Joey Stuckey Alive Day Festival September 29

This festival celebrates the anniversary of the day my brain tumor was successfully removed. Though this tumor left me blind and with a host of other health challenges, I am very grateful to be alive and, through the festival, to bringing neighbors together to celebrate the joy of life, music and community.

Interview by Jacqueline Jax
host of A.V.A Live Radio

Band Name: Joey Stuckey Trio
Joey Stuckey—songwriter, guitar, lead vocals
Nestor Jaenz—backing vocals and bass
Charles Arnold—drums

Person Interviewing: Joey Stuckey

Joey Stuckey is an award-winning blind guitarist, songwriter, singer, composer, producer, radio and television personality, music columnist, educator, and sound engineer. He is also the first official music ambassador for his home town of Macon, Georgia

Music Genre:: Progressive Americana

I am looking forward to the new album coming out and to celebrating the second annual: Joey Stuckey Alive Day Festival on September 29, 2018 in historic downtown Macon, Georgia.

This festival celebrates the anniversary of the day my brain tumor was successfully removed. Though this tumor left me blind and with a host of other health challenges, I am very grateful to be alive and, through the festival, to bringing neighbors together to celebrate the joy of life, music and community.

Music is a language and the only way to learn to speak it well is to copy the masters, regardless of genre. Once you’ve mastered the language, digesting the nuances of syntax and punctuation, and are able to speak the language fluently, you can then begin to add your own vocabulary and unique voice to the incredible collective language of music.

I certainly have been inspired by the Beatles, Crowded House, Nirvana, The Allman Brothers, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and so many more. While I might not sound like any of these artists, they have all served as not only inspirations but educators.

Since I primarily make my living as a producer and music educator, my writing process is a little bit different than many songwriters I know.

I always conceptualize simultaneously the melody, chords, bass line and lyrics (if any). Sometimes I even hear the fine detail arrangements like percussion and strings. My process is to capture the initial inspiration, following it as far as it will go. Once that’s exhausted, I let the song sit for a few days and come back and refine it using my musical intellect, tweaking the fine details.

My Martin acoustic guitar is always an important tool along with my collection of Gibson guitars. I use my iPhone quite a lot to take recorded notes. When it comes to the studio, I rely heavily on my Neve outboard gear, my Neumann, MikTek and Blue microphones, my ADAM monitors, iZotope and Applied Acoustic Systems plug-ins. Last, but not least, I have an incredible collection of Morley and Pigtronix guitar pedals.

I am inspired by the world around me and once inspired, I usually have the full song formed in my mind almost instantly.

The head of paramount pictures and producer of The Godfather movies has a wonderful quote from his book “The Kid Stays In The Picture”—success is when opportunity and preparation meet.

This year the Joey Stuckey Trio band are starting the roll out of our new album “In The Shadow of the Sun”. The basic tracks were recorded at the famous Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. We wanted to get back to a more organic process using the vintage equipment from the 1950 and 1960s. We used a handful of microphones and played all in the same room—just like they did in the old days—so if you made a mistake, you had to start over. We brought the tracks back to my commercial recording facility, Shadow Sound Studio (www.shadowsoundstudio.com) for overdubs, mixing and mastering. We will be slowly releasing videos, photos and music over the next few months. For updates and exclusive music, join the mailing list at www.joeystuckey.com. This record includes exciting guest appearances from Randall Bramblett (Steve Winwood, Traffic), Al Chez (Tower of Power, Paul Schaefer Band), and the Howard Middle School Show Choir.

Three things I have learned this past year:

1. Life is tough, but I’m tougher.
2. Video—something I do not understand well as a blind person—is essential for content for your brand.
3. The music industry is in flux and headed for another revolution which will occur in the next 5-10 years as the utility model of streaming takes hold. Digital downloads will disappear and vinyl will continue to be a cherished boutique experience.

Website & social media links:
Www.joeystuckey.com
Twitter @jstuckeymusic
Instagram @jstuckeymusic
Facebook Joey Stuckey
YouTube Joey Stuckey