Top 10 Kenny Wayne Shepherd Songs

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Our top 10 Kenny Wayne Shepherd songs list looks at the songs of an iconic blues artist born on June 12, 1977, in Shreveport, Louisiana. Growing up in Louisiana, a state rich in musical heritage, Shepherd was exposed to the world of music at a very young age. Shepherd’s childhood was marked by significant encounters with blues artists, most notably meeting Stevie Ray Vaughan, a major influence on his career at seven. When I interviewed Kenny Wayne Shepherd, this was a meeting that he brought up early in our conversation about artists that inspired him.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd released his first album, “Ledbetter Heights,” at 18 in 1995. This debut was a critical and commercial success, heralding the arrival of a new, vibrant force in the blues scene. The album turned many heads, including mine, especially after we had lost Stevie Ray Vaughan five years earlier in that plane crash.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd has released a substantial body of work throughout his career, including eleven full-length studio albums. His latest studio record was just released a few months ago in November of 2023 entitled Dirt on My Diamonds Vol. 1

Shepherd’s musical style is heavily inspired by blues legends like Muddy Waters, B.B. King, and especially Stevie Ray Vaughan. He talked with me often about how B.B. King was a mentor to him. His ability to blend these traditional influences with a modern rock approach has made him an inspiration to a new generation of musicians who seek to bridge the gap between classic and contemporary sounds.

Shepherd’s contributions to music have been recognized. He’s garnered several awards, including two Billboard Music Awards, two Blues Music Awards, and five Grammy nominations. His impact on the blues and rock genres is undeniable, as he has helped to keep the blues alive and relevant for modern audiences. In fact, when I asked him if his purpose was to keep the blues alive, he said he wanted to make sure that younger people were still being introduced to blues music.

# 10 – Bad Intentions

We open up our list with this funky cutting edge tune by Kenny Wayne Shephard entitled “Sweet And Low.” The song was released on Kenny Wayne Shephard’s most recent album titled Dirt on My Diamonds Vol. 1. The album was released in November of 2023. This is a really interesting track. Kenny delivers some big-time horns on this one. The man is putting a modern touch on the blues while keeping it authentic with his iconic playing style. He launches a spit fire solo in the middle, that will have you tapping on that rewind button. It’s a short album, but it’s filled with cranking tracks that showcase a man demonstrating what the blues are all about in 2024.

# 9 – Deja Voodoo

Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s “Deja Voodoo.” was featured on his debut album Ledbetter Heights released in 1995. It’s very easy to hear Stevie Ray Vaughan’s influence on this early track, especially in the solo. Nonetheless, it was also pretty apparent that this was a kid who was going to do big things. On lead vocals was Corey Sterling.

# 8 – You Can’t Love Me

At number eight, we bounce back from his debut album to his latest gem once again. Released on his most recent record, Dirt on My Diamonds Vol. 1. the song “You Can’t Love Me,” finds Kenny Wayne Shepherd taking lead vocals on this very cool track. This is a mid-tempo ballad fueled by a great radio-friendly groove. The guitar solos are as tasty as it gets. Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s song “You Can’t Love Me” has radio hit written all over it.

#7 – Woman Like You

When I first heard the song “Woman Like You,” I was completely blown away. Kenny Wayne Shepherd was taking his blues infused roosts and blending them up in a mix of powerhouse rock and roll trumped by a killer tune that just knocked you out. Standing out in front were the scorching hot vocals of Noah Hunt. The song was released on the album The Traveler. The album was released in 2019. Do not miss this one.

#6 – Lay It On Down

Kenny Wayne Shepherd can rock with the best of them. However, when it comes time to lay down a slow country-themed ballad, the man knows how to spin it so perfectly; as much of an influence Steview Ray Vaughan had on him, you can also hear the influences of bands like Lynyrd Skynrd and The Allman Brothers Band, especially on this one. The contemporary sounds of 21st-century country music also play a part in this stunning medium tempo ballad.

#5 – Believe

The song “Believe” captures a time when Kenny Wayne Shepherd was testing the waters a bit. That really shouldn’t be a surprise because Kenny Wayne Shepherd has always been pretty much an artist who has tried to take the genre of blues in different directions. On this very emotional track, it’s easy to hear the influence of 90s grunge bands. As crazy as that may seem. It’s there, and it doesn’t seem to be too hidden. It makes complete sense because the 90s was when Kenny grew up. He was surrounded by the sounds of Soundgarden Pearl Jam and Nirvana. How could that not have an effect? Some may say I’m crazy expressing that I hear that stuff in this song, but I believe it’s there. What do you think?

#4 – Prison Blues (with Cootie Stark & Neal “Big Daddy” Pattman)

When I interviewed Kenny Wayne Shepherd, a major part of the interview had us discussing his phenomenal 2007 documentary 10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads. This fabulous documentary that Kenny Wayne Shepherd had put together focused on 20th-century Blues artists, many of them in their last years of life. It’s about Kenny Wayne Shepherd exploring the history of the Blues with some of the most authentic and influential blues artists of the genre. If you haven’t seen the documentary and you love rock and roll music, blues music, or just history, then I highly recommend you catch this. It was a pleasure to speak with the man behind it.

#3 – In 2 Deep

Now this is heavy stuff. Kenny Wayne Shepherd knocks your block off with this smoking tune called “In 2 Deep.” The song was released on the album Live On. The album was released in 1999. It was Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s third studio album. While Kenny Wayne Shepherd was known for recording many cover songs, as all blues artists do, this one was an original. The song was composed by Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Mark Selby, and Danny Tate.

#2 – Never Lookin’ Back

This one sounds so 1970s, and that is probably why I love it so much. One can hear a little bit of Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Bad Company, and ZZ Top in this one. The song was released on the album How I. The album was released in 2011. Once again, Noah Hunt delivers a sparkling vocal while Kenny brings it all home.

#1 – Blue On Black

Every once in a while, an artist will compose and record a song that becomes legendary. Not everyone can do it. Some try for years but never come up with that one tune that almost becomes bigger than the artist. Blue On Black is Kenny Wayne Sheppard’s “Freebird,” “Sweet Ho,e Alabama,” and “Heart Of Gold,” if you know what I mean. It’s just a stunning recording that gets better every time you listen to it. The song was penned by Kenny, Tia Sillers, and Mark Selby and released on the album Trouble Is… (1997). Finger Death Punch did a really nice cover of this song in which Kenny Wayne Sheppard also played on. Also playing on that cover were Brain May and Brantley Gilbert.