Joey Stuckey hasn’t allowed his blindness to prevent him from turning out first class music. A brain tumor as a young boy robbed Stuckey of his sight, but the Macon, Georgia native discovered a passion for music at an early age. He’s since enjoyed a nearly three decade long career as a musician, songwriter, and recording artist with no signs of slowing down. His latest single “You Know My Name” is a gritty and deeply felt blues that pulls out all the stops while still retaining considerable artistry. It’s far from bucket of blood blues. He utilizes a vibrant horn section that reinforces the song’s musical muscle, but it’s Stuckey’s guitar playing that sticks with listeners.
The guitar work announces itself early. Stuckey has the necessary skill to play in a variety of styles, but his affinity for the blues is clear. His lead guitar pieces the skin and engages listeners’ emotions in a way all too few players do. It’s because there’s tangible inspiration underpinning every phrase and he achieves a sound that many of his peers and contemporaries will outright envy. He doesn’t dominate the track, however. “You Know My Name” has enough musical diversity to capture the attention of guitar aficionados and general music lovers. It isn’t a niche product but, instead, a fully realized track.
https://open.spotify.com/track/3vtLppQDuHTAIWzlhcGL4Q
The assertive nature of the song’s lyrics is another highlight. Stuckey is careful though to avoid stridency. His vocals embody the forceful tone of the words well and his voice is ideal for the material. You can hear him digging deep with each phrase and the emotive tone of his singing complements the guitar and horns without ever overshadowing the musical content. His timing as a vocalist is another key element of the performance. He knows when to bear down on the singing and when to pull back, allowing the music to speak for itself.
There’s an excellent balance between the music and vocals. Moreover, Stuckey is a tasteful guitarist who readily cedes ground to other instruments to serve the song. It’s cut to perfect length for listeners, as well, and a certain crowd pleaser. He needs minimal, if any, effort to translate this track into live performance as it sounds tailor made for the stage. The song has a robust sound and expecting the track to take flight on stage isn’t any stretch at all.
He’s traveled a long road since his 1995 debut. Joey Stuckey remains prolific throughout it all, however, and his recorded output maintains a high quality that’s never lapsed. “You Know My Name” glows with an inner fire that’s impossible to deny and perhaps the most impressive aspect of the song is its effortlessness. Stuckey, like all great musicians, makes it sound easy. It never is, however. Musicians of this ilk pay in sweat for everything they record and “You Know My Name” is no different. It sounds pulled out of him from somewhere deep within and we’re lucky to hear music full of such undeniable heart and soul.
Chadwick Easton