GRAMMY winner, former member of Rick Skaggs’ Kentucky Thunder, bluegrass chart topping solo artist. Each accolade, including current leader of The Clay Hess Band, can be found on the résumé of the phenomenal Clay Hess. Now, four years since their debut album, CHB is set to release their sophomore album Just Another Story, inspired by Hess’ years with Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee Skaggs’ band, available everywhere today.
We spoke with Hess about his band, his dear friend Ricky Skaggs and the new album.
CN: You have an amazing history as a musician in the world of bluegrass as well as being a triple threat vocally, instrumentally and production-wise (producer and engineer). Let’s start at the beginning – how did you become the musician you are today and what led you to be involved in production end of the industry?
CH: I was blessed to grow up in a family of extremely talented musicians and singers. They also had friends that were extremely talented musicians and singers. The basics came drone just being around that environment and listening to people talk about what was important to know when playing and singing. Timing, being tasteful, how to phrase etc. this was invaluable to me as an aspiring musician.
About 15 years ago I decided I wanted to do a solo project and after doing some research I found that it can be very expensive. Since the age of record companies paying for your studio time is mostly over I decided to take the money I’d spend on recording a CD and invest it in my own studio gear to record my own. That led to doing recording projects for other people and producing them.
CN: You currently lead the incredibly talented Clay Hess Band featuring Dustin Frame (mandolin), Brennan Hess (guitar, vocals), Brady Wallen (banjo, vocals) and Irl Hee: (bass, vocals). How did everyone come together to form such a supergroup?
CH: When I decided to start my own group, Irl Hees had just left the Cleverlys and I’ve known Irl for a long time and always loved his playing, so he was my first call. Having a great bass player is essential to having a great band. Brennan Hess was easy because he’s my son and he learned to play from me, so he was a perfect fit instrumentally plus he’s a great singer. Through trial and error we found Dustin Frame and Brady Wallen, the 2 newest members. They are like family musically and personally! Great players and people.
CN: Brennan, your son, is a lot like you: vocally talented in addition to playing guitar, bass and knowing the world of studio work as well. Obviously growing up in a musical family makes it practically instinctual, but when did he start to show an interest in music? And when did you notice he had the gift?
CH: He definitely had an opportunity to be around great musicians. That helps but you have to put the work in. When Brennan was 16 he learned to play the guitar from my instructional DVD and within 6 months was playing rhythm guitar at a pro level. That’s when I knew he had it.
CN: Earlier this year, the Clay Hess Band released your version of Kitty Wells’ “Cold and Lonely (Is the Forecast for Tonight)” as a single. While Wells recorded the song with such heart-wrenching emotion, CHB brings an upbeat bluegrass twist to the track. How did you go about rearranging the piece?
CH: This one just fell into place in my head as I was listening to it. Usually it takes a while to arrange a song but I wanted to do something different with it. I heard it with 2 lead vocals and a modulation to a different key in my head as the song was playing. The twist being most songs that modulate don’t come back to the original key but this one does.
CN: In addition to “Cold and Lonely,” Jimmie Rodgers’ “Blue Yodel #2,” Waylon Jennings’ “Anita, You’re Dreaming,” which was recently released as a single, and Stan Rogers’ “The Field Behind the Plow” appear on CHB’s upcoming album Just Another Story, with each song recorded through the bluegrass vein. What was the process in selecting songs, and those not necessarily bluegrass, for this album?
CH: “Blue Yodel #2″ I’ve heard several Blue Yodels done in the bluegrass style but never this one. I wasn’t planning to do this song at all but my wife made me. Proving once again that I was smart to marry her. “Anita You’re Dreaming” I heard a lot as a kid and loved it, then I heard it done by the Lost and Found which we pay homage to in this cut. “The Field Behind the Plow” is a song Irl brought to the band. Very few songs create images in your head, like a movie but this one does to me. Irl does such a great job with this song because he grew up living this song, having grown up on a farm in Missouri.
CN: It’s been noted that most of the inspiration behind Just Another Story was taken from your career as a musician, which includes playing with Mountain Heart and Sierra Hull, but especially during the years when you were part of Ricky Skaggs’ Kentucky Thunder band. Could you possibly take us through those years with Ricky? Perhaps share some stories and what you drew from those experiences for this album?
CH: While I was with Ricky I learned a lot, not just about music itself but the arrangement of the music. How the instruments and vocals play off of each other and how it all works together. How to lead a band, how to take what someone already does musically and make it work with what you want to do. How someone can phrase a line one way and it doesn’t sound just right but change the emphasis to another word, over the same music and it works great. Just because something is in time and in tune doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best it can be.
People say “Picky Ricky” like he makes you play a certain way when you’re in the band but I didn’t experience that at all. He always wanted me to play like me, just faster. Lol!
CN: Ricky is set to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in the “Modern Era Artist” category this fall. What are your thoughts on this milestone in his career?
CH: It should’ve happened 10 years ago! He is probably, all around, the most talented person that has ever been in country or bluegrass music. He is an incredible singer, player, producer, and a great guy. What other criteria would you need?!
CN: What is your favorite on-stage memory with Ricky? Off-stage?
Playing a Billy Graham Crusade in Indianapolis Indiana and watching thousands of people come to know Christ at one time.
Off stage memory: Being in the studio any time with Ricky is a true learning experience if you pay attention. Sitting in the room watching and listening to how someone with his ear perceives music and shapes it was truly a blessing.
CN: For those who want to know where to catch a show, will there be Clay Hess Band tour to promote Just Another Story?
CH: Yes!! We are playing music festivals, music halls, and theaters everywhere we can. You can keep up with us at clayhess.com/tour.
Click here to purchase/stream Just Another Story.
For more information on The Clay Hess Band visit https://clayhess.com.