SUMMER IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE TIME OF THE YEAR FOR BLUES FESTIVALS AND JAZZ FESTIVALS. AT OUR LOCAL VENUE, THE CANYON CLUB, BLUES ROCKER KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HAVING A GIG WITH HIS HIGHLY ACCLAIMED BAND, SHARING THE VOCALS WITH PAUL RODGERS-STYLED NOAH HUNT AND PROMOTING HIS LATEST RELEASE THE TRAVELER.
BUT DUE TO THE REACTION TO THE CORONAVIRUS RESULTING IN A MASSIE DRACONIAN LOCKDOWN, SHEPHERD AND HIS COMPATRIOTS HAVE BEEN SIDELINED FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. THE SIGN BY THE FREEWAY THAT ADVERTISES THE SHOW HAS FADED OVER TIME, REMINDING US OF A SUMMER THAT COULD HAVE BEEN.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IT LOOKS LIKE SHEPHERD WILL BE TOURING IN THE FALL, LORD AND LORD FAUCI PERMITTING.
WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF SHEPHERD’S DOWN TIME TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT WHAT KEEPS THIS TRAVELER GROUNDED, MAINLY THE BLUES, FAMILY AND FAITH, WITH A FEW COMMENTS ON SOME SIDE PROJECTS AND EARLIER WORKS. WE FOUND HIS CONVICTIONS DYED TO THE WOOL.
BESIDES YOUR OWN ALBUM, YOU WERE FEATURED ON KEYBOARDIST REESE WYNAN’S FIRST SOLO ALBUM. HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT?
I’ve known Reese for a long time; he’s played on several of my records over the years, starting on my second album, and I’ve known all of those guys from Double Trouble forever.
I was contacted by him first, and then Joe Bonamassa (who was producing the record) and he wanted to know I’d consider playing on a song. One song turned into two, and by the end of it all I ended up playing on a total of four. Obviously my response is that I’d do anything for Reese; he’s had such an influence on me musically.
YOU STARTED YOUR CAREER PRETTY YOUNG. WAS THERE ANY ADVICE YOUR FAMILY GAVE YOU?
Both my dad and mom were adamant that I was not going to drop out of school to pursue a career in music, because there was no guarantee; if anything, the odds are against you. It’s kind of like hitting the lottery to be successful in music.
They were adamant that I graduated high school at the very least. My dad said, “This is very cool what’s happening, but don’t get your hopes up to much or get carried away. Let’s just see what happens.
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“It’s kind of like hitting the lottery to be successful in music”
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WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL REACTION WHEN YOUR FIRST ALBUM, LEADBETTER HEIGHTS, GOT AS POPULAR AS IT DID?
You never know what to expect, especially as an unknown artist. You never know how anyone’s going to react to you, and I was a teenager doing a genre of music that not too long before had lost one of its biggest heroes in Stevie Ray Vaughan. There were a lot of unknowns as to how the public was going to react. Obviously, the reaction was really great as well as swift; We were all pleasantly surprised.
All I knew is that I had an opportunity to go and make a record, write and record the songs to make the music that I wanted to make, then put it out there to see what would happen. Thankfully it worked out pretty well.
YOU’RE NOW 25 YEARS OLDER FROM THAT TIME. HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT “HEY, IT’S TIME TO TAKE SOME LESSONS”?
I’ve thought about digging into some aspects of the instrument that I haven’t explored before. I think it’s like a football player or any athlete where it’s your thing and you have this drive to always become better. There’s always the desire to explore more and see where else I can take my music, or where it can take me.
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“There’s always the desire to explore more and see where else I can take my music, or where it can take me”
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WHEN YOU HEAR A GUITARIST, WHAT DO YOU LISTEN FOR?
I listen for soul. If the actual tone isn’t that great, then it makes it harder to get in touch with the soul of the music. But ultimately, if something is played with heart and soul then it will resonate with me. I want music that is going to move me.
YOU HAVE A PERSONAL SOUND ON THE GUITAR. ARE THERE CERTAIN THINGS YOU DO TO GET THAT SOUND, OR IS THAT JUST THE NATURAL “YOU” NO MATTER WHAT THE SETUP IS?
The amps, the choice of guitars and effects all color the sound. There’s the age-old dispute amongst guitarists whether the tone is in the hands or the equipment. There’s the famous story of Chet Atkins when he was in the studio playing the guitar, and some guy came up to him and said “Wow, your guitar sure sounds really good” and he puts it down against the wall and asks “How does it sound now?” That pretty well sums it up.
YOUR ALBUM 10 DAYS OUT WHERE YOU PLAYED WITH SOME CLASSIC OLDTIMERS WAS A STROKE OF GENIUS. DID YOU ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THEM BEFORE YOU MET THEM AND UNDERSTAND THEIR PLACE IN HISTORY AT THAT TIME?
Oh, absolutely. I did it for my love and appreciation of the genre and for all of the musicians that have come before me. That was the whole point of doing it.
For me, it was a selfish pleasure to play with a lot of these guys for the first time. Also, it was for me to use my platform for some of these guys to give them some more exposure, but ultimately to show my appreciation and respect for all of these people who have been doing it long before me. Without them, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to do what I’m doing now.
WHERE ANY OF THEM DIFFICULT TO TRACK DOWN?
Not really. We just kind of put the word out and started digging around. I was already aware of some people and started asking around amongst friends, like “Do you know anyone that might be interesting?” and got a lot of names submitted to us.
I went through all of the names and selected each artist and the material that we were going to do. The end result is a pretty significant historical piece for blues music.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT YOU MET THAT REALLY SURPRISED YOU BY THEIR PLAYING?
They were all unique in their own ways.
One of the most special moments for me was playing with Etta Baker; she was in her 90s. We went to her house and I was playing with her in her kitchen, and she did this Piedmont style of blues which is like a kind of bluegrass/ragtime type of thing with the guitar that was kind of outside of my wheelhouse, but it was cool because this 90 something year old lady was challenging me; I thought it was great.
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“this 90 something year old lady was challenging me; I thought it was great”
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YOUR LATEST TWO ALBUMS HAVE A BIT MORE OF A SOUL AND COUNTRY/WESTERN FEEL. IS THAT BECAUSE YOU ARE COMPOSING MORE?
I think what it is is that I grew up listening to all kinds of music, so inevitably all of that which I heard would influence my own music.
It’s kind of interesting-modern day Country Music really sounds like 90s Rock Music. I was all over 90s rock radio when we came out, so everyone says we sound more country, but isn’t it that they are sounding more like what we were doing? Who’s moving towards what?
Regardless, the genres are so closely related, and the lines are getting more blurred now. Everything has a rock influence, whether it’s country music or blues music ; we’re just playing American Music
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“Everything has a rock influence, whether it’s country music or blues music ; we’re just playing American Music”
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YOU SPLIT THE VOCALS WITH NOAH HUNT ON THE ALBUM AND SHOWS
When he’s singing I can focus on the guitar, which is what I really love to do. When I’m singing it gives him an opportunity to play some guitar and allow me to express myself in a different way.
What it’s done with both of us on lead vocals is that its given the band a lot more flexibility with the material that we can do.
YOU’RE ALSO A CAR FAN. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CAR MOVIE?
When I was a kid, the big deal was Smokey and the Bandit. For all of the boys, there There was Vanishing Point from the 70s, and for this generation it was Fast and Furious
WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT FORD VS FERRARI?
It was great. Of course, some of the hard core enthusiasts were nit-picking the details about the cars and the races, but you have to understand that movies are never going to be 100% accurate. You have to change some things for the sake of making it entertaining. It was an opportunity to bring more awareness to the motor sports.
IS THERE ANY CAR RACER YOU’D LOVE TO HAVE MET?
For the longest time for me it was Richard Petty, but I got an opportunity to meet him. We were auctioning off a car for charity in Arizona several years back and I had a custom guitar painted to go along with the car. I got to meet him doing that; it was pretty cool.
IS THERE A DREAM CAR ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?
I’ve been working on my 1970 Barracuda convertible which was on my bucket list for the longest time. That’s still in the works. We tore it apart and are now rebuilding it, so I’m going to focus on that until it’s done. Then I’ll look out for what the next project will be.
For my cars, I like to update them with modern technology to make them handle better.
WHAT MUSICIAN LIVING OR DEAD WOULD YOU PAY $1000 TO SEE PERFORM?
Jimi Hendrix. He’s the greatest of all time.
They’re always trying to unearth stuff of his, and anytime I get to hear some new licks it’s great.
IS THERE ANY RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY OR TEACHING FROM A BOOK THAT INSPIRES AND GUIDES YOU?
I follow the ten commandments, you know what I mean?
I try to be an example and take one day at a time. There are all kinds of spiritual catch phrases around that are well-known for a reason.
Right now, for the situation that everyone’s dealing with, it’s all about staying in the moment, not even taking it one day at a time, but one moment at a time. Don’t try to look too far into the future and get wrapped up in tomorrow.
One of my dear friends tells me “All we have is now, and it will never not be now”.
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“Don’t try to look too far into the future and get wrapped up in tomorrow”
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ANY BOOKS YOU READ THAT YOU’D RECOMMEND?
I’m not a big book worm. My daughter could give you better recommendations! If I read something, it’s about cars and guitars (laughs)
DO YOU AND JOE BONAMASSA FIGHT OVER FINDING RARE GUITARS?
He’s gone down that rabbit whole deeper than I have. I’ve got a fair amount of guitars, but I don’t consider myself a collector or anything like that. I’ve been focusing on the investments of my children and family; he’s still a single guy. I dig it for him to go down that path and I’m happy for him. He’s got some amazing stuff, but I’m also one of those guys who just needs one and I’m happy.
My ’61 Strat…It have three vintage Strats and they’re all amazing. I don’t need more than that.
With the whole Les Paul thing, I ham on the hunt for a 1960 Sunburst, but I only need one.
Joe buys them, but he also plays them, which is what I’d be all about, except I DESTROY guitars . He has all of these well preserved instruments and he’s able to play them and preserve their originality, where literally destroy them. So, I don’t look for pristine instruments because I will turn them into non-pristine instruments once I’m done with them.
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“Joe (Bonamassa) buys them, but he also plays them, which is what I’d be all about, except I DESTROY guitars
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YOU’VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO STAY MARRIED FOR 14 YEARS WHICH IS DIFFICULT FOR A MUSICIAN. WHAT’S BEEN THE SECRET TO MAKE THE MARRIAGE WORK THROUGH THICK AND THIN?
For us it was getting to know each other before we got married instead of rushing into it and figuring out who we were afterwards. We have a very strong spiritual foundation in our marriage, which is a huge part. That and communication. You talk to people that have had long lasting marriages and they all echo those suggestions.
DO YOU GO TO CHURCH TOGETHER REGULARLY?
Yeah, of course.
WHAT WOULD TODAY’S KENNY TELL THE 18 YEAR OLD KENNY?
I really don’t have a lot of regrets. Maybe just tell him to soak it all in, pay attention and be more in-the-moment, because when you’re a kid you really don’t have that concept yet.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE THEM TO SAY ABOUT YOU AT YOUR FUNERAL?
I don’t know-I won’t even be there to hear it! (laughs)
YOU MENTIONED BEFORE THAT YOU PLAY AMERICAN MUSIC. WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE BLUES THAT MAKES IT SO?
The blues is the foundation of American music, because if you trace all popular music from today to all the way back to its origin, you will inevitably find your way back to the blues. Rock came from it, soul, funk and hip hop, there’s a ton of evidence that without the blues we would not have any of the music that everyone likes so much today.
It’s real; it makes you want to get up and move your body. It’s a real life story.
WHAT FUTURE GOALS DO YOU HAVE?
To have someone figure this virus out so I can get back to work.
WHILE STILL TEMPORARILY SIDELINED DUE TO THE SHUTDOWN, KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD STAYS LOYAL TO THE BASICS IN LIFE AND THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR CIVILIZATION, NAMELY A STRONG FAMILY, A STRONG FAITH AND FIRM STAKE IN THE BLUES. HIS LOYALTY TO ALL THREE IS PRESENT IN HIS LATEST ALBUM. GIVING US HOPE TO LOOK FORWARD TO HIS UPCOMING TOUR AND ALBUM; WE CAN TAKE HEART IN SHEPHERD’S FIRM GRIP.