Kenny Wayne Sheperd

June 28, 2009

Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Kicks Off the Cherry Festival
By Rick Coates 6/29/09

Kenny Wayne Shepherd was just a kid when he got his musical start. As a teenager in the early ‘90s, he and Jonny Lang were billed as “the boys who were going to save the blues.” The two guitar gunslingers were credited with introducing “America’s music” to a younger generation.
Shepherd is now a young man. At 32 he is married (his wife is Mel Gibson’s youngest daughter) and has two kids and a different perspective on life and music from his wild teenage years. He will kick off the National Cherry Festival’s week long concert series on the Bayside Entertainment Stage, this Saturday, July 4. Shepherd will be joined by the Bihlman Bros., the boys from Benzie County who will soon have their first national album release and will be making their first Northern Michigan concert appearance in five years.
For Shepherd, the last couple of years have been a whirlwind. He and his wife have had two children; he completed a tribute CD/DVD “10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads,” based on visiting with some of blues all-time greats; and last fall Fender released the signature Kenny Wayne Shepherd Signature Series Stratocaster. The Fender honor is a huge accomplishment, as the legendary guitar maker has only bestowed the Signature Guitar Series to a few great guitarists.

SELF DESIGNED
“It was great, they even let me design the guitar,” said Shepherd. “What I wanted to do was create top-notch quality at an affordable price with this guitar. I wanted a guitar that would be accessible and my goal is these guitars will help a new generation of players develop their signature sound as I have been able to do.”
The “10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads” CD was a huge undertaking for Shepherd, who received a Grammy nomination for his efforts. A student of the blues at an early age, Shepherd found the experience rewarding and professionally beneficial.
“Catching up with these great players -- a lot of them are not household names -- made me a better player,” said Shepherd. “I started reading about blues greats when I was a kid. There is so much to learn and one interesting thing I learned while interviewing them was that other great musicians have sought them out. For example, when I spoke to Etta Baker, she told me how Bob Dylan came to her house and stayed for three days to learn her picking style.”
Being married and having children of his own has changed Shepherd’s outlook on life and his relationship with his father, who has been his manager from the start.
“Certainly, in my wilder days our relationship was strained, but I have matured and really feel things have come full circle. We have a great relationship as father-son and professionally,” said Shepherd. “He has taught me a lot about the business aspects of this industry, and this is a business. One thing we both have learned is the importance of separating our father and son relationship from our business relationship.”

EARLY SUCCESS
For most teenagers, life is about getting through high school and changing their minds numerous times about choosing a profession. But Shepherd’s guitar talent and early success made his career choice for him. A lot of people change careers several times in their lives; any thoughts about doing something different?
“I am a big ‘car’ person, I love to work on cars,” said Shepherd. “So having my own shop and restoring and customizing cars is something that is in the back of my mind for the future. Also, I have thought about being a race car driver. But for right now it is about playing the guitar, making music and providing for my family.”
Not counting the “10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads” project, it has been nearly five years since Shepherd has released a CD. He has been known for taking time between recordings, with only four studio albums during his 15-year career. His debut release “Ledbetter Heights” went Platinum and he followed that with “Trouble is…” which also went Platinum. He has had numerous Top 40 hits on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Charts with “Blue on Black” climbing to number one in 1998.
So is a new album in the works?
“Definitely, I am currently in the studio and plan to have a new CD out by the end of the year,” said Shepherd. “I like to take my time and not rush just to get something out there.”

NEVER DISAPPOINTS
While Shepherd has enjoyed success in the studio, his best work is done on stage. He has appeared several times in Northern Michigan in front of sold-out audiences. His electrifying guitar work never disappoints and this is a must see show for fans of hard-driving blues.
Opening for Kenny Wayne Shepherd is the Bihlman Bros, Scot and Jeff “Jabo” Bihlman. After a four-year hiatus, the brothers from Benzie County were reunited over a movie soundtrack deal for the film “Love N’ Dancing” starring Amy Smart, Tom Malloy and Billy Zane. The film features seven tunes from the Bihlmans, including Amy Smart’s theme song. Later this year they will have their first national release and are planning a tour in support of their new CD.
“We are excited about playing the National Cherry Festival on July 4 with Kenny Wayne Shepherd,” said Jabo Bihlman. “It has been several years since we have played our hometown; I hope people still remember us. We have played this stage before; it is a great atmosphere and we expect this to be a great way to kick off the Cherry Festival and celebrate it.”

Kenny Wayne Shepherd and The Bihlman Bros. kick off the 2009 National Cherry Festival Bay Side Entertainment Stage Concert series. The eight nights of music at the National Cherry Festival remains as the best music value in Northern Michigan with access for the week only $15 with the V-Pass. For additional details visit www.cherryfestival.org