Blues-rock guitar legend Kenny Wayne Shepherd is celebrating the 30th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut album Ledbetter Heights. In this exclusive interview with The Music Room, Kenny reflects on the legacy of the album, the process of re-recording it with his longtime bandmate Noah Hunt, and the upcoming 2026 tour that will bring the full album to the stage for the first time. Read on as we dive into the past, present, and future of one of the most influential modern blues artists.
Q&A with Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Tony (The Music Room): Kenny, it’s Tony here in Cincinnati. How are you doing?
Kenny Wayne Shepherd: I’m doing pretty good, man. Thanks for reaching out.
Tony: Thanks for taking the time to talk with me. Let me start by saying: congratulations on 30 years of Ledbetter Heights. As a fan, I can’t believe it’s been that long. Do these kinds of milestones sneak up on you, or are you usually aware they’re coming?
Kenny: We were aware — we’ve been planning this big celebration. We went into the studio and recorded a brand-new version of the Ledbetter Heights album. That’ll be coming out in the first quarter of next year, and we’re launching a tour where we’ll play the entire album live for the first time. Even back in the ’90s, we never performed every song off that album in one show. It’s wild to think we’ve done this long enough to look back like this — it really puts everything into perspective.
Tony: How was it revisiting those songs in the studio? Some tracks like “Déjà Voodoo” have stayed in your setlists, but what about the deeper cuts?
Kenny: Re-recording the album helped a lot. We really dissected the tracks and relearned the parts we hadn’t played in decades. Fans will hear Noah Hunt singing most of the vocals this time, which is exciting — he didn’t join the band until our second album. So now fans can hear what Ledbetter Heights might’ve sounded like with him back then. It’s something they’ve asked me about for years.
Tony: That’s exciting. Noah is a hometown favorite here in Cincinnati. Can’t wait to hear his voice on these classics.
Kenny: Yeah, and while he’s been singing songs like “Déjà Voodoo” and “Born with a Broken Heart” live for years, this is the first time he’s recording some of the others. It’s a really cool “what if” moment for longtime fans.
Tony: I’ve always loved the feel on songs like “While We Cry.” When you went back to record those, did you try to recreate them note-for-note, or did they evolve?
Kenny: Some evolved. For example, “Born with a Broken Heart” used to fade out — now we use the full live ending we’ve developed over the years. But we didn’t want to reinvent the songs. Fans have known these tracks for 30 years, and we wanted to preserve what made them special. Some solos are different, sure, but the spirit is the same.
Tony: Has your emotional connection to these songs changed over the years?
Kenny: Not the meaning, but there’s definitely a deeper connection. These songs take me back to my teenage years and the beginning of my career. Playing them now just fills me with gratitude. This music introduced me to the world and built the foundation for the fanbase that still shows up today.
Tony: I remember buying The Sky Is Crying in the early ‘90s, which led me into Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, Buddy Guy… but Ledbetter Heights was the first “new” blues record I bought from someone my own age. Did you have any idea at the time the impact it would have?
Kenny: Not at all. I didn’t even know if anyone would care. But it connected. We broke down a lot of walls and made blues accessible to a new generation. From the beginning, I wanted to build on blues, not just repeat it. That mission continues — you can hear it in the Dirt on My Diamonds albums. We’re still evolving.
On the 2025 Ledbetter Heights Tour
Tony: Let’s talk about the upcoming tour. You’re playing the entire album live — will there be a second set as well?
Kenny: Yeah, we’ll follow the album set with a second set of fan favorites. We’re still working out the details. We want to mix it up from the last time we came through each city, so returning fans get a fresh experience. We did something similar for the Trouble Is… anniversary tour and fans loved it.
Tony: You’re playing Cincinnati at the Taft Theatre on April 23rd. That’s almost 30 years to the day since I first saw you at Bogart’s in ’96. Total full-circle moment.
Kenny: That’s awesome, man. We love the Taft. It’s a great venue. And with Noah being from the area, it always feels like a special homecoming show.
Looking Ahead
Tony: Anything else fans should know about what’s next?
Kenny: We’ve got a rock and roll cover album coming. It’s just something fun and different — another way to show we’re not just a blues band. I’ve also been writing new material with some of my collaborators. I like to have a couple of albums in the can, always ready to go. We’re going to keep creating and giving the fans new music for as long as we can.
Tony: Sounds like a huge year ahead. We can’t wait. Thanks again, Kenny — see you in April!
Kenny: Thanks, brother. I’ll see you at the show.
🎟️ Catch Kenny Wayne Shepherd Live
📍 Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre – April 23, 2025
Tickets available now via kennywayneshepherd.net/tour
