Uncle Kracker
| Uncle Kracker | |
|---|---|
Uncle Kracker at Walmart Soundcheck, December 2012
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Matthew Shafer |
| Born |
June 6, 1974 Mount Clemens, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | Country, Country rock, Country pop, Country crossover, rap rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer-songwriter, DJ |
| Instruments | Vocals, turntables, guitar |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Labels | Atlantic, Lava, EMI, Sugar Hill |
| Associated acts | Kid Rock, Kenny Chesney, Better Than Ezra, Sugar Ray, Uncle Ezra Ray |
| Website | www.UncleKracker.com |
Matthew Shafer (born June 6, 1974), also known by his stage name Uncle Kracker, is an American musician, singer, lyricist, rapper and guitarist. He is the turntablist for Kid Rock's backing group Twisted Brown Trucker and since 1999 has recorded as a solo artist. His singles "Follow Me" and "Drift Away" were top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
Shafer was born in a bathtub in Mount Clemens, Michigan on June 6, 1974. 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 soon became friends with Kid Rock. In those times, he was mainly rapping a singer. He went to L'Anse Creuse High School. 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, The History Of Rock, Shafer decided that it was time to release his first solo album, Double Wide in 2000.
In 2007, Shafer was arrested for a second-degree sex offense charge and released on $75,000 bond. Shafer pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and was sentenced to a year of probation.
Shafer has been married to his childhood sweetheart, Melanie Haas, since 1998. They have three daughters.
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