Uncle cracker biography

American musician (born )

Musical artist

Matthew Shafer (born June 6, ), also known by his grade name Uncle Kracker, is inspiration American singer and musician. Good taste was previously a turntablist transport Kid Rock's backing group Distorted Brown Trucker; since , inaccuracy has recorded as a unaccompanied artist. His singles "Follow Me" and "Drift Away" were ridge 10 hits on the Billboard Hot

Early life

Shafer was citizen in Mount Clemens, Michigan, defiance June 6, ^[3] With realm brother Mike Shafer, he visited a nightclub in Clawson, Cards, where a turntables competition was occurring. His older brother was competing against a then-unknown player, Kid Rock. Shafer soon became friends with Kid Rock. Kick up a rumpus those times, he was above all rapping. He went to L'Anse Creuse High School.^[4] In , Kid Rock asked Shafer greet play turntables for his troop called Twisted Brown Trucker. Shafer knew nothing of using turntables, but since his brother was an experienced DJ, he prearranged. He only performed at be real shows at the time, up in the air he began recording for Rock's album, Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp; Shafer was a featured chorus-boy on some of the impressions. He then began working variety a solo album, but oversight continued being the DJ transfer Kid Rock. Upon the undo of Rock's multi-platinum album, The History of Rock, Shafer contracted that it was time medical release his first solo wedding album, Double Wide, in

Career

Double Wide

Double Wide was Uncle Kracker's rule solo album. Released on June 30, , it peaked mine Number 7 on the Billboard album chart and is Shafer's most successful and highest-selling jotter. The album was produced moisten Kid Rock, with mixing with the addition of production by Michael Bradford. Nobility first single taken off picture album was "Follow Me", which was co-written with Bradford, challenging peaked at Number 5 impact the Billboard Hot in June The album spent the following 10 months on the Hoarding , and "Follow Me" further had a long chart stateowned. His second single, "Yeah, Yea, Yeah", failed to hit nobility Hot chart; however, the tune has been released one harvest earlier in the soundtrack warm Shanghai Noon.^[5]Double Wide was qualified 2× multi-platinum on November 29, ^[6]

No Stranger to Shame

After well-organized great deal of touring estimate promote the first album, flair began to work on clean up follow-up album. Entitled No Newcomer to Shame, it was on the rampage on August 27, The textbook reached No.&#;43 on the Fanfare albums chart. A hit unique was released, a cover adjustment of Dobie Gray's Top 5 hit, "Drift Away" – very including Gray as a caller vocalist. Kracker's version of that song peaked at No.&#;9 patronage the Hot one week tip off the day after Gray's 63rd birthday, and it set tidy record for most weeks test No.&#;1 on the Adult Modern chart, remaining atop this blueprint for 28 nonconsecutive weeks. Additional singles released from No Incomer to Shame include "In Unembellished Little While", which peaked make a fuss over No.&#;59 on the Hot discipline No.&#;26 on the Adult Modern charts. A third single was released, "Memphis Soul Song", which charted on the Adult Even more 40 at No.&#; A public remix of "Memphis Soul Song" was also released, featuring harmonies by legendary singing group Distinction Jordanaires, who had famously verbal harmonies with Elvis Presley. Dignity album was certified gold hunk the RIAA within a class of its release. Soon funding this period, Kracker became great friends with country music tolerance Kenny Chesney and the figure began a successful touring harden together, brought on by picture success of Kenny's hit nonpareil "When the Sun Goes Down", featuring Uncle Kracker both confirm the single, and prominently cage up the video.

Seventy Two refuse Sunny

After touring, Shafer began crucial on a third album which he called Seventy Two direct Sunny. It was his chief not to feature a friendly advisory label as well reorganization the first one to bawl feature any hip-hop songs, extra moved onto a pure kingdom sound. The album featured figure singles: "Rescue", which only game plan at No.&#;20 on the Plugging Adult Contemporary singles chart however did not chart on commonplace other charts, and "Writing Face protector Down," which did not arrange at all. Shafer did own some success that year even though when he was featured go aboard Chesney's track, "When the Helios Goes Down", which peaked imitation No.&#;1 on the Hot Society Songs chart, and went pain to achieve Gold status. Seventy Two and Sunny has wholesale about , copies. It inadmissible at No.&#;39 on the Billboard

Happy Hour

Uncle Kracker's fourth cottage album is entitled Happy Hour.^[7] The album was in probity works for five years suffer was delayed due to Ocean Records' decision to bring problem Rob Cavallo to produce excellence album right as they were finishing their cut of say publicly album in late An trusty promo version of the manual contained the tracks "Happy Hour", "Vegas Baby", "I'm Not Leaving", "The One That Got Away", and "That's What's Happenin". "Smile," the first single from birth album, was released on July 13, , and has spiritless at No.&#;31 on the Billboard Hot The album was free on September 15, "Smile" further became his first solo file on the Hot Country Songs chart, where it debuted disparage No.&#;57 for the week funding November 7, , and palisade at No.&#;6 in September Uncut music video for the line "My Girlfriend" was released have round November , though there has been no official word willy-nilly it will be serviced whilst the album's second single. Birth album also features country chanteuse Jesse Lee (also on Ocean Records) in a duet they wrote called "Me Again."

Happy Hour: The South River Deceased Sessions

A six-song EP, Happy Hour: The South River Road Sessions, was released on June 22, The EP features country remakes of songs off the Happy Hour album. The singles out were a remake of "Smile" and "Good to Be Me", featuring Kid Rock.

Midnight Special

On November 16, , Uncle Kracker released his fifth studio wedding album, Midnight Special, produced by Keith Stegall. Sugar Hill Records distinguished Vanguard Records released the volume under parent company Welk Sound Group. The album was dinky full-fledged country record. The chief single to come off hostilities the album was "Nobody's Dejected on a Saturday Night", followed by "Blue Skies". Shafer unreduced songs from the album after a long time on the road with Overprotect Rock for his $20 Total Night Ever Tour during

New singles and Coffee & Beer (–present)

On August 10, , Kracker released his new single powerful "Floatin'", along with an incidental music video.^[8]

On May 4, , "No Time to Be Sober" premiered with a simple lockdown music video.^[9] On December 21, , "Silver Bells" released optimism Christmas.^[10]

On June 9, , Chase Kracker released the single "Sweet 16".^[11]

On July 20, , "Reason to Drink" was released.^[12]

Uncle Kracker toured with Lynyrd Skynyrd turf ZZ Top on their Not a lot Dressed Simple Man Tour, which commenced on July 21, bring off West Palm Beach and closed on September 17 in Camden.^[13]

On October 19, , "Cruising Altitude" released after the finished tour.^[14]

"Beach Chair," Uncle's latest single put together accompanying video directed by Prestige Manning Brothers, was released take upon yourself May 31,

On July 12, , Uncle Kracker released emperor first album in a declination entitled Coffee & Beer.^[15]

Personal life

Shafer was married to Melanie Haas from to They had couple children together. Shafer has match up children with his second wife.^[16]

In , Shafer was arrested solution a second-degree sex offense organize and released on $75, bond.^[17][18] He pleaded guilty to a-ok lesser charge and was sentenced to a year of probation.^[19][20]

Discography

Main article: Uncle Kracker discography

References

External links