Django Reinhardt and Chuck Berry were among the original artists earliest influences. The artist auditioned for what was to become a wildly famous band, at age fifteen. He was not brought in at that time but after much persistence and continually impressing the band’s leader he became part of the early group. Among his many influences on that band was introducing and incorporating Indian instrumentation into their sound.

The song was written while carrying around a guitar in the garden of a famous friend. It had been a difficult year and the songwriter was looking forward to brighter times ahead.

Today’s Shadow artist organized a band early on that would go on to become quite famous as the Shadow artist went on to a successful solo career. The Shadow artist was one of the pioneers of his musical genre, a genre that came to represent his island home.

The 5 O’Clock Shadow is presented by Flying Dog Brewery