ʃˈɛpɚd fˈɔːɹmd hɪz fˈɜːst bˈɪɡ bˈænd, ðə sˈɔft ɔnðɪ ɪnsˈaɪd bˈænd, ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti fɚɹən ˈælbəm ʌvðə sˈeɪm nˈeɪm.
Sheppard formed his first big band, the Soft on the Inside Band, in 1990 for an album of the same name.