Music
Press
"One of the best musicians I've ever met." - James Otto/Warner Bros. Recording artist 2-time Grammy Nominee & 2-time 2009 ACM Award winner
"One of the most inventive and inspiring talents of our time." - Sean O'Bryan Smith/Groove Therapy Recording artist #1 most recommended artist by Jazz Times
"Keyboardist Shannon Wickline absolutely tears it up." - www.illiniosblues.com
Discography
Some of the upcoming releases and more recent work Shannon has done:
"Reflections" by Sean O'Bryan Smith (2010)
"James Otto" by James Otto (2010)
An upcoming release by Chinua Hawk (2010)
An upcoming release by Jon Raven (2009)
"Bed Fellows" by Max Beizer (2009)
"Believe" by Tori Bigelow (2009)
"Cottage City Firehouse" by Rich Eckhardt (2009)
"Premonition" by Jimmy Dormire (2008)
"Chris Cauley" by Chris Cauley (2008)
"Two Mule Parade" by Stan Hedges (2008)
"Tapestry" by Sean O'Bryan Smith (2008)
Photos
Bio
Born in 1974 in Beckley, West Virginia, Shannon Wickline’s path in the world of music came as no surprise. With a father who toured professionally as a pedal steel guitarist, and a mother and grandmother that played piano and sang in church, Shannon’s love of traditional, American music was passed down through two generations:
“I cut my teeth on country and gospel music with my family, but then I got a taste of Stevie Wonder, Prince, some of those old Motown and Stax Records guys… Yeah, that was it. I was hooked.”
Shannon began his musical journey on a drum kit at the tender age of four. Seven years later, he found chord book inside the bench of his grandmother’s old organ:
“I remember this old organ at my grandmother’s house that had these little stickers on the keys to identify each note. I would look in the book and see what combination of notes made up all of the different chords. And that's how I taught myself to play piano.”
Over the next several years, Shannon continued to grow musically. At the age of 12, his passion for recording began when he borrowed his father’s old multi-track recorder. This lead to his passion for guitar at the age of 15, which really grew out of necessity:
“I began branching out from piano to other instruments because I didn’t like the simulated sounds from my keyboard and I didn’t want to limit my creativity. I was missing the real feel and all the expression you can only get from the actual instrument.”
Shannon became a professional musician at the age of 17, often touring and recording on different instruments. Versatility and flexibility have earned him the nick-name, “The Band”, due to the fact that Shannon is often the only musician hired to complete a studio project.
“I just love what I do. I’m blessed to have the opportunity to do this for a living. I can’t think of a better way to spend my day than making music!”
Shannon’s career has taken him all over the U.S. and abroad, performing and/or opening for such respected acts as: Colin Raye, Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers, Delbert McClinton, Mark Selby, Rodney Atkins, B.B. King, Z.Z. Top, Trace Atkins, LeAnn Rhimes, Gretchen Wilson, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Jamey Johnson, Taylor Swift, The Indigo Girls, and Wynonna, Alan Jackson, Brooks and Dunn, Loverboy, and Restless Heart.
Currently, Shannon is on tour with Warner Bros. recording artist, 2009 ACM Award Winner, and two-time Grammy-nominated artist, James Otto. When not on the road with James, Shannon works with other artists and musicians, both live, and in the studio.
When he’s not making music, Shannon enjoys spending time with his wife, Melissa, an accomplished pianist, singer/songwriter, and aspiring author.
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