Biography
Uncle Kracker, born Matthew Shafer, began his career working the turntables for longtime friend Kid Rock before stepping forward with his own debut, Double Wide, on Lava Records in 2001. Having shared stages with Rock since 1994, the pair shared an affinity for blending funky post-grunge textures with hip-hop flair. The album featured the sleek pop track “Follow Me,” which propelled Double Wide to double-platinum status after reaching the Top 10.
The two musicians had first crossed paths in 1987 in Clawson, Michigan, when Rock was competing in an all-ages DJ contest at the local venue Daytona's. Bonding over shared admiration for the Commodores, Run-D.M.C., Lynyrd Skynyrd, and George Jones, they quickly became close. Kracker’s initial recorded work appeared on Rock’s 1996 effort Early Mornin’ Stoned Pimp; he later co-wrote and contributed vocals to the multi-platinum breakthrough Devil Without a Cause, prompting him to pursue a solo path once that record succeeded.
Kid Rock and Mike Bradford produced Double Wide, a radio-oriented set that mixed country, mainstream modern rock, and rap. The following year Kracker delivered his second album, No Stranger to Shame, which yielded another Top 10 placement via his straightforward cover of Mentor Williams’ “Drift Away.” Drawing inspiration from early-’70s rock, he released Seventy Two & Sunny in late June 2004, though it did not match the commercial performance of its predecessors. He regained momentum by co-writing Kid Rock’s hit “All Summer Long” and resumed solo work with 2009’s Happy Hour. In 2010 he issued the EP Happy Hour: The South River Road Sessions, presenting country reinterpretations of tracks from the prior album. His next studio release, Midnight Special, arrived in fall 2012 on Sugar Hill after his departure from Atlantic and was helmed by producer Keith Stegall. Kracker returned to Lava Records in 2014 with the single “Endlessly.”
The two musicians had first crossed paths in 1987 in Clawson, Michigan, when Rock was competing in an all-ages DJ contest at the local venue Daytona's. Bonding over shared admiration for the Commodores, Run-D.M.C., Lynyrd Skynyrd, and George Jones, they quickly became close. Kracker’s initial recorded work appeared on Rock’s 1996 effort Early Mornin’ Stoned Pimp; he later co-wrote and contributed vocals to the multi-platinum breakthrough Devil Without a Cause, prompting him to pursue a solo path once that record succeeded.
Kid Rock and Mike Bradford produced Double Wide, a radio-oriented set that mixed country, mainstream modern rock, and rap. The following year Kracker delivered his second album, No Stranger to Shame, which yielded another Top 10 placement via his straightforward cover of Mentor Williams’ “Drift Away.” Drawing inspiration from early-’70s rock, he released Seventy Two & Sunny in late June 2004, though it did not match the commercial performance of its predecessors. He regained momentum by co-writing Kid Rock’s hit “All Summer Long” and resumed solo work with 2009’s Happy Hour. In 2010 he issued the EP Happy Hour: The South River Road Sessions, presenting country reinterpretations of tracks from the prior album. His next studio release, Midnight Special, arrived in fall 2012 on Sugar Hill after his departure from Atlantic and was helmed by producer Keith Stegall. Kracker returned to Lava Records in 2014 with the single “Endlessly.”
Albums
Coffee & Beer
2024
Midnight Special
2012
Happy Hour: The South River Road Sessions
2010
Happy Hour
2009
Seventy Two & Sunny
2004
No Stranger to Shame
2002
Double Wide
2000
Singles
