About Me
The Shattuck Brothers are a modern Country vocal duo comprised of brothers Ricky Lee and Randy Shattuck. Ricky Lee is a seasoned studio and performance vocalist having recorded numerous projects in Nashville and having performed live for over 20 years. Randy is a veteran studio musician, producer, composer, and song-writer.
On The Shattuck Brothers self-title debut album, Ricky Lee provides lead vocals on all but one song. His rich baritone voice and tonal characteristics place him in the main-stream of the modern country sound. Ricky Lee's vocal range is astounding, as songs like I Cry and I Get A Little Lost Sometimes clearly show. But it is the expression in his voice and the way he pours his heart into every song that has earned him fans all over the United States.
Randy Shattuck wrote the music and lyrics for all 14 songs on this album. Randy also played flat-top and nylon string acoustic guitar, lead and rhythm electric guitar, mandolin, banjo, bass, and some percussion on the album. Randy provides high and low vocal harmonies on all but one song. Randy also conceived of and produced the project, provided most engineering and primary mixing with input from numerous friends and studio engineers.
Additional players on this project include the ineffable Mr. Don Bosco on B3 and piano. Mr. Bosco is a veteran studio and live musician, having played in numerous ensembles for more than 30 years and having written several articles for Keyboard magazine. Mr. Bosco's keyboard playing rounds out the sound of the band with sparkling piano fills around vocals, shimmering B3 chordal work that enriches choruses, and ripping solos such as on Choo-Choo-Ka-Choo where his honky-tonk lines take the song to level reminiscent of Reese Wynans from Double Trouble.
Mr. Jeff Baker provides all drum work on this project and the vast majority of percussion work also. Mr. Baker is a prominently recognized session and fusion drummer in the San Francisco Bay Area. His style is nothing less than outstanding with the ability to interpret a song's essence clearly and articulately without overshadowing vocal work. It is a rare drummer indeed with prodigous chops who can hold back enough to let the drums support rather than dominate the song. Mr. Baker is such a drummer.
Mr. Steve Sinclair provides all horn work on the album, playing the main solo on the swinging instrumental - Texas Stew. Mr. Sinclair also laid in punchy and exciting lines on Love Is True, a sound that clearly recalls the energy of Lynard Skynard tunes. Mr. Sinclair is a well-recognized horn player in the San Francisco Bay Area having played in numerous ensembles and lending horn work to several studio projects.
The lovely Ann Burris rounds out the sound on this album with all background vocal harmonies on the heart-felt Climb Out Of The Bottle - a song about finding one's way out of addiction. Mrs. Burris is also a veteran vocalist with many years of lead and background singing to her credit in both live and studio settings. Mrs. Burris also teaches piano and acoustic guitar, which in part explains why her ear is so sharp. The tone of her voice is reminiscent of Jewel and puts one at ease from the first note. It was such a pleasure to work with her in the studio.
The Shattuck Brothers write, produce, and record their own original music. The songs embrace messages centered around faith, family, and friendship. Our songs are written out of real life experiences which have shaped us into the people that we are.
1. Ol' Kentucky - this is a song about the beauty and spirit of the people and landscape of the great state of Kentucky. Both Ricky Lee and Randy lived in KY for several years and know well the wonderful people and hospitality of the region.
2. I Cry - this is a sad breakup song about a relationship that must end. A lover recognizes that no one is to blame. These two people just should not be together. This fills the lover with sadness as they know they are about to hurt someone they care about, but the kindest thing they can do is get it over quickly and move on.
3. My Mark On The World - this is a song about finding one's place in the world and understanding one's contribution to the greater good. Not everyone can be a Ghandi or a JFK or even a Martin Luther King, but we can all love those family and friends closest to us. This can be our mark on the world.
4. Choo-Choo-Ka-Choo - this is a crazy fast instrumental. Randy plays the lead guitar lines on this while Don Bosco hammers out the piano solo and Jeff Baker plays one of the fastest 2/4 beats you'll ever hear. WARNING - don't drink coffee before listening to this song.
5. Your Gift Still Grows - this is a tribute to the family members of our fallen soldiers in both past and present wars. Let us be clear. The Shattuck Brothers are not pro-war. We are pro-peace. But mostly we are pro-troops. We believe in the troops on the ground who bear the brunt of whatever decision the politicians make. We love our troops and support them. We feel a tremendous sense of gratitude to those who have raised their children and loved ones to believe, as JFK said, that they should not ask what their country can do for them but what they can do for their country.
We feel a strong sense of obligation to support and pray for those who have lost loved ones to war. We are incredibly grateful to these families and will continue to do all we can, no matter how big we get, to support these families. Family is a big part of who we are. Our music video for Your Gift Still Grows shows several of our family members who have participated in either past wars or military service. To those who have lost loved ones - we do not have the words to tell you how we feel. We are grateful, sad, proud, and uncertain all at the same time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. We will do all we can to ensure that the heroism and self-sacrifice of your loved ones are not ever forgotten.
6. I Get A Little Lost Sometimes - this is a song that Randy wrote after he went to bed one night and realized that he had not kissed his wife all day. Randy says "I realized that no matter what I else I might have accomplished that day, that was a wasted day because I forgot to do the most important thing - show the woman I love how I feel about her." Randy literally got out of bed and wrote this song on the spot.
7. In Each Other's Arms - this is a song about finding strength and purpose in the arms of the one you love. Life will throw lots of curve balls at you, but if you stand in there with the one you love, you will find a place of refuge. Lovers provide a haven for each other from the hardships and discouragements of the world. While some might find this a fanciful notion of love, it has been true in our lives. As Randy writes in Love Is True - "love won't leave you high and dry as long as you don't up and leave."
8. It's Time - this is a song about longing to be with one's family after being on the road. Musicians constantly seem to be traveling. Sales people and truckers and race car drivers and so many others find themselves in this same position - where the desire to hear the laughter of your children and to smell the comforts of home just makes you ache inside. Family is the foundation of so many people's lives. When one is separated from family, the drive to be there and eat a decent home-cooked meal and kick back in your easy chair and kiss the one's who give your life meaning is about as strong as any desire a person will ever feel.
9. Love Is True - this is a song based on life experience. Both Shattuck brothers have gone through divorces. They know how this eats away at life. But they also know that love can triumph. Insecurities, jealousy, stubborness, unreasonable demands - these are the enemy of love and happiness with another person. The Shattuck Brothers have learned this the hard way. But if you are true to love, if you are strong and patient, love has a way of smoothing out the rough spots. And then it's really really good.
10. My Grandma - this is a song Randy wrote about his grandmother Hazel Morse. The song says it best - "she was the very picture that I think of, when I think of grace." Grandmothers are a special kind of angel in most people's lives. Grandmas make your world better, your heart stronger, and your load lighter. Hazel Morse passed away from cancer, leaving Ricky Lee and Randy at a very young age. But her impression on them continues to give them strength and hope - "even in my darkest hour you're watching over me" the lyrics say.
11. Climb Out Of The Bottle - this song is a prayer for all of those struggling with addiction. It seems musicians are the most likely people to end up addicted to something - often alcohol. Both Shattuck Brothers have seen friends loose the essence and vitality of their lives through a hole just largest enough to put your lips around. It's hard to understand how a hole that small, that puts liquid into a body, never seems to drain enough from a soul.
12. She's The One - this is a song about a man having a daughter and realizing how this changes the way he looks at the fairer sex. Men all of a sudden have to look back at their lives and their motives in how they treated girls when they were growing up - because they know boys are going to be after their daughter with the same attitudes. The father in this song wants to raise a strong girl who will not let a man push her around or take advantage of her.
13. Texas Stew - this second of three instrumental pieces on the album showcases Randy's predilection for Jazz/Blues/Swing music. The song is reminiscent of Stevie Ray Vaugh's Texas swing style, but with a bluesy sax solo in the middle by Steve Sinclair. Don Bosco provides amazing honky tonk iines on the piano which gives the room a smokry air. Just the sort of thing you'd hope to hear in a happn' road-house off the highway.
14. Tangerine Strings - this new-grass instrumental is a mellow piece of work. It's easy to listen to and enjoy after a hard day's journey.I edited my profile with Thomas' Myspace Editor V4.4I edited my profile with Thomas' Myspace Editor V4.4
