Interview with Joey Stuckey

Joey Stuckey is the Official Music Ambassador of his hometown of Macon, Georgia. Joey spends every moment living life to the fullest and sharing his story and inspirational spirit through his musical performances and speaking engagements.

As a toddler, Joey was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent surgery with little hope of survival. Though the tumor left Joey blind and with other health challenges, today, he continues to live a successful life of intention in his chosen field of music. Joey is professor of music technology at Mercer University, the music technology consultant for Middle Georgia State University, and an official music mentor for the Recording, Radio and Film Connection in Los Angeles as well as an active voting member of the Grammys. He is the owner and senior engineer at Shadow Sound Studio which is a destination recording facility with state-of-the-art analog and digital technology. He has spoken and performed all over the world including at the University College of London, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, and the Audio Engineering Society in New York City, just to name a few. In his roles as producer, engineer, recording artist and journalist, he has worked with many musical legends including Trisha Yearwood, Clarence Carter, James Brown, Alan Parsons, Gene Simmons (KISS), Al Chez (Tower of Power), Jimmy Hall (Wet Willie), Danny Seraphin (Chicago), Kevin Kenney (Drivin’ and Cryin’), and many, many more.

What first got you into music?

I could answer this in several ways–the need for self-expression, cheap therapy, or just my love of music as a source of comfort and solace, or even that music always filled my home as both of my parents loved and played music. However, I think the best answer is that music is a natural extension of my spirit and is no different than my need to breathe. As a blind person, sound is my universe and I fill that universe with music!

How would you describe the music that you typically create?

I am going to say a dirty word now, so prepare yourself. I am an eclectic (that’s the bad word) soul and just love music and think music should have no boundaries. However, the reality is that you need to define styles and genres so you can market to your target audience. That is the business part of music, and it is an important one because without the business side you can’t make a living as an artist!

It is hard to pin myself down to just one kind of music, but I define myself as “Progressive Americana”. That is a genre I made up, but it is inclusive of alternative and progressive rock along with the singer/songwriter/blues/country elements of Americana. Americana is a very broad genre, so that is why I use it. I also have a pure jazz/fusion set of albums.

While being multi-genre can be a problem for an artist, it is a great source of strength as a recording engineer and producer, which is how I make the bulk of my living! Because I have so much knowledge of what each style of music requires and how to get those sounds for my clients, being multi-genre is a real advantage.

I should also say that most of the music I write is very much focused on melody and lyrics and mostly I do whatever I think the song requires to speak most clearly. But I do also show off my vocal and guitar prowess sometimes as it is kind of expected of me LOL. My live shows are very joyful and intense, and a lot of jamming goes on, whereas my studio recordings, for the most part, are more to the point.

https://youtu.be/Ygs4m6TwKyY

If you could go open a show for any artist, who would it be?

I have had the great privilege to open for some amazing artists and heroes of mine from Smashmouth, to Lee Brice, to Ted Nugent, to Bad Company, not to mention James Brown and Clarence Carter. I have even shared the stage with the B52’s and Trisha Yearwood, but I would still love to open for Crowded House, Foo Fighters or Christian McBride, just to name a few. Of course, Paul McCartney is on that list as well, but I doubt I would ever have a chance with that one LOL. Still, one can dream LOL!

Are you finding the isolation of the pandemic conducive to your writing or is it hindering the experiences you can write about?

Like everything in life, there is good and bad in any situation! While the pandemic is 95% bad for the music business from writing to marketing to touring, I did have time over the past 18 months to start eating better and I have lost 90 pounds. However, the best way to write music, in my mind, is to live and write about that experience. As a brain tumor survivor, I have to guard my health very carefully and I have really hunkered down and haven’t taken any chances, though I am totally vaccinated. So in so far as COVID has prevented me from living my life as usual which been disruptive for the writing process, I have been writing more than usual due to more having time available.

What is one message you would give to your fans?

Always try! If you don’t try, you know that you will always fail! If you try, you just might do something amazing! If a blind guy with health issues can live a life of value and intention, so can anyone!

If we were to peek over your shoulder, what does your studio look like? What gear do you typically use?

I have owned a studio since I was about 19 years old, and I am now in my 40’s. Before that, since around 15 years old, I had a semi- pro set up in my attic. I use the best of digital technology for recording, mixing, mastering and, of course, non-destructive editing, but I much prefer analog gear and I have a lot of it and a mic locker of about 200 mics!

Some of the mics I use the most are Warm Audio, Neumann, Sennheiser, Telefunken and Mojave!

I also use a lot of Warm Audio, Chameleon Labs, Universal Audio, JDK and Neve analog outboard gear.

Other tools include my huge selection of guitar amps, keyboards, including a baby grand piano, and a DW drum kit.

Do you have a cherished childhood teddy bear or other stuffed animal sitting on your bed at home?

Well, I am very much in touch with my inner child, so I have several collections of toys and stuffed animals! I collect bears, owls, rubber ducks and, of course, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings toys!

I don’t know if it is because I am blind and like to feel things since I can’t see them, or if it is because toys were a great part of my life as a sick child in hospital and they gave me positivity to focus on instead of being sad or scared, or if I just like them for their own sake, but whatever the reason, I have lots of fun and refuse to grow up!

What was the last TV series you watched on TV?

I am a Britcom fan so just watched “The Two Ronnies” and at the same time I am binge-watching the Apple show “Foundation”. I love the books and like the TV show. I also am an “Apple and Onion” fan and, of course, I love “Bob’s Burgers”!

What historical figure would you love to see in 21st century life?

Either Albert Einstein or Tesla–we could use some great wisdom and innovation!

Which fictional character do you wish was real?

That is a hard one, it is a tie between Winnie the Pooh, Sherlock Holmes, James Bond and Doctor Who!

What’s your most expensive piece of clothing?

I have a nice leather jacket that set me back a bit and I also collect very nice fedoras and those ain’t cheap LOL.