The best of modern Americana music finds its roots in the traditions of the past as it moves us into the present. Today’s most authentic artists blend those traditions through craft and innovation into our modern sensibilities. Rick Shea is a truly unsung hero of Americana music whose career bridges tradition and current trends. Shea has grown and lived through the bloodlines of California country music. Over his 30-year recording career, he has created a lifetime of immersion in the soul of American song across genres. This approach defines Shea’s new album, Smoke Tree Road. This album is among the best of his well-crafted albums over three decades. He calls up the best of the legends who have paved the way with echoes of Merle Haggard’s Tulare Dust.
Smoke Tree Road draws as much from the stories of his life as it does from his influences, with musical journeys through honky-tonks, old desert terrain, and south-of-the-border cantinas. Shea’s musical troupe enhances the song tapestry with royal country skill. The musicians include Tony Gilkyson, legendary bass man Chad Watson, and drummer Shawn Nourse, among others.
