Shepherd, born in Cape Town, South Africa on 8 July 1987, is widely regarded as one of South Africa’s most accomplished young jazz pianists and composers. He started his musical journey at the age of five (5) on classical violin. However, at the age of fifteen (15) (which was also around the time his love for Jazz and improvised music was growing); Shepherd discovered that he had an innate, natural affinity for the piano which has since become his main instrument. This multi-instrumentalist also plays the saxophone and sings.