Life & Work with Kentucky Music Mafia

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kentucky Music Mafia. Them and their team share their story with us below:

Shannon J Collins started Kentucky Music Mafia in early 2017 and slowly added a few singers to the group. Still, only one stuck around, and that was Toby Ray. We performed and toured for a few years, just us two. Then in May of 2021, we added a DJ by the name of DJ Havoc, then a few months later, we said Roy Caudill to the group and then a drummer Chad Mcknz in March of 2022, and now we are touring all over the Midwest and south now.

Shannon J.:
He grew up in Louisville, Ky., Raised by his eastern Kentucky-born grandparents. They raised him on George Jones, Hank Williams JR., Stanley Brothers, Keith Whitley, and a lot more greats. He prides himself on being a proud American and preaching family values. He was introduced to rap music at a young age, and once he started making music, he blended both styles between country and rap and hasn’t looked back since then.

Toby Ray:
Toby Ray is a native of Louisville, KY. He loves to tour the country, perform, meet new people, see new places, and experience new things. He is a good-hearted, down-home, southern-bred country boy. His roots run deep In the Appalachian Mountains, throughout the hills of eastern Kentucky.

Roy Caudill:
Roy Caudill was born and raised in Eastern Kentucky in a little town called Hazard. He has always had a love for country music. He was raised by his grandparents, who taught him to work hard and treat others the way he would want to be treated. His Grandma had a huge musical influence on him by encouraging him to sing gospel music in church.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been fairly smooth?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road at all. We have had to work and bust our tails to get where we are—traveling a lot now. We are in Nashville a few times a week between shows, mingling with other artists and producers and recording.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We blend all types of music from Bluegrass, country, rock, r&b, and a little bit of hip hop. We call our sound Outlaw Mountain Music. We are known for our music and the love of moonshine, lol. We pride ourselves on being from Kentucky. I think what sets us apart from others is what we bring to the table. You have Me(Shannon J), who drinks a rap/harmony and high lonesome sound. Where Toby Ray brings the rough and raw sound and Roy Caudill brings a mountain sound. We all have different styles, but we put it all together.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role you feel it’s played for you?
The bad luck has been listening to other folks about what kind of music they think we should make instead of making the kind of music we love to make.

Contact Info:

• Website: Kentuckymusicmafia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kentuckymusicmafia/
• Facebook: Facebook.com/kentuckymusicmafia502
• Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/kentucky_mafia
• Youtube: YouTube.com/kentuckymusicmafia