Joining us today is Joey Stuckey, an award-winning blind guitarist, songwriter, singer, composer, producer, radio and television personality, music columnist, educator! With an array of skills behind him, he’s making a huge difference in his communities.
Welcome Joey! Thank you for chatting with us today! You are amazingly talented! What motivates you?
Thanks so much for having me to chat!
I am motivated by music. In fact, it would be fair to say that I am obsessed with it LOL!
The truth is, that I am filled with the need to create and to tell stories. Music is the perfect vehicle through which I explore what it means to be human. My songs tell of my struggles, triumphs and the lessons I have learned along the way.
Now – you just released your new single, “Born To Be Your Toy” Can you tell us more about it?
This song was co-written by my dear friend Charlie Hoskyns of the UK band The Popes. Sadly, Charlie passed away in 2017 very unexpectedly, so I am so honored to be part of keeping his music alive through the work we did together! I love how Charlie brought out a different side of me and this song is a great example of that. It is a bit grittier than most of what I have done on my own!
I am proud to say that my friend Scott Travis of Judas Priest says that “Born To Be Your Toy” is his favorite song of mine. So I must be doing something right LOL!
How would you define success?
Success can be many different things. To be sure it means financial security, but for me it is the joy of sharing my music and story with others and to be a source of inspiration and knowledge for others as well!
Who inspires you?
I am inspired by so much and so many! Musically, I am inspired by the birds in the trees, and The Beatles of course LOL.
From a human perspective, I am thankful and inspired by the amazing medical professionals that are fighting COVID and the recently departed civil rights activist John Lewis!
What challenges do you face as a blind musician and producer?
There are three primary issues here.
First, I can’t drive myself, so I have to very carefully plan my schedule so I am always on time or better yet early to appointments!
Second, I can’t read sheet music. This means that I have to memorize the music or, more often, I make myself the band leader and songwriter so everything comes from my mind and I don’t have to learn the music of other writers. Now, don’t get me wrong, I can learn anything and learn other people’s music all the time, but I have to make sure to spend my time wisely and so I either try to be the writer/creative contributor or band/session leader. It just comes down to time management!
Finally, I don’t have accessibility to all the great computer-based plugins and DAWS that my sighted counter parts do, so I am constantly working to educate music manufactures and others about the need for accessibility.
What is your favorite song you have ever recorded or written?
Oh, I don’t know LOL.
It changes depending on the day you ask me. However, I will say that I do really like my song “Bad Dreams” from my 1999 album Ironies, Pain and the Light That Guides.
My favorite line is “ My confidence changed its legal name, says it’s moving to where it doesn’t rain on its parade day and night while feebly trying to find an alibi for emotions fading like youth and people saying hey man what’s wrong with you, I just smile and lie!”
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