Coral Reefer Band, Arrested Development vocalist sings of life for charity

Behind many renowned musicians are extremely talented people who pushed their acts from "really great" to "legendary." Nadirah Shakoor is just one such person.

Given her Earth Mother looks and smooth, rich, comforting voice, few would guess which national popular culture phenomenon she has been a part of for over 14 years. However, a true Parrothead would know that she is the lead backup vocalist of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band.

With soulful stylings, wide vocal range and an innate ear for harmonies it comes as no surprise that Shakoor was raised in a family of singers, listening and singing to Motown from the time she was 5 years old. After doing background vocals several tours, including Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul, Shakoor was drawn to Arrested Development by its infusion of hip-hop with African roots, and was an integral part of that band's success. Eventually she made the move from Los Angeles to Atlanta, but after three years of touring the group disbanded and Shakoor found herself in search of a singing job in a city where she had few contacts.

With some extensive searching

Shakoor found herself with three possibilities.

One was touring with a band for little pay in Australia for only one month and another was singing one song a night on Yanni's instrumental tour. Jimmy Buffett, the third contender won by default.

"At the time I thought Jimmy Buffett was a jazz artist," Shakoor said with a laugh. "They hired me and then I got his music and it was not at all jazz. It was hilarious, just not at the time."

Initially concerned about how she would fit in given the clear country influence in some of Buffett's older songs, Shakoor said she knew it would be alright when she saw Robert Greenidge playing the steel drums and felt the Caribbean vibe at her first rehearsal.

Over the years the live shows evolved as Shakoor brought a little more soul to the equation and steadily did away with the "hokier" bits of some of the songs.

The tours typically end in a party for everyone involved in the production and it was one such event in Boston that spawned the idea for Shakoor's most recent solo album, "Nod to a Storyteller," released last October.

Buffett suggested that by mixing some of her original songs with stylized covers of his more popular works Shakoor could capitalize on the fan base she had gained within the Parrotthead community.

With unique renditions of songs like Buffett's "Volcano" and "Margaritaville" as well as Eric Clapton's "When This War Is Over," Shakoor's collaboration with producer Mac McAnally really makes an original product. Nadirah even wrote a jazzy number as an ode to the tour accountant Henry. Few of her originals though take on the same chipper tone. Even her "Love Song" makes reference to the hardships of the world.

"I take inspiration from life and it's not always pretty," Shakoor said.

Her song "Break Away," off of the "Nadirah Songs" album, is about spousal abuse, while the charity that her Saturday concert will benefit, Darkness to Light, aims to prevent child abuse. Atlanta-based Buffett tribute band A1A will be performing alongside Shakoor.

The show, at the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center, starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at coliseumpac.com.