most people who try many different things before they find their calling Shirazette Tinnin found her gift from God at an early age. Ever since her induction into drumming she has been first in many untravaled territories for female musicians. As a teenager she was the first female drum captain at her school commanding a line of male counterparts at Eastern Alamance High School. She was the first female to march the percussion instrument quads and to play drum set. She continued on her love of percussion into college at Appalachian State University where she had the opportunity to study and meet some of the world’s most profound musicians and people. While at Appalachian State University she studied with Yahn Metzer (classical percussion), Dr. Rob Falvo (classical percussion), Rick Dilling (drum set), Dr. Scott Meister (ethnomusicologist) and Todd Wright (jazz studies). It was at Appalachian State University that she found her true love for drum set and her true belonging in jazz music. She began performing in the jazz ensembles, and small combos as well as performing with her jazz professor Todd Wright on a regular basis while in school. Shirazette gained a lot of experience via performing with Mr. Wright, which would help her to develop into where she is now. In order to complete her degree for Appalachian State University Shirazette connected herself to Manhattan, New York where she interned for The New York Pops Orchestra and Quad Recording Studios. In the city of Manhattan she met other thriving musicians and gained the opportunity to study with drummer Cindy Blackman, who would become a very large impact on her motivation to become one of the best. After her internship was complete she temporarily moved back to N.C where she became one of the most sought after drummers for jazz, hip-hop, R&B, gospel and theatre. Her experiences in N.C include performing & sharing the stage with Boney James, Melva Houston, Cle Thompson, The Solos Unit, Joe Robinson, Arturo Sandoval, Rehab, Slide Hampton, The Raleigh Little Theatre and Lyfe Jennings. Shirazette is currently living in the Chicago area where she completed her master’s degree at Northern Illinois University in Jazz Pedagogy under the direction of Ron Carter as a Liberace Scholar. (Saxophonist/Jazz Educator). She is currently a music educator at Columbia College Chicago and during her short time in Illinois she has shared the stage in Manhattan, NYC at the IAJE convention with NIU Jazz Ensemble, performing with Eddie Henderson, and Conrad Herwig. She was the runner-up in 2005 for the Sisters in Jazz International Collegiate competition placing her second in the world for female jazz drummers. In September 2006 she was a performer in the annual African Festival with jazz trumpeter Otis Williams and Jimmy Heath in 2008. In 2008 Shirazette won the Sisters in Jazz Competition for IAJE making her the top female jazz drummer in the world. She has been mentored by many such as Cindy Blackman, Terri Lynne Carrington, Allison Miller, Lewis Nash, and many many more. Shirazette is also a mentor to young aspiring drummers everywhere she goes. Shirazette has become one of the to hear, to see, to talk about drummers in greater Chicago metro area. As an international musician Shirazette Tinnin represented the U.S.A. as a Liberace Scholar during the Lima Jazz Festival in Lima, Peru in April 2007 making friends and future business endeavors with people who speak the same language of jazz. She will be headed to Madrid, Spain in November with the Delisfort Project. Shirazette is not your average musician but is a businesswoman, a teacher and a mentor. She is currently striving for a female musicians network that will build the confidence and numbers of female musicians. She is still connected heavily back home in N.C with a current group called the Mojo Affair. She is constructing a new group with the same old flavor called IMANI 7 that will introduce new female artists such as Annechele Davis, Celia Whiren, and so on. She is currently involved with The Delisfort Project and she is producing music and making beats for existing and upcoming artists. She is also the drummer for The Rock Christian Church in Dekalb, IL under pastor Jerry Wright. She currently has a new jazz project called “3 ILL” (formerly known as Project S) that debuted in August 2008 at Jazz in the Alley, Chicago IL.As a teacher she has given clinics and teaches privately the knowledge that has been passed on to her to others. Shirazette is definitely on a mission to live, love and be all she can be musically. Her main goal is to demonstrate nothing but the highest by striving for the highest in life through music.