Shy was born in Wyoming in the early eighties, on one of the biggest cattle ranches in the state. The first years of his life were spent with his family working the cattle, raising the land, and watching his father sing in the local country band "Whiskey Fever". "I think my dad and the Whiskey Fever Band were my biggest influence. They’re music was the first I ever remember hearing. I think it‘s just been engrained in me ever since." After Shy turned 6 his family packed up and moved to California. "That’s where I was introduced to Rock, Rap, Ska, and Reggae! I credit Ska and Reggae for making me fall in love with music. The first band I ever started was a Ska/Punk band… I don’t even remember the name of it, it was terrible" he laughs. By the age of 14 Shy and his family moved to Texas where Shy was introduced back into the lifestyle he was born to. "It was a little weird at first, but after awhile it just felt right." Shy struggled through his high school years with many bands. "It always seemed about the time we’d get a band started up somebody would quit, and we would have to start all over again." After high school Shy hit New York City, and met up with a few friends. "We started Reluctant 131, we were a pretty popular band. I mean it took a while but we really got a following." So much of a following in fact, the band played the WARPED TOUR. Not only one tour, but two. "We traveled with the tour all down the east coast, and into the Midwest." Reluctant 131 also did a couple stints with Reel Big Fish, Good Charlotte, Blink 182,and Sum 41. "At that time most of those guys were just like us, semi popular bands, I’m still good friends with a lot of them. But I just wasn’t happy with punk." So Shy decided to go back to Texas. And we’re glad he did, in fact he probably should have come back sooner. "I came back and started playing with my dad’s band, writing music, and performing locally. It finally felt like I was doing something right with my music." Shy’s dad and founding member of the Whiskey Fever Band finally retired from music in 2002. "When he quit, everyone thought about quitting. But I wasn’t going to let a band who has been around for 20 some odd years just disappear. So with a few changes of the guard here we are, still kickin’’ it." With a power house band and a heritage of great music Shy Blakeman is continuing what his father started. Shy delivers a blend of old school honky-tonk, Southern (and Texas) Rock, and dash of Blues. You’d think with his diverse background some of his other influence would leak into his style. But Shy disagrees with that assumption. "I’m very adamant about staying true to Country. You might see my punk , and Ska influences in my dress, and on stage, like the energy of my performance. But I would never degrade the music by adding punk, or thrash metal into my act. This music is very special to me, it’s who I am. A lot of people are trying to change it into pop, so it’ll go mainstream, and make them more money. It’s Country, it’s not supposed to be mainstream. A lot of people don’t believe that I’m a striving Country artist, because of the way I dress. But what they don’t realize is, Country music is in the heart and soul. That’s what makes you Country. Not what you wear. If you don’t have it in your heart, then you are not, and you will never be Country.