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Issue #43 – Mentor News
by L. Swift and Jeff McQ
We’re pleased and proud that Recording Connection mentor Joey Stuckey (Shadow Sound Studio, Macon, GA) has been asked to speak and perform at the Visually-Impaired Musicians’ Lives Conference, taking place in London, England on March 10-11, 2015. Being able to speak at the first-ever conference is a tremendous opportunity to inform the public and make a tremendous impact on the lives of visually-impaired musicians around the world. And we couldn’t think of anyone better to do it!
Joey Stuckey is a veritable powerhouse of creativity, intelligence, wit and humor. He has also blind since early childhood; however, within minutes of talking to him, you see that this difference hasn’t seemed to slow him down for one moment. His tremendous energy, creativity and willpower have enabled him to not only become an in-demand sound engineer, composer and producer, but also a singer and award-winning guitarist, inducted into the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012.
As to how he came to be involved with the VIML project, Stuckey says researchers from the University of London were the ones to reach out.
“They initially contacted me because they were writing a paper, doing research,” he says. “That experience was so positive, with musicians from all over the world, including Australia and Africa, that it has now turned into a conference. They want me to be a primary speaker and presenter at this conference to share with them [the] ways that I’m able to do what I do, and to inspire other people to be able to do what I do.”
Joey says he will be talking about the unique challenges aspiring music professionals face in a world that is largely geared towards sighted audio engineers and producers. As an iPhone user, avid iTunes audiophile and self-proclaimed gearhead, he’s hopeful the makers of DAWS and other technologies will soon catch up.
“I feel that some corporations, with very little expenditure and very little cost on their part, could really do a lot more for the blind than they do,” says Joey. “I’m not saying in any way that [this] is coming from a place of being evil or hateful or anything like that. I think it comes mainly from a place of ignorance, in the sense that it just doesn’t occur to them how accessible things can really be. So I work with as many people as I can to help them, and say, ‘I will beta test for you. I will do anything in the world to help you find ways that are not cost prohibitive to make your product as accessible as it can be.'”
Joey will also share some of the insight he’s gained over his 20-year career, including learning how to use both one’s strengths and limitations to carve out a career for oneself. While he has a stellar memory and can memorize long compositions, choosing to be more creative and improvisational has proven to be a smart career choice, one that gives Joey a certain edge.
“The fact that I love to be creative (and that’s the whole reason I want to play music and be a musician to begin with) happens to coincide nicely with the fact that I’m blind,” Joey says. “It’s easier for me to create things fresh than it is for me to copy, or interpret somebody else’s work. So that works wonderfully to my advantage as a producer, as an entertainer, as a musician. The thing I really want to bring forth at this conference is how to play to your strengths, and use even your weaknesses to your advantage.
“Everybody has a valid role and can have a career in music,” he continues. “Now, will you be the next Stevie Wonder? Who knows? But regardless of that, you can go out and make a serious difference in people’s lives. You can go out and have a very successful and wonderful career and be a blessing to yourself and others, [and] provide yourself with a source of income. You can do all of these wonderful things, despite whatever physical limitations you have.”
Not only will Joey be a keynote speaker at the VILM Conference, but his upcoming single “Blind Man Drivin’” (to be released in March) was recently named the Visually-Impaired Musicians’ Lives Conference official theme song!
RRF is proud to have Joey Stuckey as mentor, friend and out-and-out game-changer! We wish him the very best on his upcoming trip and all of his endeavors. Go get ‘em, Joey!
Learn more about Joey Stuckey and the VILM Conference here.
Visit Joey’s Shadow Sound Studio website at www.shadowsoundstudio.com
or call (800) 755-7597
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