Uncle Kracker | |
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![]() Uncle Kracker performing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2023 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Matthew Shafer |
Born | Mount Clemens, Michigan, U.S. | June 6, 1974
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Years active | 1987–present |
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Website | unclekracker |
Matthew Shafer (born June 6, 1974), also known by his stage name Uncle Kracker, is an American singer and musician. He was previously a turntablist for Kid Rock's backing group Twisted Brown Trucker; since 1999, he has recorded as a solo artist. His singles "Follow Me" and "Drift Away" were top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
Shafer was born in Mount Clemens, Michigan, on June 6, 1974. [3] With his brother Mike Shafer, he visited a nightclub in Clawson, Michigan, where a turntables competition was occurring. His older brother was competing against a then-unknown musician, Kid Rock. Shafer soon became friends with Kid Rock. In those times, he was mainly rapping. He went to L'Anse Creuse High School. [4] In 1994, Kid Rock asked Shafer to play turntables for his band called Twisted Brown Trucker. Shafer knew nothing of using turntables, but since his brother was an experienced DJ, he agreed. He only performed at live shows at the time, until he began recording for Rock's album, Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp ; Shafer was a featured vocalist on some of the tracks. He then began working on a solo album, but he continued being the DJ for Kid Rock. Upon the release of Rock's multi-platinum album, The History of Rock , Shafer decided that it was time to release his first solo album, Double Wide, in 2000.
Double Wide was Uncle Kracker's first solo album. Released on June 30, 2000, it peaked at Number 7 on the Billboard 200 album chart and is Shafer's most successful and highest-selling album. The album was produced by Kid Rock, with mixing additional production by Michael Bradford. The first single taken off the album was "Follow Me", which was co-written with Bradford, and peaked at Number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 2001. The album spent the next 10 months on the Billboard 200, and "Follow Me" also had a long chart run. His second single, "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah", failed to hit the Hot 100 chart; however, the song has been released one year earlier in the soundtrack of Shanghai Noon . [5] Double Wide was certified 2× Multi-Platinum on November 29, 2001. [6]
After a great deal of touring to promote the first album, he began to work on a follow-up album. Entitled No Stranger to Shame , it was released on August 27, 2002. The album reached No. 43 on the Billboard albums chart. A hit single was released, a cover version of Dobie Gray's 1973 Top 5 hit, "Drift Away" – also including Gray as a guest vocalist. Kracker's version of this song peaked at No. 9 on the Hot 100 one week to the day after Gray's 63rd birthday, and it set a record for most weeks at No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, remaining atop this chart for 28 nonconsecutive weeks. Other singles released from No Stranger to Shame include "In A Little While", which peaked at No. 59 on the Hot 100 and No. 26 on the Adult Contemporary charts. A third single was released, "Memphis Soul Song", which charted on the Adult Top 40 at No. 35. A special remix of "Memphis Soul Song" was also released, featuring harmonies by legendary singing group The Jordanaires, who had famously sung harmonies with Elvis Presley. The album was certified gold by the RIAA within a year of its release. Soon after this period, Kracker became good friends with country music star Kenny Chesney and the two began a successful touring partnership together, brought on by the success of Kenny's hit single "When the Sun Goes Down", featuring Uncle Kracker both on the single, and prominently in the video.
After touring, Shafer began working on a third album which he called Seventy Two and Sunny . It was his first not to feature a parental advisory label as well as the first one to not feature any hip-hop songs, and moved onto a pure country sound. The album featured two singles: "Rescue", which only charted at No. 20 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary singles chart but did not chart on any other charts, and "Writing It Down," which did not chart at all. Shafer did have some success that year though when he was featured on Chesney's track, "When the Sun Goes Down", which peaked at No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart, and went on to achieve Gold status. Seventy Two and Sunny has sold about 200,000 copies. It peaked at No. 39 on the Billboard 200.
Uncle Kracker's fourth studio album is entitled Happy Hour . [7] The album was in the works for five years and was delayed due to Atlantic Records' decision to bring in Rob Cavallo to produce the album right as they were finishing their cut of the album in late 2007. An early promo version of the album 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 the album, was released on July 13, 2009, and has peaked at No. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was released on September 15, 2009. "Smile" also became his first solo entry on the Hot Country Songs chart, where it debuted at No. 57 for the week of November 7, 2009, and peaked at No. 6 in September 2010. A music video for the track "My Girlfriend" was released in November 2009, though there has been no official word whether it will be serviced as the album's second single. The album also features country singer Jesse Lee (also on Atlantic Records) in a duet they wrote called "Me Again."
A six-song EP, Happy Hour: The South River Road Sessions , was released on June 22, 2010. The EP features country remakes of songs off the Happy Hour album. The singles released were a remake of "Smile" and "Good to Be Me", featuring Kid Rock.
On November 16, 2012, Uncle Kracker released his fifth studio album, Midnight Special , produced by Keith Stegall. Sugar Hill Records and Vanguard Records released the album under parent company Welk Music Group. The album was a full-fledged country record. The first single to come off of the album was "Nobody's Sad on a Saturday Night", followed by "Blue Skies". Shafer performed songs from the album while on the road with Kid Rock for his $20 Best Night Ever Tour during 2013.
On August 10, 2018, Kracker released his new single entitled "Floatin'", along with an accompanying music video. [8]
On May 4, 2020, "No Time to Be Sober" premiered with a simple lockdown music video. [9] On December 21, 2020, "Silver Bells" released for Christmas. [10]
On June 9, 2023, Uncle Kracker released the single "Sweet 16". [11]
On July 20, 2023, "Reason to Drink" was released. [12]
Uncle Kracker toured with Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top on their Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour, which commenced on July 21, 2023 in West Palm Beach and concluded on September 17 in Camden. [13]
On October 19, 2023, "Cruising Altitude" released after the finished tour. [14]
"Beach Chair," Uncle's latest single with accompanying video directed by The Manning Brothers, was released on May 31, 2024.
On July 12, 2024, Uncle Kracker released his first album in a decade entitled Coffee & Beer [15] .
Shafer was married to Melanie Haas from 1998 to 2014. They had three children together. Shafer has two children with his second wife. [16]
In 2007, Shafer was arrested for a second-degree sex offense charge and released on $75,000 bond. [17] [18] He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and was sentenced to a year of probation. [19] [20]
Kenneth Arnold Chesney is an American country singer. With 30 million albums sold worldwide, he released his debut, In My Wildest Dreams, in 1994, and has since released 19 follow-ups. His albums spawned 27 singles that have peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.
Cocky is the fifth studio album by American musician Kid Rock. Released in 2001, it is his third release for Atlantic Records.
Double Wide is the debut studio album by American recording artist Uncle Kracker. It was released on May 30, 2000, via Lava/Atlantic Records. The recording sessions took place on the back of a tour bus parked in various motels and arena parking lots across the country. The production was mostly handled by Kid Rock with Michael Bradford. The music of the album is noted for its eclectic style, categorized by AllMusic as country, rock rap and rockabilly. Additionally, the album also incorporates elements of hip hop, rock and roll, blues rock and pop.
No Stranger to Shame is the second studio album by American recording artist Uncle Kracker. It was released on August 27, 2002 via Lava Records. The album peaked at number 43 on the Billboard 200, spawning two charted singles "In a Little While" and "Drift Away", the latter reaching #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on July 29, 2003.
"Drift Away" is a song by Mentor Williams, written in 1970 and originally recorded by British singer Mike Berry on his 1972 album Drift Away. A version by John Henry Kurtz was released two months later in November 1972. Mentor Williams was a country songwriter, and John Henry Kurtz was an actor and swamp rock singer. It was later given to soul singer Dobie Gray for whom it became a surprise international hit. In 1973, the song became Gray's biggest hit, peaking at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and receiving a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song has been covered by numerous musicians.
Live Trucker is a live album by Kid Rock and the Twisted Brown Trucker band. It was released on February 28, 2006, via Top Dog/Atlantic Records. Most of the songs were recorded from August 26 through August 28, 2004 at DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan, except "Devil Without a Cause" and "Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp", which featured Joe C. and Uncle Kracker and were recorded on September 1, 2000 at Pine Knob Music Theatre, "Cowboy Intro", "Cowboy" and Gretchen Wilson-assisted "Picture", which were recorded at Cobo Arena in Detroit on March 27, 2004, and "Outstanding", which was recorded at soundcheck in St. Louis.
Twisted Brown Trucker is the backing band for American musician Kid Rock. Formed in 1994, the band has contributed to nine of his twelve studio albums, as well as Uncle Kracker's Double Wide album.
"Follow Me" is the debut single of American musician Uncle Kracker. It was released on November 6, 2000, as the lead single from his debut studio album, Double Wide (2000). It was written by Kracker and Michael Bradford and was produced by Bradford and Kid Rock. According to Kracker, the song has multiple meanings, with people speculating that it could be about drugs or infidelity.
American rock musician Kid Rock has released 12 studio albums, one compilation album, two extended plays and one live album. His debut album, Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast, was released by Jive Records in 1990. Following its release, Kid Rock was dropped and shuffled between an independent artist and label-signed for most of the 1990s until he created his own Top Dog label and released his mainstream debut album, Devil Without a Cause, on August 18, 1998, via Atlantic Records. The album was certified diamond by the RIAA and sold 11 million copies in the United States. From 1999 to 2000 he produced four major Billboard "Hot 100" hits: "Bawitdaba", "Cowboy", "Only God Knows Why", and "American Bad Ass".
"When the Sun Goes Down" is a song written by Brett James and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney as a duet with Uncle Kracker. It was released in February 2004 as the second single and title track from Chesney's 2004 album of the same name. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart on April 3, holding the number one position for five weeks. It also reached number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was Uncle Kracker's first appearance on the country music charts, his next one being "Smile".
"All Summer Long" is a song by American recording artist Kid Rock. It was released in March 2008 as the third single from his seventh studio album, Rock n Roll Jesus (2007). It samples Bob Seger's song "Night Moves", "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd and "Werewolves of London" by Warren Zevon.
Michael Bradford is an American musician. A native of Detroit, Michigan he is known mainly as a bass guitarist but also plays guitar and keyboards, and has done extensive work in music production and engineering. Among others, Bradford has worked with Madonna, Youngstown, Kid Rock, Uncle Kracker and in music for films. He is currently the guitarist for The Felons Club and can be heard on their debut album Welcome to the Club.
"She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" is a song written by Jim Collins and Paul Overstreet and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney. It was released on October 4, 1999, as the third single from Chesney's 1999 album Everywhere We Go. The song peaked at number 11 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in early 2000, and was certified Gold by the RIAA. The song remains one of Chesney's most popular.
"Smile" is a song by American musician Uncle Kracker from his fourth studio album, Happy Hour (2009). It was released as the album's first single on July 13, 2009, and again charted in August 2010. The track features pop rock singer Rae Rae, who sings backing vocals throughout the song and at the end of the title. Commercially, the song reached number 31 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 44 in Canada, and number three in Australia. The song was featured in Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star.
Happy Hour is the fourth studio album by American musician Uncle Kracker. It was released on September 15, 2009 via Top Dog/Atlantic Records. Production was handled by Rob Cavallo, except for "Good to Be Me", which was produced by Kid Rock, and "Hot Mess", which was produced by S*A*M and Sluggo.
Anthony "Romeo" Santos is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer who is best known as the frontman and lead vocalist of the bachata group Aventura. In 2002, the song "Obsesión" was number one in Italy for 16 consecutive weeks. He released several albums with Aventura before the group broke up. Since then, Santos has embarked on a solo career which has created seven number one songs on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart and seventeen number ones on the Tropical Airplay chart. He has sold over 24 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling Latin artists of all time.
"Good to Be Me" is a song recorded by Uncle Kracker. It was released in 2010 as the second single from Kracker's album Happy Hour. The song was written by Matthew Shafer, Brett James, J. T. Harding and Robert J. Ritchie. The single version features Kracker's friend Kid Rock.
Grouplove is an American alternative rock band that was formed in 2009 by Christian Zucconi, Hannah Hooper, Sean Gadd (bass), Andrew Wessen, and Ryan Rabin (drums).
This is the discography for American musician Uncle Kracker.
Sweet Southern Sugar is the eleventh studio album by American recording artist Kid Rock. It was released on November 3, 2017, by Broken Bow Records, Top Dog Records and BMG Rights Management. The album spawned four singles: "Po-Dunk", "Greatest Show on Earth", "Tennessee Mountain Top", and "American Rock 'n Roll", along with their music videos. Its lead single, "Po-Dunk", peaked at number 27 on the Hot Country Songs. "Greatest Show on Earth" peaked at number 16 on the Mainstream Rock chart and it was used as the main theme for WWE pay-per-view Survivor Series (2017). "Tennessee Mountain Top" peaked at number 36 on the Hot Country Songs. Sweet Southern Sugar is Kid Rock's first album since his self-titled 2003 album not to feature a title track, though the album's name comes from a lyric in "Tennessee Mountain Top". The album also features a cover of the Four Tops song "I Can't Help Myself ", titled "Sugar Pie Honey Bunch". The album's sixth track "Back to the Otherside" and tenth and final track "Grandpa's Jam" feature a return to the rapping vocals of Rock's earlier work.
a man best known for his success in the pop-rock world.