Trapper Schoepp is an American singer-songwriter from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Schoepp and his band The Shades released their debut album Run, Engine, Run in 2011 with the title track a tribute to Schoepp’s grandfather and his 1964 Mercedes Benz.
In 2016 Schoepp and his band released their second album Rangers and Valentines. The Brendan Benson-produced disc was hailed as one of that year’s best. In 2017 Schoepp released the six song concept album Bay Beach Amusement Park based on the site of Elvis Presley’s favorite roller coaster, the Zippin Pippin. The band commemorated the album with a performance of it at the Green Bay, Wisconsin amusement park.
Growing up in small-town Wisconsin Schoepp’s first love was racing BMX bikes on dirt trails along the Mississippi River. That was until he heard Bob Dylan’s “Hurricane” for the first time. In early 2017 word emerged that in 1961 months after he first moved to New York City, Dylan had drafted a song about Schoepp’s beloved Wisconsin. Dylan imagined a homesick rambler pining for the cheese and beer of his Badger State. More than a half century later the handwritten lyric sheet was uncovered and put up for auction. Schoepp saw the photograph of Dylan’s handwritten lyrics and decided to put them to music, recording a rollicking version of a song that he titled “On, Wisconsin.” It seemed that Dylan’s management team was considering an official co-write credit with intent to publish the song, but it needed final approval. Consent was given and Schoepp was given co-writing credit on the song.
Schoepp’s newest album, 2019’s Primetime Allusion is a collection of character-driven songs and stories in which people that we all know struggle to fulfill their own American dream. The album contains the refined and relaxed approach akin to the classic Laurel Canyon sound of the 70’s, all glittering piano, ringing guitars, and crisp vocal harmonies courtesy of Trapper’s bassist brother Tanner Schoepp.
And, the album closes with Dylan and Schoepp’s “On, Wisconsin.”
Reference – http://trapperschoepp.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trapper_Schoepp_%26_The_Shades
Trapper Schoepp’s discography
Run, Engine, Run (2011)
Rangers & Valentines (2016)
Bay Beach Amusement Park (2017)
Primetime Allusion (2019)
Sacramento’s K-ZAP 93.3 FM plays Travis Schoepp. All part of 50 years of Rock, Blues and More, 24-7 on our station’s stream at K-ZAP.ORG/LISTEN/
Check out Trapper Schoepp’s “On, Wisconsin.”