KWS (June 12, 1977-) is an American blues musician. Shepherd was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. Self-taught, he began playing guitar at age 7, figuring out Muddy Waters licks from his father's record collection.
(Information below copied from http://www.wholeearthfestival.net/wefkennywayneshepherd.htm) Thanks to his father's career in radio, Kenny Wayne Shepherd was exposed to a wide variety of music while growing up. But the flashpoint came when Kenny was taken to see a Stevie Ray Vaughan concert. At age of 13, he was invited onstage by the New Orleans bluesman Bryan Lee and Texan bluesman Stevie Ray Vaughan. Witnessing the Texan's performance from atop an on stage amp case, the boy experienced a powerful and profound transformation, and in short order he decided on music as a career.
Using his own contacts in the record business, Shepherd's father and manager, Ken Shepherd (a Shreveport celebrity and DJ) helped his son land a major-label record deal with Giant Records. Rumor is Ken Shepherd also introduced Valerie Bertinelli to Eddie Van Halen. In 1995, his debut album was entitled Ledbetter Heights and featured original material and a few covers.
According to http://www.wholeearthfestival.net/wefkennywayneshepherd.htm "His music reflects a striking maturity and unequaled rock instincts. Combine these artistic abilities with a young man who is a product of the same cultural realities that others his age face, and you have the voice of blues rock for a new generation. Having enjoyed two straight #1 Blues albums, a string of #1 mainstream rock singles, two 1998 Billboard Music Awards for Rock Track of the Year ("Blue on Black") and Blues Album of the Year (for "Trouble Is..."), and a 1999 Grammy nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance ("Trouble Is..."). Kenny's powers as a guitarist, songwriter, arranger, and performer have only strengthened over time, making him without question the dominant guitar voice in rock for years to come."
Years later, Kenny surpassed all expectations with his second Giant album "Trouble Is...." Featuring lead singer Noah Hunt and produced by Jerry Harrison (LIVE), "Trouble Is..." accomplishes exactly what Kenny set out to introduce blues rock to a new generation. After the release of Trouble Is.... in October of 1997, Kenny and the band earned a 1999 Grammy nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance and picked up a BMI award as well. The album topped Billboard's Blues charts for two years straight, while three singles -- "Slow Ride", "Blue On Black", and "Somehow, Somewhere, Someway" -- were all #1 radio singles. In fact, "Blue on Black" was one of the most-played singles of the year, and voted rock song of 1998 in such prestigious trade publications as Billboard, R&R, and Album Network.
Over the past few years, the band has toured with the Rolling Stones, the Eagles, Van Halen, Aerosmith, and Bob Dylan, reaching even wider audiences worldwide. They played over 200 shows in 1998, including debut tours of Australia and Japan and a return visit to Europe where Kenny headlined an evening at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival (he also joined B.B. King, Herbie Hancock, Charlie Musselwhite, and Keb' Mo' on stage there for an unforgettable multi-generational blues jam). Kenny also starred in a Gap commercial, while Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair (magazine) were among the many national magazines to run extensive spreads. Critics were effusive in their praise, with Vanity Fair (magazine) lauding his guitar playing as "both ferocious and restrained", and the Godfather of Soul, James Brown himself, calling Kenny "one of the wonders of the world."
BB King is also a big fan of Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
Kenny has also played with Dr. John, Double Trouble (Stevie Ray Vaughn's band), Doyle Bramhall II of the Fabulous Thunderbirds and Arc Angels, who is touring with Eric Clapton in 2006; and Arion Salazar, bassist of Third Eye Blind.
Taken from www.tendaysout.net: On January 16, 2007, KWS is releasing a documentary movie titled "Ten Days Out- Blues from the Backroads." It shows him playing with blues legends such as Jerry "Boogie" McCain; Neal Pattman; Cootie Stark; Buddy Flett; B.B King; Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown; Bryan Lee; John Dee Holeman; Etta Baker; Henry Townsend and Honeyboy Edwards; The Howlin' Wolf Band with Hubert Sumlin, Henry Gray, Calvin Jones, and Wild Child Butler; The Muddy Waters Band with Pinetop Perkins, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, and Bob Margolin through out the south. Shepherd set out with a home court advantage, by hiring the team who had helped make Live On such an outstanding effort: Producer Jerry Harrison, himself a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, (his production credits include the Violent Femmes, Live, Big Head Todd & The Monsters; he was a member of the Talking Heads and the Modern Lovers), bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton, the rhythm section known as Double Trouble that came to fame behind Stevie Ray Vaughan. Partial proceeds of this project are being donated to Music Maker Relief Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to helping impoverished blues artists.
Come On Over
The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come on over baby
Voice on the radio, thunder clap drownin' out
Come on over baby
What has you feeling so trapped alone with your doubts
She says
You ain't broken, you're just bent like me
I'll show you something that will set you free, set you free
She says
Howl at the wind, cry on the shoulder of the road
Or you can come on over, come on over baby
If you were a bridge yeah you'd be going up in flames
Come on over baby
It's like you're trying to outrun yesterday
Come on over baby
Tell me what's holding you back, what rattles your chains
She says
You ain't broken, you're just bent like me
She says
I'll show you something that will set you free, set you free
She says
Howl at the wind, cry on the shoulder of the road
Or you can come on over, come on over baby
She says
You ain't broken, you're just bent like me
She says
I'll show you something that will set you free, set you free
She says
Howl at the wind, cry on the shoulder of the road
Or you can come on over, come on over baby
The opening lines of The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band's song Come On Over introduce a scene of stormy weather, where the sky is dark and heavy rainfall makes the two-lane road treacherous. The lyrics then encourage someone, whom we assume is feeling trapped and alone with their doubts, to overcome whatever is holding them back and come over. The voice on the radio is drowned out by a clap of thunder, but the chorus voices the reassuring words of someone who understands the feeling of being bent but not broken.
The woman encourages the person to howl at the wind, cry on the shoulder of the road, and pour out their heartache. What makes the lyricist's interpretation so vibrant is the idea that someone is willing to provide a safe space to let all of the emotions flow out. "Howl at the wind" is an invitation to give voice to the deep, primal emotions that are often held in check in everyday life. "Cry on the shoulder of the road" is a figurative idea that suggests vulnerability and openness, which are often difficult to express in our modern society. It's a song that reassures listeners that, no matter how they feel, they're not alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Two lane is slick, black, heavy as the storm streaks down
The road is slippery and the sky is dark and ominous.
Come on over baby
I want you to come to me for help and support.
Voice on the radio, thunder clap drownin' out
The sound of the storm is so loud it's drowning out the voice on the radio.
What has you feeling so trapped alone with your doubts
Why do you feel so stuck and unsure about yourself?
She says
The woman is reassuring the listener that they are not alone.
You ain't broken, you're just bent like me
You're not completely shattered, just a bit bruised and bent, like I am.
I'll show you something that will set you free, set you free
I have something that will help you feel liberated and free.
Howl at the wind, cry on the shoulder of the road
Let out your emotions, let yourself feel the pain and suffering.
Or you can come on over, come on over baby
You have the choice to come to me for comfort and support.
If you were a bridge yeah you'd be going up in flames
You're feeling a lot of intense emotions right now, like a bridge that's on fire.
It's like you're trying to outrun yesterday
You're trying to forget the past and move on, but it's not working.
Tell me what's holding you back, what rattles your chains
Share with me what's preventing you from moving forward and what's causing you pain.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Mark O Selby, Tia Sellers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Wintersteel747
I love the tone Kenny is getting guitar wise on this tune. Rock It Kenny!!!
Madaleine
Love, love, love this song! It's great to see he's only gotten better with age.
Shari Britt
Love this song and all of the musical influences that I hear within it.
fede camusso ARG 🇦🇷
Amazing track. 🤘🤘🔥
Chopin Nocturne
Favorite Kenney Wayne Shepherd song it's amazing
Von Reich
He is about the coolest blues guitar player out there
Evelyn Milton
That's some sexy blues. Thanks
Buddy Sherart1
I saw K.W.S. & Jonny Lang together at a club in San Diego-1 of the Best Live Shows I've Ever Seen-& I've seen A lot!!!😎
honusbalonus
I saw KWS 13 times and Jonny 12 times so far
bb truth
Kenny got even better with age. Jonny not so much.