Hello Joey! Thanks for chatting with us today! 2019 is coming to a close – what are you most proud of musically this year?
It has been a very eventful year. I am now one year out from my complete shoulder replacement and doing really well, a big-deal!
I am also proud of the great success we had on tour this year promoting our “In The Shadow Of The Sun” record. We gained so many new friends and fans and sold a decent amount of merch including to the bar staff. When the folks that work at the venue day in and day out and hear a lot of music every day and they still want to buy your T-shirt or album, you are doing something right!
This year we have hit the following states: GA, SC, DC, NY, NJ, CA, MI, CT and IL and we have more planned for summer 2020!
I am also excited that my Christmas EP “Santa That Plays Guitar” has done so well this holiday season.
Being a musician, what do you enjoy most?
I love the power music has to change lives for the better. Just the other day, I had a real bad day. My wife hurt her leg and had to go to the ER. Problem was that as a blind person, I can’t drive myself to the gig. It was late in the day, raining and we had about an hour and a half drive ahead of us assuming traffic wasn’t backed up due to rain, etc. I managed, just barely to get someone to take me to the show, but I was an hour late. I was upset because I am never late and I take pride in being a man of my word. But the venue owners and staff and patrons couldn’t have been nicer. I got paid, made some tips and sold some merch and had a really great time. What is even better, I had a lot of people come up to me and tell me how much my music and sense of humor had blessed their evening. How great is that? I was feeling down, but I kept my head in the game and performed and told my stories and through that process, the audience and I helped each other have a better evening! So that is the best part, sharing and changing yourself and others for the better through music!
Not only are you an accomplished musician but also a songwriter. Tell us how old you were when you wrote your first song.
I am not 100% sure. I was around 7 I think when I wrote a song or two—I think it was about not liking it when it rained LOL. But my first songs that meant something and actually got performed in public were written when I was between 18 and 19.
When you write music, do you have an ideal time or place when you get your best writing done? Do you have a ritual?
I can write anywhere, anytime. I always have something on my mind to express so writing isn’t hard for me. That being said, I guess I do like writing better at night when things are a little more quiet and I am at home.
Regarding ritual, this is a very interesting subject because we know that people tend to be happier when there is a ritual to parts of their lives. However, I try not to do that because I don’t ever want to have something that I have to do or I can’t function. I need to be able to do my job at maximum efficiency at all times regardless of the circumstances! A pro just gets the job done and I work hard to be a pro.
What is on the horizon next for you Joey?
2020 will see me spending a lot of time getting my new recording studio online. Follow my progress at www.shadowsoundstudio.com.
I will also be doing some more recording of my music and on January 3RD of 2020 my trio will be performing at the famous Whisky A Go Go and then later on that month, I’ll be networking and performing at several GRAMMY party’s during GRAMMY week in LA. Check out www.joeystuckey.com for up-to-the-minute show dates!
Thank you for your time today!
Thanks for giving me an opportunity to share my music and story with your readers.
Please do visit www.joeystuckey.com and go to the fan zone, we have a lot of free music and do follow me on social media:
YOU TUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/SenateRecords
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Jstuckeymusic
End of Interview