Shannon Cain
In 1997, Shannon Cain went back to college and put aside all aspirations for a music career. He explains, “Music—songwriting and performing—had a pull that was just too strong; it wants to dominate… to eclipse everything else in my life. That’s what an artist needs to do and, for a long time, I didn’t think it was responsible of me to let it take over. I didn’t feel I had permission to be an artist.” In 1996, Shannon shelved his demo and let go the momentum created by a country-rock song he wrote in 1993 called “La-di-da”. When he’d played the song live on HOT 93.3 in Austin, the station started getting upwards of 50 calls per show and numerous requests throughout the day in several time slots. He was invited back every week the next two months, to play more of his songs and take calls from listeners; the train was rolling. Still, Shannon decided he should return to West Texas and finish college rather than pursuing music; it seemed the responsible thing to do. He earned his undergraduate and went on to complete his masters, as well as specialized legal training while his music stalled. “I went 2 ½ years without even changing the strings on my guitar. I forgot chord progressions for my songs… It was really sad; every once in a while I’d sit down to play but I couldn’t even finish the songs because I’d forgotten most of my lyrics. My music was rotting.” Then, while preparing for law school entrance, the prospect of studying entertainment law brought back the same old questions about whether his music was unfinished business that needed another shot. Dusting off his demo and handing it to a few friends and industry people, the response was overwhelming; "get your butt to Nashville!" Shannon and his wife decided that, once and for all, he needed to see what was possible when he let music take over. It was time for a move to Tennessee.
When he played his first writers’ round in Nashville three years ago, Shannon had been on stage a total of 5 minutes since 1997 and it took a few months to get his performance chops back. Though Shannon hoped to work toward professional songwriting by pitching his songs to publishers, people were taking notice of his voice and live performance even more than his songs. (A fellow Nashville songwriter and blues artist introduced him one night as the Texas Rocket and the name stuck.) With the realization that performing is his first love, Shannon is starting to play venues around the country, getting back a part of him too long forgotten. “I just wanted to be involved in music again. My wife and I agreed that if I could just make a modest living at music—as a songwriter, performer, promoter, or a manager—it would be enough. It was never about fame or money… otherwise I’d have gone to law school!” With a style firmly situated in Americana music—alt. country, blues, rockabilly, and rock—Shannon hopes to connect with audiences and carve out a niche for himself. And, if it all goes right, maybe the only bar he’ll ever have to pass is the one in the club where he’s playing.