Grayson Capps

Grayson Capps
BornOpelika, Alabama, United States
GenresAmericana, blues rock[1]
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Years activeEarly 1990s–present
LabelsHyena, Ruf, Royal Potato Family, Appaloosa

Grayson Capps (born in Opelika, Alabama, United States) is an American Americana and blues rock[1] singer-songwriter.

Early life

Capps was born in Opelika, Alabama, to parents who were students at Auburn University. He was raised in Brewton, Alabama, as a child, but moved to Fairhope Alabama for high school.[2] He became interested in theater when in Fairhope, Alabama, and received a degree in theater from Tulane University. He stayed in New Orleans until Hurricane Katrina.[2][3]

Musical career

In the early 1990s, while a student at Tulane, Capps started a band called The House Levelers;[4] the band's music has been described as "thrash-folk".[3] Also while at Tulane, Capps started a blues-rock band called Stavin' Chain.[3][4] This band released one eponymous album before disbanding.[2] In 2004, several of Capps' songs appeared on the soundtrack of the film A Love Song for Bobby Long, which was based on a novel written by Capps' father.[3] In 2011, Capps and his band the Lost Cause Minstrels released an album, also called Lost Cause Minstrels, on Royal Potato Family Records.[2]

Capps released his first solo album, If You Knew My Mind, in 2005 on Hyena Records.[2] His second solo album, Wail & Ride, was released in 2006 on the same label,[2] followed by Rott & Roll in 2008. Rott & Roll was recorded with a band known as the Stumpknockers.[5]

Scarlett Roses was released in December 2017. AllMusic noted that "Scarlett Roses is the roots rock record we've been waiting for from Capps."[6]

Capps released South Front Street a career retrospective in 2020. Upon its release AmericanaUK called Capps, "The thinking-man’s songwriter, the troubadours troubadour."[7]

Personal life

Capps is married to Trina Shoemaker, a recording engineer from Fairhope.[8] They have a son together; Capps also has a daughter from a previous relationship.[3] As of 2013, Capps and his family lived in Mobile, Alabama.[8]

Discography

  • If You Knew My Mind (Hyena, 2005)
  • Wail & Ride (Hyena, 2006)
  • Stavin' Chain (Ruf Records, 2007)
  • Songbones (Hyena, 2007)
  • Rott & Roll (Hyena, 2008)
  • The Lost Cause Minstrels (Royal Potato Family, 2011)
  • Willie Sugarcapps

(Royal Potato Family, 2013)

  • Paradise Right Here Willie Sugarcapps (Royal Potato Family, 2015)
  • Love Songs, Mermaids and Grappa (Appaloosa, 2015)
  • Scarlett Roses (Royal Potato Family, 2017)
  • South Front Street (Royal Potato Family, 2019)[9]

References

  1. ^ a b "Grayson Capps – Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Leggett, Steve. "Grayson Capps Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e Spera, Keith (June 17, 2011). "Fatherhood refocused Grayson Capps on his music". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Grayson Capps On Mountain Stage". NPR. February 10, 2010. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  5. ^ Gilstrap, Andrew (September 22, 2008). "Grayson Capps & the Stumpknockers: Rott 'N' Roll". PopMatters. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  6. ^ "Scarlett Roses – Grayson Capps – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  7. ^ Newby, Tim. "Americana Roots: Grayson Capps". AmericanaUK. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Specker, Lawrence (December 7, 2013). "Fairhope-based engineer Trina Shoemaker among new field of Grammy nominees". AL.com. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  9. ^ "Grayson Capps – Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved January 16, 2018.