Today we’d like to introduce you to Keenan Schuck.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Music has always been a big part of my life. My parents always have music on at home, and through them I was introduced to many of my earliest influences. My first musical hero was Garth Brooks when I was about 1,5 years old. We lived in Key Largo at the time. My next musical heroes were the Beatles when I was 4, we had just moved to the Netherlands. After that came Elvis and Queen and from there I gravitated towards rock music. When I was 7 my Uncle Koos let me hear Led Zeppelin and that absolutely destroyed me. Just from the opening chord on ‘Good Times Bad Times’ I knew that I wanted to play guitar.
It took a couple years before it came together, but I started taking guitar lessons when I was 10. I played in the school band for a little while, but really I was too shy and self-conscious to play in front if people and eventually I stopped playing when I went to college.
I started out in Electrical Engineering and walked on the college rowing team. I did this for 4 years, switching majors somewhere in the middle, and was fortunate enough to compete in international events, train with the Dutch national team and coach at summer camps in the US and New Zealand. At one point I was sidelined by a rib injury and wasn’t able to train for a couple weeks. Out of sheer boredom I picked up my guitar again, and realized my heart was still with music.
I switched majors once again, because I wanted to have a backup plan, and became a physiotherapist. While studying for that degree I started playing in bands and getting gigs. When I graduated 3 years ago, my Dad and I went on a short trip through Louisiana, Alabama and Tennessee to celebrate. We visited New Orleans, Memphis, Muscle Shoals and ended in Nashville. It was a fantastically packed week and it was very special to share that with him.
It was in Nashville that I heard and saw pedal steel live for the first time. I became aware of the instrument a few years prior, but I figured you had to be crazy to pursue that bizarre contraption. Turns out I was right. The moment I heard it there I knew it was something I had to do it. I was so compelled.
The first thing I did when we got back was look for a pedal steel guitar in the Netherlands. Through a biannual steel convention I came into contact with the Dutch steel community and I bought my first steel there (with a loan from my parents).
I started getting calls for gigs and sessions within weeks after starting, and luckily it never stopped. Ten months ago I decided to quit my job as a physiotherapist and in my last week I got a life changing phone call from Waylon to go on tour with him.
Now I’m still working with Waylon and doing a lot of session work with a variety of artists. It’s hard to believe sometimes how everything has turned out so far, and I’m looking forward to what’s to come!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I feel like my journey on steel guitar has been fairly smooth, but it hasn’t been without headaches. Learning to play pedal steel, or learning any skill for that matter, always comes with frustrations.
For me the hardest part was balancing work and music, between the two I was working 80-100 hours a week. But I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I loved working as a physiotherapist and having that job freed me up to take on all the gigs and sessions I had time for, paid or unpaid.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a professional pedal steel guitarist. I make my living by accompanying artists for live shows and playing on records. I’m proud to be an ambassador of this wonderful instrument and that I have already had so many amazing opportunities to introduce it to new audiences.
What I’m also incredibly proud of is that I have been asked to perform at the Irish Steel Guitar Festival this year. I’ve very grateful that I get to travel to beautiful places and get to meet and work with so many great people!
I think what has set me apart here in the Netherlands is that I’ve put my focus entirely on pedal steel and that I’ve been playing steel in a variety of styles and genres. Most of the work I get is country music, but I’ve played everything from pop, rock, blues, reggae, soul, bluegrass, funk and jazz.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
In high school I went down the Rubik’s cube rabbit hole. My personal best is 30 seconds!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keenanschuck?igsh=MWZrNjU2OXBkNWxzcg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/keenanschuck?igsh=MWZrNjU2OXBkNWxzcg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
