All about Shida…
Buckle up… It’s a long bio…
Rashida Burch-Washington (Shida Beats) is a musician, producer, educator, and director from St. Croix, USVI. She grew up watching her mother perform with jazz legends like Cab Calloway and Jimmy Hamilton. Rashida remembers vividly seeing her mother perform on the Island Center stage on St. Croix; knowing instantly that’s what she wanted to do. Her mother insisted she learn to play several instruments (violin, piano, and later, trumpet). She also studied many styles of dance and theatre, and at 4 years old, Rashida began performing as a lead/ soloist. In November 1989, Rashida’s family moved to Rochester, NY after losing everything in Hurricane Hugo. She picked up her arts training by studying dance with world renown, Tony Award winner, Garth Fagan and performed in his youth ensemble. Rashida attended middle and high school at the School of the Arts in Rochester, NY. She continued to perform in principal theatre roles but began to focus her studies on vocal music at the school. Her focus in this area led to her earning a scholarship and acceptance to the top contemporary music school in the country, Berklee College of Music, in Boston, MA as a vocalist and Music Business Major in 1999.
While studying the business of music, Rashida began to question her desire to work within that industry. She desired to help mold budding artists, be an advocate for musicians, and create a platform for underrepresented artists across the country. While she continued to study under people directly connected to the industry she hoped to one day reform, Rashida began teaching voice at industry heavyweight, Bristol Studios, in Boston. She was fortunate to have students from all over New England travel to study with her, and she helped many pursue success on several reality TV vocal competitions like Making The Band, American Idol, and Star Search.
During her career as a vocalist, Rashida has racked up many credits for her performances with Patti Austin, Nnena Freelon, Paul Anka, Michael Bolton, Calvin Bridges, Vicki Winans, Dorothy Norwood, and Clay Cook (of the Zac Brown Band). She also has had the honor of opening for Angela Bofill, The Whispers, Donnie McClurkin, and Floetry.
After several years in Boston, Rashida moved to Atlanta, GA to be with her sweetheart (now husband) and further pursue her music career. During her time in Atlanta, she worked as a backing vocalist (live and in-studio) for several nationally recognized recording artists. When Rashida and her husband, decided to start their family, they moved back to Rochester, NY in 2004. Rashida continued to perform locally with local bands and taught voice lessons to budding local artists until transitioning to corporate work.
After spending 10 years dedicated to corporate work full time and music part-time, Rashida decided to follow her heart and only do work that makes her and those around her happy. She took a leap of faith and left her corporate job and worked as a stage manager, actor, vocalist, and artist during a year of soul searching. Rashida began working in community advocacy. She worked with the residents of low-income neighborhoods as a liaison with city officials, helping to combat violence, and drugs in the neighborhood as well as helping low-income households secure grant funding for necessary home improvements, and provided job training to adults in need of employment. After completing an acting job directed by Emmy nominated filmmaker, Carvin Eison, Rashida took on a position working for Rochester Community TV in 2013 which allowed her the opportunity to explore video production while bringing her expertise in music to it. Rashida produced several videos that have received national recognition. She has recognition from the Hometown Media Awards (A National Award given by the Alliance for Community Media) and has performed in Telly Award-winning PSAs and short films. After joining the world of video production Rashida discovered a passion for teaching youth how to use their voice in media responsibly and understand the importance and power of media. She teaches film summer camps that have produced more than 20 films over 5 years, all of which have been featured in the national 90 Second Newbery Film Festival. She has developed a curriculum that teaches media literacy to students at her alma mater, School of the Arts. She has also directed a group of teenage media professionals, Infinite Radical Youth, who filmed events and had a bi-weekly simulcasted TV/Radio/Web show from 2017 to 2020 when the Coronavirus pandemic halted gathering options.
In 2015 Rashida was tasked with launching a low-power FM station for RCTV. 100.9 FM, WXIR launched in May of 2016 and is a beacon of alternative urban sound. Currently, Rashida serves as the Program Director for the station with a vision of using the airwaves to entertain, educate, and empower the underrepresented people within the City of Rochester. The station currently has over 75 on-air personalities providing unique content including news, public affairs, financial and legal education, empowerment in entrepreneurship, health & wellness, and literacy, all while still playing music from local/ independent artists, underground and alternative artists. Despite the long and winding road, Rashida has landed in her passion for helping people, providing a platform, and grooming talent that can all be well implemented. Rashida’s dedication to these things along with her love of community, and her morals and integrity continue to guide how she leads. Rashida has been fortunate to work with brilliant producers and continues to expand her knowledge and experience while creating award-winning media. While she loves the work she does with the community, Rashida’s favorite job is being Elliott’s wife, and Jacyn & Ethan’s mom.