Today we’d like to introduce you to Joey Stuckey.
Hi Joey, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I was 13 years old, I became obsessed with radio drama where the stories were told via music, sound effects and dialogue. This was the perfect medium for a young adult who was blind. I began experimenting with recordings as a direct result of these programs and by the time I was 15 I had a job as a sound tech at the local planetarium. That began my recording career for musical artists as many of the other young people at the museum had garage bands and asked me if I could record their demos. I did and I’ve been doing it ever since. Next year will mark my 30th year in the business. Around the same time, I realized I had something I wanted to say and the vehicle through which I would say it was song. So I set about becoming a musical artist as well. I have been blessed as musical artist who plays guitar and bass and sings to have shared the stage with the likes of Bad Company, B52s, Smashmouth, and many more. In addition to performing at multiple venues in the US and Europe, I have performed for the Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards and even done a night at the world famous Whisky A Go Go. I am the owner and senior engineer/producer for Shadow Sound Studio, blending state of the art analog and digital technologies. I work full-time as a producer and session musician in addition to guess lecturing at institutions such as University College of London and SCAD (Savannah campus) while also recording my own albums and touring.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Each endeavor has a unique set of challenges. For me, the largest obstacle I needed to overcome is being blind. Much of the recording technology is not accessible. For example, blind people are unable to use a mouse as the software that reads the screen to use on our computers is unable to interpret where the cursor is at any given moment. In addition, things that are highly graphic such as screen representations of knobs and buttons tend to be opaque to screen readers. I am a passionate champion of accessibility and am pleased to report that we have made significant strides since I first got in the business but there is still a long way to go. For example, Dolby ATMOS is currently not accessible for the blind which is a real shame as blind people are excellent a 3D Spatial Audio orientation.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’ve held a number of roles in the music business from adjunct professor of music technology at Mercer University to multiple roles as a journalist, to hosting a local TV show on the NBC affiliate, to various radio and print media but my primary focus boils down to three pillars:
Artist/Producer/Speaker
As an artist, two of the highlights that stand out for me are getting to write a song with Ed Roland from Collective Soul and Georgia treasure Diane Durrett—the other that my debut jazz album “Mixture” made it to #9 on the CMJ Top 40 Jazz Chart. I have done 2 jazz albums to date along with several albums that I call progressive Americana. These albums are broadly blues/rock with elements of jazz and country mixed in. My most current release is “Live From Macon” where I play 6 songs, just acoustic guitar and vocal, one take, live in the studio.
As a producer, my joy is working with up and coming artists in providing them with a tailor made world class experience that gives them recordings that can further their career. I’ve recorded everything from hiphop and R&B to jazz and classical. It’s a real bonus to own a professional recording facility so you have a welcoming and creative environment where people can come to forge music that truly represents them as artists. I love the technical side of recording where I get to be a scientist blending technologies and recording techniques while also being able to be an artist finding musical ideas that speak and communicate the artist’s vision.
As a speaker and guest lecturer, I have talked about everything from the recording sciences to music business and how to live a successful life of intention. It’s a joy to share my story and to learn from others. I feel privileged to be at the center where people are being creative so I can assist them on their journey with both affirmations and practical guidance.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Saturday afternoons listening to NPR
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.joeystuckey.com
- Instagram: @jstuckeymusic
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/joeystuckey
- Twitter: @jstuckeymusic
