Joey Stuckey

The Universe of Joey Stuckey: Where Sound Meets Soul

Joey Stuckey is an award-winning artist, producer, and speaker whose multifaceted career transcends the boundaries of sight, sound, and genre. Blind since early childhood, Joey has shared the stage with icons like James Brown, the B-52s, and Bad Company, runs Shadow Sound Studio in his hometown of Macon, Georgia, and presents his story to international audiences. Behind all of his work lies a commitment to human connection and a profound love for sound. The official Music Ambassador of Macon, Joey embodies the philosophy that sound can uplift us all.

“My early life was dedicated to survival,” Joey says. A brain tumor left him blind and battling medical complications throughout childhood, but Joey discovered connection and inspiration by immersing himself in old radio dramas.

Training his ear on these immersive stories honed his ability to break down sound into its core components, and what started as a survival skill evolved into a sophisticated and almost supernatural talent. When legendary producer Alan Parsons called Joey “The best ears in the music business,” it was confirmation of what Joey’s fans and clients knew all along: Joey’s superpower is sound.

Joey’s musical journey began not under stage lights, but under the stars. As a teenager, Joey worked his first audio engineering gig at a planetarium, designing soundscapes to accompany light shows and connecting with local musicians. As music expanded Joey’s orbit, he found himself recording local bands in his home before realizing he wanted to make his own music.

Growing up in Macon, he absorbed the spirit of Otis Redding and Little Richard alongside Southern rock icons like the Allman Brothers, but his encyclopedic knowledge of music transcends genre and era. This expansive taste has found its groove in his music, which he dubs “Progressive Americana,” a blues-infused style informed by jazz, roots, and Southern rock. With a voice that moves seamlessly from a gravelly rasp to a honey-smooth croon, Joey’s music appeals to fans of Van Morrison and the Marshall Tucker Band, but his virtuoso blues guitar riffs and lyrical finesse launch his music into new territory.

With numerous studio albums to his name and accolades including Jazz Artist of the Year from the Georgia Music Awards, Joey’s musical prowess goes hand in hand with his gift for storytelling. “One thing that drives my art is the exploration of the human condition. We sometimes fall into this weird trap of thinking that no one could ever understand us,” Joey says. His music invites you in, creating a space for commiseration, for joy, and for hope against all odds. And globally-recognized artists have taken notice. The Joey Stuckey Band has opened for legendary artists, including James Brown, the B-52s, Bad Company, Clarence Carter, and Trisha Yearwood, bringing the same soulful and high-energy artistry when playing intimate clubs as they do when sharing the stage with musical icons.

Joey’s commitment to human connection drives not just his performances but also his work as a producer. At Shadow Sound Studio, he approaches each project with his finely-tuned ear, technical mastery, and an instinct for hearing what’s missing. “You have to listen to what the song wants to be,” Joey explains. His ability to unearth hidden potential in a track—whether by blending vintage analog gear with cutting-edge tech or introducing unexpected influences—has earned him a reputation for elevating songs from good to great. Collaborating with emerging and established artists across genres, Joey honors each artist’s vision while encouraging them to explore uncharted creative territory. At Shadow Sound, Joey has engineered recording sessions with musicians such as Randall Bramblett (Steve Winwood, Traffic Gregg Allman and Friends), Chuck Leavell (Rolling Stones, George Harrison, Train), and Mike Mills (R.E.M.).

When not on stage or in the studio, Joey brings his passion for music into the world, uplifting artists along the way. A voting member for the Grammy’s and the official Music Ambassador for Macon, Georgia, Joey amplifies other artists while also training future professionals through teaching positions and his own Master Class series. He also is a sought-after collaborator, having written songs with Ed Roland (Collective Soul), Paul "Mad Dog" McGuinness (The Popes), and Will Morrison (Modern English).

As a speaker, Joey channels his spirit of generosity and hard-won wisdom. Drawing from his experiences as a blind musician and sound engineer, he offers both technical advice and motivational talks on overcoming obstacles, living with purpose, and the importance of inclusion. His speaking engagements have spanned international conferences, university lectures, and global corporate events, blending his insights with performance to engage and inspire audiences.

Joey’s life and career are a testament to music’s power to unite people across boundaries, whether those barriers are physical, cultural, or emotional. On stage, in the studio, or at the podium, he shows that sound is a universal language. For Joey, music isn’t just a craft but a way to build community, offering listeners a sense of belonging and reminding them that even in the dark, connection is always possible.