Uncle Kracker

Uncle Kracker
Uncle Kracker
Birth name Matthew Shafer
Born June 6, 1974 (1974-06-06) (age 37)
Origin Mount Clemens, Michigan, United States
Genres Rock, country, hip hop
Occupations Musician, singer-songwriter, DJ
Instruments Vocals, turntables
Years active 1987–present
Labels Atlantic, Lava
Associated acts Kid Rock, Kenny Chesney, Paradime
Website www.UncleKracker.com

Matthew Shafer (born June 6, 1974) is an American rock musician known as Uncle Kracker. His singles include "Follow Me", "Smile", and "Drift Away". His music was more rap rock-based at the start of his career before turning in a more rock and Top 40 style music direction on later releases.

Contents

Biography

Shafer was born in Mississippi but raised in Harrison Township, Michigan. In 1987, with his brother Mike Shafer, he visited a nightclub in Clawson, Michigan where a turntables competition was occurring. His older brother was competing against a then-unknown musician, Kid Rock. Shafer then spent a lot of time with Kid Rock, and they became "best friends". In those times, he was mainly rapping. He went to L'Anse Creuse High School.[1] In 1994, Kid Rock asked Shafer to play turntables for his band called Twisted Brown Trucker. Shafer knew nothing of using turntables, but since his brother was an experienced DJ, he agreed. He only performed at live shows at the time, until he began recording for Rock's album, Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp; Shafer was a featured vocalist on some of the tracks. He then began working on a solo album, but he continued being the DJ for Kid Rock. Upon the release of Rock's multi-platinum album, Devil Without a Cause, Shafer decided that it was time to release his first solo album, Double Wide, adopting the stage name Uncle Kracker from his favorite snack producer, the Kraft Cracker Company of Flint, Michigan.

Shafer has been married to his childhood sweetheart, Melanie Haas, since 1998. They have three daughters.

Music career

Double Wide

Double Wide was Uncle Kracker's first solo album. Released on June 30, 2000, it peaked at #7 on the Billboard 200 album chart and is Shafer's most successful and highest-selling album. "Double Wide" was produced by Kid Rock, with mixing additional production by Michael Bradford. The first single taken off the album was "Follow Me", which was co-written with Bradford, and peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 2001. The album spent the next ten months on the Billboard 200, and "Follow Me" also had a long chart run. His second single, "Yeah Yeah Yeah", failed to hit the Hot 100 chart. Double Wide was certified 2× Multi-Platinum on November 29, 2001.[2]

No Stranger to Shame

After a great deal of touring to promote the first album, he began to work on a follow-up album. Entitled No Stranger to Shame, it was released on August 27, 2002. The album reached #43 on the Billboard albums chart. A hit single was released, a cover version of Dobie Gray's 1973 Top 5 hit, "Drift Away" - also including Gray as a guest vocalist. Kracker's version of this song peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and it set a record for most weeks at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, remaining atop this chart for 28 nonconsecutive weeks. Other singles released from No Stranger to Shame include "In A Little While", which peaked at #59 on the Hot 100 and #26 on the Adult Contemporary charts. A third single was released, "Memphis Soul Song", which charted on the Adult Top 40 at #35. A special remix of "Memphis Soul Song" was also released, featuring harmonies by legendary singing group The Jordanaires, who had famously sung harmonies with Elvis Presley. The album was certified gold by the RIAA within a year of its release. Soon after this period, Kracker became good friends with country music star Kenny Chesney and the two began a successful touring partnership together, brought on by the success of Kenny's hit single "When the Sun Goes Down", featuring Uncle Kracker both on the single, and prominently in the video.

Seventy Two and Sunny

After touring, Shafer began working on a third album which he called Seventy Two and Sunny. He had completely abandoned all rap from it, and moved onto a pure country sound. The album featured two singles: "Rescue", which only charted at #20 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary singles chart but didn't chart on any other charts, and "Writing It Down," which did not chart at all. Shafer did have some success that year though when he was featured on Chesney's track, "When the Sun Goes Down", which peaked at #1 on the Hot Country Songs chart, and went on to achieve Gold status. Seventy Two and Sunny has sold about 200,000 copies. It peaked at #39 on the Billboard 200.

Happy Hour

Uncle Kracker's fourth studio album is entitled Happy Hour.[3] The album has been in the works for five years and has since been delayed over because of Atlantic Records' decision to bring in Rob Cavallo to produce the album right as they were finishing their cut of the album in late 2007. An early promo version of the album contained the tracks "Happy Hour", "Vegas Baby", "I'm Not Leaving", "The One That Got Away", and "That's What's Happenin". The first single from the album "Smile" was released on July 13, 2009 and has peaked at #31 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was released on September 15, 2009. "Smile" also became his first solo entry on the Hot Country Songs chart, where it debuted at #57 for the week of November 7, 2009, and peaked at #6 in September 2010. A music video for the track "My Girlfriend" was released in November 2009, though there has been no official word whether it will be serviced as the album's second single. The album also features country singer Jesse Lee (also on Atlantic Records) in a duet they wrote called "Me Again." An advanced pre-order of the album off iTunes also let listeners get a special track no longer available called "Happy Hour" along with 3 other songs; Celebrate, Josephine, and Let Me Love You.

Happy Hour: The South River Road Sessions

Uncle Kracker's new six song EP, Happy Hour: The South River Road Sessions, was released on June 22, 2010. The EP features country remakes of songs off the Happy Hour album. Two songs released are a remake of "Smile" and Uncle Kracker's next single, "Good to Be Me," featuring Kid Rock.

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold)
US
[4]		 US Rock
[5]		 AUS
[6]		 AUT
[7]		 GER
[8]		 NOR
[9]		 NZ
[10]		 SWE
[11]		 SWI
[12]		 UK
[13]
Double Wide 7 — 15 5 3 26 21 16 13 40
No Stranger to Shame
  • Release date: August 27, 2002
  • Label: Lava Records
  • Formats: CD
 43 — — 70 92 — — — — —
Seventy Two and Sunny
  • Release date: June 29, 2004
  • Label: Lava Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
 39 — — — — — — — — —
Happy Hour
  • Release date: September 15, 2009
  • Label: Atlantic Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
 38 13 — — — — — — — —
Postcards from Home
  • To be released: 2012
  • Label: Atlantic Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
 To be released[18]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released to that country

Extended plays

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[4]		 US Country
[19]		 US
Rock
[5]
Happy Hour: The South River
Road Sessions
  • Release date: June 22, 2010
  • Label: Atlantic Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
 66 9 17

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold)		 Album
US
[20][21]		 US AC
[22]		 US Adult
[23]		 US Country
[24]		 US
Pop
[25]		 AUS
[26]		 AUT
[27]		 CAN
[28]		 NZ
[29]		 SWI
[30]
2001 "Follow Me" 5 7 1 — 3 1 1 34 1 3 Double Wide
"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah" — — — — — 23 — — — —
2002 "In a Little While" 59 26 4 — 28 — 39 — 18 37 No Stranger to Shame
2003 "Drift Away" (featuring Dobie Gray) 9 1 2 — 10 — — — 25 —
"Memphis Soul Song" — — 35 — — — — — — —
2004 "Rescue" — — 20 — — — — — — — Seventy Two and Sunny
"Writing It Down" — — — — — — — — — —
2009 "Smile" 31 3 2 6 30 3 31 44 — — Happy Hour
2010 "Good to Be Me" (featuring Kid Rock) 113 — 29 28 — — — — — —
2011 "My Hometown"A 55 Postcards from Home
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released to that country
  • ACurrent single.

Featured singles

Year Single Artist Peak chart
positions		 Certifications
(sales threshold)		 Album
US Country
[36]		 US
[37]
2004 "When the Sun Goes Down" Kenny Chesney 1 26 When the Sun Goes Down

Videography

Music videos

2000 "Follow Me"[39] Nick Egan
"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah" Tom Dey
2002 "In a Little While"[40] Nick Quested
2003 "Memphis Soul Song" Thom Oliphant
2004 "Rescue Me" Trey Fanjoy
2005 "Writing It Down" Shaun Silva
2006 "Drift Away" Bronston Jones
2009 "Smile"[41] Darren Doane
2010 "Good to Be Me" (featuring Kid Rock)[42] Christopher Sims

Guest appearances

Year Video Director
2004 "When the Sun Goes Down" (with Kenny Chesney) Shaun Silva

References

  1. ^ "Uncle Kracker On Eminem/ICP Gun Incident". YAHOO!. http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12064066. Retrieved 2008-06-17. 
  2. ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - November 21, 2010: Double Wide certified awards". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Uncle%20Kracker&title=Double%20Wide&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50. Retrieved November 21, 2010. 
  3. ^ "Uncle Kracker "frustrated" by album delay". Yahoo! Music News. http://new.music.yahoo.com/uncle-kracker/news/uncle-kracker-quotfrustratedquot-by-album-delay--51638611. Retrieved 2009-05-11. 
  4. ^ a b "Uncle Kracker Album & Song Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/uncle-kracker/chart-history/400466?f=305&g=Albums. Retrieved November 21, 2010. 
  5. ^ a b "Uncle Kracker Album & Song Chart History - Rock Albums". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/uncle-kracker/chart-history/400466?f=408&g=Albums. Retrieved November 21, 2010. 
  6. ^ "australian-charts.com - Australian charts portal". Hung Medien. australian-charts.com. http://www.australian-charts.com/search.asp?cat=a&search=Uncle+Kracker. Retrieved November 21, 2010. 
  7. ^ "austriancharts.at - Austria Top 40". austriancharts.at. http://austriancharts.at/search.asp?search=uncle+kracker&cat=a. Retrieved April 9, 2010. 
  8. ^ "German Charts - Albums - Uncle Kracker". Hung Medien. http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Uncle+Kracker/?type=longplay. Retrieved December 16, 2010. 
  9. ^ "norwegiancharts.com - Norwegian charts portal". norwegiancharts.com. http://norwegiancharts.com/search.asp?search=uncle+kracker&cat=a. Retrieved April 9, 2010. 
  10. ^ "charts.org.nz - New Zealand charts portal". charts.org.nz. http://charts.org.nz/search.asp?search=uncle+kracker&cat=a. Retrieved April 9, 2010. 
  11. ^ "swedishcharts.com - Swedish charts portal". swedishcharts.com. http://swedishcharts.com/search.asp?search=uncle+kracker&cat=a. Retrieved April 9, 2010. 
  12. ^ "Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade und Music Community". hitparade.ch. http://hitparade.ch/search.asp?search=uncle+kracker&cat=a. Retrieved April 9, 2010. 
  13. ^ "Chart Log UK: U2 - Utopia". The Official Charts Company. http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_U.HTM. Retrieved July 4, 2010. 
  14. ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2001 Albums". ARIA Charts. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-albums-2001.htm. Retrieved April 9, 2010. 
  15. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Uncle Kracker – Double Wide". Music Canada. http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=Double+Wide&sa=Uncle+Kracker&smt=0. 
  16. ^ "American album certifications – Uncle Kracker – Double Wide". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Double+Wide%22.  If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  17. ^ "American album certifications – Uncle Kracker – No Stranger to Shame". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22No+Stranger+to+Shame%22.  If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  18. ^ "Uncle Kracker Can't Classify New Album: "Put It In the Super Fun Section"". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/news/uncle-kracker-can-t-classify-new-album-put-1005317942.story. Retrieved August 17, 2011. 
  19. ^ "Uncle Kracker Album & Song Chart History - Country Albums". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/uncle-kracker/chart-history/400466?f=320&g=Albums. Retrieved November 21, 2010. 
  20. ^ "Uncle Kracker Album & Song Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/uncle-kracker/chart-history/400466. Retrieved November 21, 2010. 
  21. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Singles 1955–2010. Record Research, Inc. p. 926. ISBN 0-89820-188-8. 
  22. ^ "Uncle Kracker Album & Song Chart History - Adult Contemporary". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/uncle-kracker/chart-history/400466?f=341&g=Singles. Retrieved November 21, 2010. 
  23. ^ "Uncle Kracker Album & Song Chart History - Adult Pop Songs". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/uncle-kracker/chart-history/400466?f=343&g=Singles. Retrieved November 21, 2010. 
  24. ^ "Uncle Kracker Album & Song Chart History - Country Songs". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/uncle-kracker/chart-history/400466?f=357&g=Singles. Retrieved November 21, 2010. 
  25. ^ "Uncle Kracker Album & Song Chart History - Pop Songs". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/uncle-kracker/chart-history/400466?f=381&g=Singles. Retrieved November 21, 2010. 
  26. ^ "australian-charts.com - Australian charts portal". Hung Medien. australian-charts.com. http://www.australian-charts.com/search.asp?search=Uncle+Kracker&cat=s. Retrieved November 21, 2010. 
  27. ^ "austriancharts.at - Austria Top 40". austriancharts.at. http://www.austriancharts.at/search.asp?search=Uncle+Kracker&cat=s. Retrieved November 21, 2010. 
  28. ^ "Uncle Kracker Album & Song Chart History - Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/uncle-kracker/chart-history/400466?f=793&g=Singles. Retrieved November 21, 2010. 
  29. ^ "charts.org.nz - New Zealand charts portal". charts.org.nz. http://www.charts.org.nz/search.asp?search=Uncle+Kracker&cat=s. Retrieved November 21, 2010. 
  30. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community". swisscharts.com. http://www.swisscharts.com/search.asp?search=Uncle+Kracker&cat=s. Retrieved November 21, 2010. 
  31. ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2001 Singles". ARIA Charts. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-singles-2001.htm. Retrieved November 21, 2010. 
  32. ^ "BPI Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx. Retrieved November 21, 2010. 
  33. ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2010 Singles". ARIA Charts. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.auaccreds2010.htm. Retrieved September 15, 2010. 
  34. ^ "Canadian digital certifications – Uncle Kracker – Smile". Music Canada. http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=Smile&sa=Uncle+Kracker&smt=0. 
  35. ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - April 30, 2010: Uncle Kracker certified singles". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Uncle%20Kracker&format=SINGLE&go=Search&perPage=50. Retrieved April 30, 2010. 
  36. ^ Peak chart positions for featured singles on Country Songs:
  37. ^ Peak chart positions for featured singles on Hot 100:
  38. ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - April 9, 2010: "When the Sun Goes Down" certification". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&title=When%20the%20Sun%20Goes%20Down&artist=Kenny%20Chesney&format=SINGLE&go=Search&perPage=25. Retrieved April 9, 2010. 
  39. ^ "CMT : Videos : Uncle Kracker : Follow Me". Country Music Television. http://www.cmt.com/videos/uncle-kracker/58936/follow-me.jhtml. Retrieved November 21, 2010. 
  40. ^ "CMT : Videos : Uncle Kracker : In a Little While". Country Music Television. http://www.cmt.com/videos/uncle-kracker/18312/in-a-little-while.jhtml. Retrieved November 21, 2010. 
  41. ^ "CMT : Videos : Uncle Kracker : Smile". Country Music Television. http://www.cmt.com/videos/uncle-kracker/426988/smile.jhtml. Retrieved November 21, 2010. 
  42. ^ "CMT : Videos : Uncle Kracker : Good to Be Me". Country Music Television. http://www.cmt.com/videos/uncle-kracker/583254/good-to-be-me.jhtml. Retrieved November 21, 2010. 

External links

v · Double Wide (2000) · No Stranger to Shame (2002) · Seventy Two and Sunny (2004) · Happy Hour (2009)
Extended plays
Happy Hour: The South River Road Sessions (2010)
Singles
"Follow Me" · "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah" · "In a Little While" · "Drift Away" · "Memphis Soul Song" · "Rescue" · "Writing It Down" · "Smile" · "Good to Be Me" · "My Hometown"
Guest singles
"When the Sun Goes Down" (with Kenny Chesney)
v · Kid Rock
Studio albums
Other albums
Singles
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  • Uncle Kracker — (* 6. Juni 1974 als Matthew Shafer) ist ein US amerikanischer Rockmusiker. Er begann seine Karriere früh als Rapper. 1987 traf er Kid Rock, für den er als DJ arbeitete. Die beiden wurden Freunde. Im Jahre 2000 begann Kracker, solo zu arbeiten.… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Uncle Kracker —  Pour l’article homophone, voir Cracker. Kracker ou Uncle Kracker, alias Matthew Shafer, né le 9 novembre 1974, à Mount Clemens (Michigan) est un musicien américain de rock et de musique country. Une chanson très populaire de Uncle Kracker… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • When the Sun Goes Down (Kenny Chesney and Uncle Kracker song) — Infobox Single Name = When the Sun Goes Down Cover size = Caption = Artist = Kenny Chesney Uncle Kracker from Album = When the Sun Goes Down Released = 2004 Format = Recorded = Genre = Country Length = 4:50 (album version) Label = BNA Writer =… …   Wikipedia

  • Double Wide (Uncle Kracker album) — Infobox Album | Name = Double Wide Type = Album Artist = Uncle Kracker Released = June 30, 2000 Recorded = 1999 2000 Genre = Rapcore, Country rock Label = Lava Records Producer = Kid Rock Reviews = * [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg… …   Wikipedia

  • Follow Me (Uncle Kracker song) — Infobox Single | Name = Follow Me Artist = Uncle Kracker from Album = Double Wide Released = February 6, 2001 Genre = Country rock, Adult Contemporary Length = 3:37 (Radio Edit)3:35 (Album Version)3:28 (DJ Homicide Remix) Label = Lava Producer =… …   Wikipedia

  • Kracker — Uncle Kracker  Pour l’article homophone, voir Cracker. Kracker ou Uncle Kracker, alias Matthew Shafer, né le 9 novembre 1974, à Mount Clemens (Michigan) est un musicien américain de rock et de musique country. Une chanson très populaire de… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Kracker — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Johann Lucas Kracker (1717–1779), österreichisch tschechischer Maler des Barock Tobias Kracker (1658–1736), Bildhauer in Wien Siehe auch: Uncle Kracker, Künstlername von Matthew Shafer (* 1974), US… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Matthew Shafer — Uncle Kracker (* 6. Juni 1974 als Matthew Shafer) ist ein US amerikanischer Rockmusiker. Er begann seine Karriere früh als Rapper. 1987 traf er Kid Rock, für den er als DJ arbeitete. Die beiden wurden Freunde. Den Beinamen Uncle (Onkel) erhielt… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Matthew Shafer — Uncle Kracker  Pour l’article homophone, voir Cracker. Kracker ou Uncle Kracker, alias Matthew Shafer, né le 9 novembre 1974, à Mount Clemens (Michigan) est un musicien américain de rock et de musique country. Une chanson très populaire de… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Michael Bradford — Origin Detroit, MI, United States Michael Bradford was born and raised on Detroit s East Side, an area that was once a working class neighborhood, but quickly deteriorated into decay after the city s tumultuous riots in 1967.[1] …   Wikipedia

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