Uncle Kracker

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Matthew Shafer (born 9 November 1974, Mount Clemens, Michigan) better known by his stage name Uncle Kracker, is an American rock, country, and rap-rock musician otherwise known as 'Crock'.

He first came to prominence as an associate of Kid Rock, then launched a solo career, scoring several hit singles.

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He has a wife Melanie Shafer and two daughters.

He met Kid Rock in 1987, and Rock asked Kracker to become his DJ. Kracker did not know how to work the turntables, but he soon learned how, and he became a long-term friend and colleague of Rock.

During the mid 1990s, Kracker supported his music career by deejaying at a Detroit ghetto strip club called The Pretty Woman. He was featured on Kid Rock's Bootleg Series and on the demo for Krack Rocks. His own demo was called Tin Can People. The final version of Krack Rocks appears on Kid Rock's Early Mornin Stoned Pimp.

Double Wide, Kracker's debut album, was recorded in the back of a tour bus during Kid Rock's various tours in 1999 and 2000. It includes Kracker's first hit single, "Follow Me". It also features a minor hit, "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah". As of now, Double Wide has been certified double-platinum by the RIAA.

Brian Schram was Uncle Kracker's guitarist. He is now in his own band called The Brian Schram band.

Kracker subsequently provided vocals on Rock's 2001 album, Cocky, on the track 'Trucker Anthem'. He left TBT after Kid Rock's 2002 Cocky Tour to concentrate on his solo career and to spend more time with his wife and kids.

2002 saw the release of Shafer's No Stranger to Shame. It blended rock with blues, rap, country, soul and swing. It contained the hit single "In a Little While", whose music video contained musician/TV host/supermodel Willa Ford, who acted as Kracker's girlfriend. In reality, Ford is a very close friend of Kracker's. The album also contained the hit singles "Drift Away" (a cover version of the Dobie Gray original), and "Memphis Soul Song".

In 2004, Shafer scored a #1 country hit with "When the Sun Goes Down" (a duet with singer Kenny Chesney off his album When the Sun Goes Down). He also released his third album, Seventy Two and Sunny later that year. The rap element was totally abandoned, leaving a straight forward country-blues offering. It contains the hit single "Rescue". Kid Rock & Uncle Kracker were planning an old school rap project called Dick Willy in 2004 but it hasn't seen the light of day.

On 16 November 2006, there was an update posted on Uncle Kracker's website saying that his fourth studio album would be titled "Happy Hour," and was expected to be released sometime after Christmas. However, there has not yet been any new website updates. However on 5 June 2007, there was an updated post on Uncle Kracker's MySpace saying that the album would soon be coming to a store near you, however this recent charge against him could push the album release date back.

In 2007, Kracker continues to play shows with a possible tour slated for later summer. Also, new touring drummer Steve Stetson has reportedly been hired. Recent news suggest that Uncle Kracker continues to guest star with Kenny Chesney on his 'Flip Flop' summer tour.

On 17 August 2007, Uncle Kracker was arrested in Cary, North Carolina and charged with a second-degree forcible sex offense.[1][2] According to the arresting officer, Uncle Kracker made a comment about leaving North Carolina to avoid charges. His bail was initially set at $5,000,000 because he was deemed a flight risk, but later reduced to $75,000. According to The Post-Chronicle, "Kracker allegedly put his hand up a woman's skirt after his show at the bar. The woman slapped him and Kracker slapped her back. An off-duty police officer was told about the incident and took the woman's statement before arresting Kracker." [3] In a North Carolina court, Uncle Kracker agreed to a plea, by pleading guilty to a misdemeanor. He was given 1 year probation and a $1500 fine.


  1. ^ Raleigh Police Arrest Uncle Kracker at Cary Hotel.
  2. ^ http://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_14/GS_14-27.5.html
  3. ^ Kid Rock's Former DJ, Uncle Kracker, Denies Guilt In Sex-Based Arrest.

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