▁the ▁singer ▁for ▁experimental ▁rock abil ly ▁group ▁Leg end ary ▁Sh ack ▁Sh akers , ▁and ▁is ▁also ▁an ▁accomplished ▁harm onica ▁player , ▁having ▁recorded ▁for ▁such ▁artists ▁as ▁Mer le ▁H agg ard , ▁St urg ill ▁Sim pson , ▁John ▁Carter ▁C ash , ▁Mike ▁Pat ton , ▁and ▁H ank ▁Williams ▁III ▁in ▁the ▁American ▁Masters ▁film ▁" H ank ▁Williams : ▁Hon ky ▁Ton k ▁Blues ". ▁His ▁song ▁" Sw amp blo od " ▁can ▁be ▁heard ▁on ▁the ▁Gram my - n omin ated ▁sound track ▁for ▁H BO ' s ▁True ▁Blood ▁series . ▁Wil kes ▁is ▁a ▁resident ▁of ▁Pad uc ah , ▁Kentucky ▁and ▁is ▁the ▁author ▁of ▁two ▁books , ▁The ▁V ine ▁That ▁A te ▁The ▁South ▁and ▁Bar n ▁D ances ▁and ▁J amb ore es ▁Ac ross ▁Kentucky . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁and ▁education ▁ ▁Wil kes ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁Bay town , ▁Texas . ▁Wil kes ' ▁holds ▁a ▁b ach elor ' s ▁degree ▁in ▁Studio ▁Art ▁from ▁Kentucky ' s ▁Murray ▁State ▁University . ▁ ▁Career ▁ ▁Wil kes ▁is ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁founder ▁and ▁only ▁remaining ▁original ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Leg end ary ▁Sh ack ▁Sh akers , ▁a ▁rock abil ly ▁and ▁bl ues ▁band ▁he ▁formed ▁in ▁Murray , ▁Kentucky , ▁in ▁the ▁mid ▁ 1 9 9 0 s . ▁Before ▁forming ▁the ▁band , ▁Wil kes ▁was ▁a ▁perform er ▁on ▁the ▁p addle ▁whe eler ▁Pad uc ah ▁J