Big & Rich et Tracy Lawrence

Born in Atlanta, TX, U.S. and raised in Foreman, Arkansas, U.S. Lawrence grew up on a solid diet of traditional country and Southern rock. The singer identified his talents and began performing around the local area’s honky tonk circuit before he’d reached 18. After attending college, the singer packed his things and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. in the hope of finding success. After winning a number of talent shows, which led to a live radio performance Lawrence was noticed by Atlantic Records and signed with them in 1991.

Prior to the release of his debut album, Lawrence was shot four times in a failed mugging in which he fought back allowing his girlfriend to escape in the chivalric act of the century. The move did Lawrence’s album “Sticks and Stones” wonders in the south and was released later in 1991 when the singer was able to promote it. The album’s title track hit No. 1 in the U.S. Country Chart and subsequent songs “Runnin’ Behind”, “Today’s Lonely Fool” and “Somebody Paints the Wall” all reached the Top 10.

Lawrence’s stardom was signed, sealed and delivered with his 1993 follow-up album “Alibis” which was a platinum seller and produced hits such as “Can’t Break It to My Heart” and “My Second Home”.

In 1994 he released the single “Renegades, Rebels and Rogues” which he contributed to the film “Maverick”, and his two subsequent albums “I See It Now” in 1994 and “Time Marches On” in 1996 both produced a number of hits, however marked Lawrence’s commercial and personal decline.

After charges related to hitting and threatening his wife, the singer divorced his partner and lay low before of the autobiographical “Lessons Learned” in 2000. Soon after Lawrence parted ways with Atlantic and made a deal with Warner Bros. Music through which he has released the albums “Strong” in 2004, “For the Love” in 2007 and the Christian cross-over “The Rock” in 2009.

Uncle Kracker was born in Mount Clemens, Michigan, in the early 70’s. After early attempts at rapping in his early years, his first taste of performing came after meeting a young Robert James Ritchie aka Kid Rock at a turntable competition his brother was playing at. After hitting it off with Kid Rock, he agreed to perform with his then band “Twisted Brown Trucker”.

As Kid Rock blew up, he kept Shafer on as his tour DJ and also used him as a back up vocalist for his 1996 album “Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp”. After continuing DJing for Ritchie over a number of years, Shafer decided to begin work on his own solo album.

In 2000, Shafer released his debut LP, “Double Wide” under the moniker Uncle Kracker. The albums rock and rap blending sound was a hit around the world, proven by its success in the charts, as Double Wide rose as high number 7 in the US, as well as charting in many European countries. This album remains Shafer’s most successful to date and has been certified double platinum.

Following the release of his first effort, Uncle Kracker went on an extensive tour around the US, before writing and recording his follow up album, “No Stranger To Shame”, which came out in 2002. Shafer’s sophomore effort was also a success commercially, especially after the release of it’s first single, “Drift Away” was an instant hit. The track is a cover of Dobie Gray’s 70’s hit song.

Moving forward, Uncle Kracker ditched his rap rock leanings and moved into the world of country music, releasing a further three albums in that genre, the latest being 2012’s “Midnight Special”.