Today we’d like to introduce you to Dave Stuckey.
Hi Dave, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m from Kansas City, MO but have been knocking around Los Angeles for about 30 years. I played music back there and continued, singing and playing guitar and drums in the Americana vein that runs through Western Swing, Rockabilly and pre-bop Jazz with The Lucky Stars, Dave Stuckey & The 4 Hoot Owls, The Dave & Deke Combo and The Bonebrake Syncopators.
Along the way, I’ve been around the world, shared the stage with rockabilly legends & traditional/swing jazz hotshots while writing, recording & producing. In Memphis Feb 2020 – I won an Ameripolitan Award in the Western Swing (male) category. These days the main dish on the menu has been Dave Stuckey & The Hot House Gang, who channels the 1930’s small group jazz of Fats Waller, Eddie Condon and Jack Teagarden.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Especially since Los Angeles, it’s been a nice ride. While musicians on a sub Justin Timberlake level (ha ha) are generally on the bottom of the entertainment totem pole – live music is taken for granted by most club owners, but never by fans – with the music I play now (swing) there is a thriving dance community who is very, very supportive. Struggles? Sure. If I didn’t have this dance community, it would be hard to survive, as bars and clubs are often reluctant to book this kind of thing or, at best, to pay a decent wage. But in the end, I’ve gotten to play music with interesting, talented musicians in all kinds of interesting places. I wouldn’t trade it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in 1930’s dance music and am proud to be recognized among that community in LA for being good at it. This is a music scene that provides instant feedback (in the form of a full dance floor). In turn, the dancers provide energy that feeds the band as well. I think what sets me apart is that I’m also known for digging deep into that music for source material, not playing the ‘standards’ all the time. I do that because a) it keeps it interesting for me as as bandleader and b) it does set you apart from the other bands in the scene. Also, I write some of the material myself. Again, that’s a creative exercise – just to see if you can do it! And it’s unique amongst the scene as well.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Just that, especially in these trying times, I can’t emphasize enough how music can be your life-preserver. I try to tell my kids that music is a good thing to have – it never leaves you and is always there when you need it.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@hothousegang.com
- Website: www.stuckeyville.net
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dave.stuckey/
Image Credits
Bret Hartman Mike Kendall Jennifer Stockert Mike Mizgalski Bernand Serrano @ashotofhonkytonk
