“The SHADD Piano Comes With Soul Built-In”
The First & Only African American Piano Manufacturer

Inventor, CEO, Manufacturer, Technologist, Medical Scientist SHADD Pianos & SHADD Musical Instruments

First & Only African American Piano & Band Instruments Manufacturer

Warren M. Shadd is a second-generation piano technician and third generation musician. As the founder of SHADD Pianos, USA in 2003, Warren has been proclaimed the First African American Piano Manufacturer in the world. Warren consistently patents innovative designs, construction, computerized pianos and interactive keyboards that introduce groundbreaking technologies for a new generation of musical exploration. SHADD is headquartered in Washington, DC with production in New York, Germany, Italy, and China. Warren is also the owner of innumerable patents in various technologies such as biometrics, forensics, covert surveillance, interactive innovation in space, weaponry, Assistive remedies for neurodevelopment disabilities and neurobehavioral disorders, and a medical breakthrough invention to detect and eradicate diseases worldwide.

Musician

As a prolific musician on several instruments, but mainly drums, Warren played his first of many jazz concerts at the early age of four and was a celebrated child prodigy drummer. From high school through Howard University, Warren has performed with numerous icons such as Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Savion Glover, Redd Foxx Revue, Nell Carter, Lionel Hampton, Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Shirley Horn, Phyllis Diller, Richard Smallwood, Ruth Brown, Slide Hampton, Etta Jones, Sir Roland Hanna, Phil Woods, Pepper Adams, Big Joe Turner, Phil Woods, Phyllis Hyman, James Moody, Kenny Burrell, Nicholas Payton, Zoot Simms, Andrew White, Joshua Redman, Jimmy Smith, Joe Williams, Jon Hendricks, Melba Moore, Frank Wess, Milt Jackson, Gary Bartz, Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison, Dorothy Donegan, etc.

Piano Tuner/Technician/Rebuilder

Prior to manufacturing his own SHADD brand pianos, Warren had a very active piano tuning and rebuilding company, servicing pianos for a plethora of iconic clients such as Tony Bennett, Herbie Hancock, Aretha Franklin, Gregory Porter, Josh Groban, Esperanza Spalding, Richard Smallwood, Stanley Clarke, Roberta Flack, Wynton Marsalis, David Sanborn, Al Jarreau, Shirley Horn, Joe Sample, Smokey Robinson, Ramsey Lewis, Diane Schuur, Will Downing, McCoy Tyner, Patti Austin, George Duke, Paquito D’Rivera, Terence Blanchard, Quincy Jones, Dr. John, Dave Brubeck, John Scofield, Gladys Knight, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dianne Reeves, Kenny Garrett, Monty Alexander, Roberta Gambarini, Dr. Billy Taylor, Arturo Sandoval, Abbey Lincoln, George Benson, Valerie Simpson, Freddie Cole, Patrice Rushen, Ellis Marsalis, Poncho Sanchez, President William Jefferson Clinton, Mavis Staple, Nancy Wilson, Cyrus Chestnut, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Wayne Shorter, The Department of State, The Smithsonian, Howard Theatre, BET Television, The Kennedy Center, The Library Of Congress, The Pentagon, Ronald Reagan Building, Ford’s Theater, National Gallery of Art, Lincoln Theater, National Theater, Warner Theater, Duke Ellington School of Arts, Blues Alley, Catholic University, Howard University, University of the District Of Columbia, University Of Maryland, Miss America Pageant, numerous churches, etc.

AWARDS: Warren M. Shadd

  • Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival Service Award, 2025
  • Black History Observance Award, 2025
  • Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, 2023
  • President’s Volunteer Service Award, 2023
  • Capitol Hill Jazz Foundation Award, 2023
  • Benny Golson Jazz Master Award, 2023
  • Proclamation Award from Prince George’s County, MD, 2022
  • DMV 48 Men of Power, 2022
  • We Will Survive Cancer Humanitarian of the Year, 2022
  • Office of the Maryland State’s Attorney Citation – 2022
  • Washington Business Journal, Executive of the Year, 2021
  • Living Legend Award, 2019
  • Eastern Star 7 Executive of the Year, 2019
  • Certificate of Appreciation from the President of the United States

MEDIA: Warren M. Shadd

Warren has been featured in numerous TV and radio interviews, podcasts, blogs, and articles such as The Washington Post Luxury Magazine, BBC, CBS Radio, NBC News, ABC News, Fox News, Chicago Tribune Newspaper, NPR radio and online article, Music Inc. Magazine, Turkish Jazz Magazine, Washington Informer Newspaper, American Prospect Magazine, Keyboard Magazine, WAMU radio, Catholic Herald online, Essence Magazine, WHUR radio, The Sentinel Newspaper, Cape Gazette Newspaper, The Afro Newspaper, District Chronicles Newspaper, United Auto Workers Newsletter celebrates Black History Month 2017 featuring Warren Shadd & President Barack Obama, Black History Calendar 2022, EWTN-International Catholic Television Network, MMR Magazine, Tom Joyner Radio Show, Harvard University Business School (doing a Case Study on SHADD achievements), Washington Business Journal, BusinessWiki, US News & World Report Magazine, etc.

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