Shirley has appeared as a guest soloist in concerts throughout the United States and Canada on commercial and public television. She has performed at many of Oregon’s musical events, including the Mt. Hood Festival of Jazz, Cascade Music Festival, Sunriver Music Festival, and at Oregon Art Museum’s “Museum After Hours” Gospel Meets Jazz concert each year. Shirley was honored by the Portland Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade with her float for two consecutive years, from which she sang through the entire parade length. She has been the opening act for Frankie Valle and the Four Seasons, Billy Eckstine, Diane Schuur, Lou Rawls, and Eddie Harris, and substituted for Tony Bennett with the Spokane Symphony when he became ill. Shirley performs with the Woody Hite Big Band and the George Reinmiller Big Band each year, usually in outdoor summer concerts. 

Shirley Made her debut with the Oregon Symphony in 1981, conducted by Norman Leyden. She appears as one of the “Pops” concert favorites. She has also appeared as a guest soloist with the symphony orchestras of Chicago, Seattle, Spokane, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Tucson, San Diego, Honolulu, Long Beach, and the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. In 1983, competing against several thousand contestants throughout the United States, she won the First “Star Search,” aka “Fantasy” national talent competition on NBC Television. Shirley was recognized as “Best Female Vocalist in Portland” from 1981 to 1991. 

Shirley has been inducted in the Oregon Music Hall of Fame for her dedication to jazz and her long career.