Dick Shuey Born:  February 3, 1939 Died:  August 16, 2014 America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame (2004) WEXT West Hartford, CT WJKM Hartsville, TN WMCS Machias, ME WTHE New York, NY

About The Artist Richard Eugene Shuey, known to country music fans as Dick Shuey, was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, a town northwest of Harrisburg. Dick attended and graduated from high school in Bellefonte. After graduation, he went to Volunteer State College in Gallatin, Tennessee. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1957 and served through 1967. He later served another stint from 1980 to 1997 and onorably retired after 26 years of service. During his career, he has recorded for Awards Records, Johnny Dollar Records, Stardust Records and Hero Records. Even though he spent many years in the U.S. Navy, he still has quite a resume of work in the entertainment industry, including such positions as a radio disc jockey, a BMI-affiliated songwriter, booking agent with Nashville International, Tessier Talent, Atlas Artist Bureau, Dick Shuey Agency and the Bruce Rhorhbach Agency. Dick's musical career has seen appear on many of the top country music shows including the famed WWVA Jamboree USA in Wheeling, West Virginia; the Renfro Valley Barn Dance, Renfro Valley, Kentucky; Country Calvacade out of Columbus, Ohio; WSM's Grand Ole Opry as special guest with Charlie Louvin; the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree that airs each Saturday night over WSM Radio; ABC TV's Country Cavalcade and many others. Dick told Geoff Wilbur in a 2002 interview for Geoff's Renegade Newsletter, "I'll always be indebted to Charlie Louvin for giving me the opportunity to appear and sing on the Grand Ole Opry stage. Ernest Tubb for inviting me to be on the Midnite Jamboree. Those aren't and never have been easy gigs to get. An artist would sell his soul for that opportunity. That's priceless!" Geoff also asked Dick how he got started in songwriting: Dick recalls the beginning of his songwriting career. "I started writing songs — or trying to — while in the Navy and doing DJ work for the Navy. I ran the ship's radio station on board the USS Canopus {AS-34}. Everything just kind of grew out of that. I was young and dangerous — and had no sense — so here I am today. It gets in one's blood and they can't help themselves. It was better than doing garbage pick-up, even if the garbage worker makes more money. Songwriting doesn't stink as bad when it's 100 degrees in August." Where does Dick get his inspiration? He notes, "Everything one sees and hears — one has to do a lot of listening and observing. I may read something, hear something that will kick in the computer between my ears. Some work and most don't, but that's the nature of being a songwriter. I'm writing a song right now with Don Powell — Bill Anderson Write Me A Good Country Hit Song. I love to co-write. Makes for the chance of a better song when the product is complete. Well, maybe..." Dick mentions that he has some mentors in his career including Roy Horton, Ernest Tubb, Bill Anderson, Haze Jones and Smiley Wilson, Ernie Ashworth, Cary Simpson, Julian Gross and Dick Chapman. He mentions in Geoff Wilbur's article that, "...Without their help and encouragement I probably would be catching the garbage truck in the morning." Dick is a lifetime member of the Country Music Association (CMA) as well as a member of the Pennsylvania CMA. Credits & Sources Renegade Newsletter; Summer 2002; Geoff Wilbur; Newport, Rhode Island; article copy courtesy of Dick Shuey Hillbilly-Music.com wishes to thank Dick Shuey for providing information and details about his career. Related Web Links • TwangTownUSA Appearance History This Month June 16, 1972 New Hartford, CT Dick Shuey June 17, 1972 New Hartford, CT Dick Shuey June 21, 1972 Bealsburg, PA Dick Shuey June 24, 1972 Bellefonte, PA Dick Shuey June 30, 1972 Centre Hall, PA Dick Shuey

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