Raised in rural north Florida, guitarist/singer Shannon Slaughter began his professional music career in 1992, while also finding time to work as a high school history teacher. Slaughter’s early influence was the classic music of guys with last names like Haggard, Travis, Jones, Paycheck, Jennings, Nelson, Conway, Owens, Whitley, Skaggs, and Osborne. His stints with Larry Stephenson (1992-95), Melonie Cannon (2004-05), Lonesome River Band (2005-07), and Lou Reid (2007-present) allowed him to support and learn from strong frontmen while also further developing his own personalized approach to a cohesive sound with traditional and contemporary bluegrass leanings. Slaughter realized that the time had come to don some fancy duds and step out with his musical buds.  Besides his wife Heather and other members of his own County Clare Band (banjo-player Trevor Watson and mandolinist Ron Inscore), others on the album include Lou Reid, Shawn Lane, Ron Stewart, Rob Ickes, Joey Cox, Tracy Burcham and Barry Berrier. It’s a real strong, illustrious lineup that knows just how to bring the 14 songs to life, eight of which were written or co-written by Shannon.

Life as a sideman has its up’s and down’s. You show up on time and do your job, but you also don’t have to deal with too many of a band’s business dealings and politics. Whether you’re a hardworking farmer, coalminer or musician, people should be able to relate to Slaughter’s self-penned tribute to the working man, a song of “the live-long day, breaking ground, and baling hay.” The self-effacing country song “I’ve Hit Everything in My Life (But My Knees)” is Slaughter’s 3-minute autobiography in which he states that he “hit the road before I hit thirty lured by the spotlight and fame,” and honestly admits that he “lives for the show” and doesn’t “know who I am, but I’m searching for who I want to be.” Of course, that song stretches the truth a bit because Shannon Slaughter seems to have a lot of confidence as a consummate, veteran musician. As the center of attention on this album, he manages to affably impart his rhythmic intensity, feelings and emotions in songs that draw from his own experience.  Written with Mark Brinkman, “Hooverville” has the history teacher telling the story of World War I veterans who gathered in Washington, D.C. in 1932 to demand payment of their promised bonuses. The government’s rejection of their plight, the Army’s treatment of the protestors, and the resulting public outcry were factors in President Hoover’s defeat in the 1932 election. Written for this album, Slaughter and company revisit his story as a free, unattached, roaming drifter and dreamer on the road with another of his own compositions, “I’ll Ramble On.” Again, Shannon’s reality is that he’s got a day job, a family, and understands what’s important in life. An original performed at their wedding, it’s nice to hear Shannon and Heather sing “You’re My Music” together. Written with Mark Harrell, “These Old Boots Brought Me Back to You” reinforces the musician’s priorities in life. After hearing this CD, we know a lot more about Shannon Slaughter.  We discover that he knows how to write some good songs, as well as tastefully sing and play them with powerful vocals and engaging instrumental work. (Joe Ross, Roseburg, OR.)
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Great songs Shannon.  I'd love to play some of these (just no covers allowed) on my syndicated show "Country Legends In The Making" that reaches 400 am/fm stations around the world.  You can take a look at my radio site at http://www.tspcountryradio.com and even listen to the recorded version of the show there if you like.  Get back to me at ddsj84@yahoo.com if you want the airplay.

Dixie McCorkell CMA/CCMA/ECMA
Triplestrand Productions
ddsj84@yahoo.com
http://www.triplestrandproductions.com
http://www.tspcountryradio.com
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