J. D. Wilkes

J.D. Wilkes
Wilkes in 2007
Background information
Born	April 18, 1972 (1972-04-18) (age 39) - Baytown, Texas, United States
Genres	Punk blues, psychobilly, country blues
Occupations	Musician Artist Filmmaker
Instruments	Vocals Harmonica Banjo
Labels	YepRoc, Bloodshot, Colonel Knowledge, Arkam, 30 Tigers
Associated acts	Legendary Shack Shakers The Dirt Daubers Reverend Horton Heat Hank Williams III The Dixiecrats

Joshua "J. D." Wilkes (born April 18, 1972, Baytown, Texas), and now a resident of Paducah, Kentucky, is an American visual artist, musician, and amateur filmmaker.^[1] Wilkes is a Kentucky Colonel, an honorable title bestowed upon those with a connection to, or are famous residents of Kentucky, by the state's Governor.^[2] He is also an accomplished harmonica player, having recorded for such artists as Merle Haggard, John Carter Cash, Mike Patton, and Hank Williams III.^[3] He can also be spotted playing harmonica for Hank Williams III in the 2004 "American Masters" film Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues.

Biography

Wilkes is known as the founder and only remaining original member of the Legendary Shack Shakers, formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in the late 90's. Wilkes' contributions to visual art include many sideshow banners and comic strips. His "Head Cheese" strip was seen in the Nashville Metromix weekly from 2005-2008. Other works by Wilkes have been seen in Juxtapoz, Snicker, ALARM Magazine, and TopShelfComix.com.^[4] Wilkes illustrated a book titled "Spookiest Stories Ever" for the University Press of Kentucky, released in 2010.^[5] He holds a Bachelor's degree in Studio Art from Kentucky's Murray State University.^[6]

In 2006, Wilkes, along with Blake Judd, Todd Tue, and Jacob Ennis, began work on a documentary film titled Seven Signs, that explored "music, myth, and the American South." ^[7] The film premiered on December 30, 2007, at the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville, Tennessee.^[8] In early 2009, Wilkes formed The Dirt Daubers, an old-time roots-influenced side project with his wife, Jessica, and "Slow" Layne Hendrickson. The band's self-titled debut was released in October 2009.

Discography

• J.D.'s Tasteless Chill Tonic, Legendary Shack Shakers, (1996)
• Hunkerdown With Those Legendary Shack Shakers, Legendary Shack Shakers, (1998, Spinout)
• Cockadoodledon't, Legendary Shack Shakers, (2003, Bloodshot)
• Believe, Legendary Shack Shakers, (2004, YepRoc)
• Pandelirium, Legendary Shack Shakers, (2006, YepRoc)
• Swampblood, Legendary Shack Shakers, (2007, YepRoc)
• The Dirt Daubers, The Dirt Daubers (2009)
• AgriDustrial, Legendary Shack Shakers (2010)

Filmography

• Seven Signs (2007)

References

1. ^ An Interview with J.D. Wilkes
2. ^ Another Notable Kentucky Colonel
3. ^ [1]
4. ^ Top Shelf Comix
5. ^ University Press of Kentucky
6. ^ Orange Hill Folk Art Gallery Artist Bio
7. ^ Seven Signs Interview
8. ^ DVD Talk of Seven Signs Premier

External links

• Official Site
• Seven Signs

Persondata
Name	Wilkes, J. D.
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	April 18, 1972
Place of birth
Date of death
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