Shannon Slaughter has built a solid reputation in bluegrass as a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and bandleader, largely as an independent artist, through his uncompromising insistence on excellence in his music.
Through the years, he served internships as a sideman, working for a time with Melanie Canon and with Larry Stephenson, but has elected since to focus on his own career under his name, primarily recording what he has composed.
Recently signed with Mountain Fever Records, Slaughter has a new single, Child of the Mountain, which he wrote with Tim Stafford.
A native of Florida, now living in Alabama, he notes the irony of his passion for the Appalachian region, something he developed while in graduate school in southwestern Virginia.
“I have a kinship with the mountains, though I didn’t grow up in Virginia or the Carolinas, and I believe that the mountains get inside your soul and really provide a direction to your life. I brought this idea to Tim Stafford, and he jumped on it, and being one of my favorite writers, he did what he does best.”
Shannon sings lead and plays guitar, supported by Ronald Inscore on mandolin, Trevor Watson on banjo, Michael Cleveland on fiddle, Gary Hultman on reso-guitar, and Cliff Bailey on bass. Trevor and Cliff provide the harmony vocals.
It’s a thoughtful song, as you would expect from these two, tastefully and impeccably performed.
Have a listen.
Child of the Mountain is available now from popular download and streaming services online, and to radio programmers via AirPlay Direct.
