Charles Shaw

Who is Charles Shaw?

Charles Shaw is a rapper and singer who, in 1988, performed on recordings credited to Milli Vanilli.

Shaw, a US Army veteran, was reportedly paid $6,000 to perform the rap on Milli Vanilli's hit "Girl You Know It’s True". In December 1989, Shaw disclosed to New York Newsday writer John Leland that he was one of three singers on Milli Vanilli's hit debut album, and that Milli Vanilli frontmen Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan were impostors. Milli Vanilli producer Frank Farian reportedly paid Shaw $150,000 to retract his statements.

Morvan and Pilatus went on to win the 1990 Grammy Award for Best New Artist, but rumors about Shaw's involvement persisted. Eventually the true story of the band was exposed in November 1990 when Farian broke the story himself, and the duo's Grammy Award was subsequently withdrawn.

Farian re-launched the group in 1991 as The Real Milli Vanilli, using Shaw with Brad Howell and John Davis, the singers from the original studio sessions. This group lasted for one album, 'The Moment of Truth.' A revised version of this album was later released in the United States with the group renamed 'Try N B'.