New Projects From Kenny Wayne Shepherd

[LS]

Kenny Wayne Shepherd to record and produce a documentary highlighting the great blues players of our time. Proceeds will benefit Music Makers Relief Foundation.

“It is from the blues that all that may be called American music derives its most distinctive characteristic.” – James Weldon Johnson

Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s objective is simple – to record and produce a musical and narrative piece of history. Slated to be a television special, the project will include an Audio/DVD featuring performances with Kenny and some of the greatest blues players of our time – all the while, raising some money for the Music Maker Relief Foundation.

This project will allow knowledgeable blues fans to enjoy a compilation of the purest blues talent in the country, and at the same time, enable new fans to experience the traditional blues genre.

The artists involved in this project include both legends and lesser-known musicians, but all are essential and historical blues players – performers that reflect Kenny’s reverence for his musical roots.

Kenny, along with long time friends Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon of Double Trouble, Noah Hunt, Joe Nadeau and Jimmy Wallace will travel to the hometowns of some of these artists in June 2004 to record sessions in their own environment, be it a local juke joint, club or on the artist’s own front porch. They will begin in New Orleans, Louisiana, and end up in Salina, Kansas to record a show at the Church at Blue Heaven Studios with several members of both Muddy Waters’ and Howlin’ Wolf’s original bands. Filmmaker Noble Jones will capture each stage of this project on film. The producer of Kenny’s “Trouble Is…” and “Live On” albums, Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads) will produce the audio.

Artists that Kenny will be featuring include Bryan Lee, Gatemouth Brown, B.B. King, Hubert Sumlin, Pinetop Perkins, Bob Margolin, Jerry McCain, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Sam Lay, “Wild Child” Butler, Henry Townsend, Honeyboy Edwards, Cootie Stark, Essie Mae Brooks, John Dee Holman, Neal Pattman, Etta Baker and Buddy Flett among others.

The reunion of the Muddy Waters Band and Howlin Wolf’s Band will be open to the public Friday June 18th at the Church of Blue Heaven Studios in Salina Kansas. Only 500 seats are available. Tickets are $40 and will be available beginning Friday June 4th via telephone at 800-716-3553.

A limited number of tickets will be made available to KWS Fan Club member in advance of the public ticket sales. Valid Fan Club Members can purchase tickets in advance June 1, 2 and 3rd by calling toll free, 877-669-4440. Please have your Fan Club Membership number and credit card available when you call. We will also have hotel information available.

The Music Maker Relief Foundation www.musicmaker.org will be receiving a substantial share of the profits from the sale of the Audio/DVD. MMRF is a remarkable foundation offering assistance to the pioneers of the Southern music tradition, ranging from food and shelter to medical care. They record, produce and distribute recordings by their artists as well as assist in obtaining tour dates or simply buying a new instrument for an artist to play.

The yet to be titled Audio/DVD will be released in the spring of 2005 following the release of Kenny’s 4th studio album, due in early September 2004.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd has sold millions of albums worldwide with three straight No. 1 blues albums, a string of No. 1 mainstream rock singles, two 1998 Billboard Music Awards for Rock Track of the Year ("Blue on Black") and Blues Album of the Year (Trouble Is…), two Grammy nominations, one in 1998 for “Trouble Is…” and the other in 2000 for “Electric Lullaby”. Kenny also was awarded the 1998 and 2001 Orville H. Gibson Awards for Best Blues Guitarist.

[snizz]

Righteous!

[Roland]

This sounds like a very interesting project and I'll be looking forward to this one too!

[LS]

Kenny Wayne Shepherd
"The Place You're In"

Release Date- Oct. 5

Hear the tracks "Alive" and "Hey, What Do You Say" with Kenny Wayne on guitar and lead vocals...

www.kwsband.com/LIVEON/popup.htm

A personal message from Kenny

Its almost time….the release of my fourth album is happening soon. Secure promotional copies of the CD are going to the media nationwide this week, but I wanted you, the fans, those of you who have supported us over the years to hear about it from me first.

The title of the new album is “The Place You’re In.” It will be available in stores on October 5th. We had been talking about a mid September release, but with the tremendous amount of marketing set up, and scheduling issues at the record company, we moved the date into October.

"The Place You're In" represents the place I am in at this point in my life and career. After ten years of touring and making records, this album is more of a Rock album than the previous three. Also, I am singing lead vocals on eight of the eleven songs! This new album was written entirely by me and producer Marti Frederiksen with the exception of three songs, "Spank" that I wrote with Kid Rock and Jamie Houston, and one with Marti and Mikael Reid and one with Marti and Noah Hunt.

Now, before the rumors start, I want everyone to know that Noah is family. He is a major part of my success and he will continue to be, he isn’t going anywhere just because I am singing more.

I have been very fortunate during my career to enjoy great success at both Rock radio stations as well as more adult leaning Rock stations. Thanks to you, I believe we still hold the record for the longest #1 Rock Radio track (Blue on Black) in the history of the music charts. Because this album has more of a Rock edge to the music, I asked the folks at Reprise Records to do something that rarely happens. We’re releasing two radio singles at the same time in mid August. The first track on the CD, “Alive” is going to Rock radio and track 8 “Hey, What Do You Say” is going to Adult Alternative stations. Soon we will post a list of the stations around the country and their request line numbers so you can call in and help us out.

You will be able to place advance orders for “The Place You’re In” at www.kwsband.com soon. The orders will go directly to Warner Bros for fulfillment and will arrive at your house on the release date.

Noah and I are in the process now of putting together a killer new band. Soon we will announce the first leg of our tour to support the new CD. We are also reorganizing our Fan Club and our Shepherd Street Corp operations. We’re going to need your help in getting the word out. Visit the website often for updates on how you can play a big part in taking “The Place You’re In” to the world.

We also just completed the filming and recording of a yet to be titled Blues Documentary. Before we got busy with the release of the new album, I wanted to film a documentary honoring the legends of the blues, some who influenced me greatly and some who never quite got the national and international attention they deserve. Filmmaker Noble Jones filmed it, and my friend Jerry Harrison produced the music. This project will be a television special and will be released in the spring of next year as a special CD/DVD package.

I want to thank all of you for your loyal support and patience over the past few years. After touring and recording almost non stop since I was 15, I needed to take some time off. I am so excited about this new album, and the opportunity to get back on the road full time to see all of you. After you hear “The Place You’re In,” feel free to write me at [e-mail] and tell me what you think. I won’t be able to respond to all of you, but I promise I will read every email.

-- Kenny Wayne Shepherd

[snizz]

Whoa! Some radical changes going on! It looks like something good might have come out of all his troubles. KW singing, I never thought that'd happen! Turns out he's good but I hope this doesn't mean Noah's eventually going to wind up being cut out altogether. I like what I'm hearing so far though.

[LS]

Yeah...I'd have never recognized him!! Looks like Kenny Wayne's all growed up...(and my-my-my <hot-hot-HOT!!> ;D ) I was pretty floored too when I saw he was singin'...don't know why he never did before- though maybe when he was startin' out his voice was still changing. Downside definitely is less Noah - I love Noah and would hate to see his role diminished to the point he winds up leaving. I like what I've heard so far too...can't wait to hear the rest of it.

[SweetNadine]

I picked up the new album a few weeks ago. It took me a few listens, but, I grew to like the album. I only hope that KWS is hoping to use this album to introduce the audience to his real love - 'da Blues.

[snizz]

Returning to conversation interruptus. ;D He said it was going to be a rock album upfront, so I wasn't expecting anything else. I dug it right away. A really good rock album you can crank up full tilt is rare nowadays and this one fits the bill. Love the groove and the message in Spanked and it's cool ESPN picked up Alive to promo the NFL!

[LS]

I really liked it right off too...he said upfront it would be different- a rock album, that's what I went in expecting and that's what I got. Suprised me too- vocally he is pretty good- not Noah- but pretty dang good.

Poor guy can't catch a break though... He got bashed for Ledbetter as trying to be a SRV wannabe...he got blasted for Blue On Black & Trouble Is when he added Noah- and got accused of being a SRV & Hendrix wannabe and people kept saying he needed to find his own style...(none of which I ever saw myself outside of a little 'influence')...Now he puts out an album that's totally different- and he get blasted for 'selling out' and doing something different. I hope he just ignores 'em and keeps doing his own thing.

[snizz]

Yea Red, that always gets me too. Damned if you do and damned if you don't. Sometimes it works, sometimes it don't, but you'll never know until you try. That's supposed to be the whole point anyway, isn't it?