shane theriot

Biography

Shane Theriot (pronounced 'terry-oh') was born on October 3, 1972, in Thibodaux, Louisiana, a small town approximately 60 miles from New Orleans.[2] Exposed to music from an early age, he began playing drums and guitar at age 11, and also studied trumpet and piano during his formative years.[2] His early musical education was largely self-taught, supplemented by private study in classical and jazz guitar during high school.[2] At age 12, he performed at the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition, demonstrating his precocious talent.[2] Following high school, Theriot attended the Guitar Institute of Technology (now Musicians Institute) in Los Angeles, where guitarist Scott Henderson—an instructor and member of Tribal Tech and Chick Corea's band—recommended him for a teaching position at age 20.[1][2]

Theriot's professional career gained momentum in the 1990s when he began working as a session guitarist and recording his own music.[2] In 1996, he joined The Neville Brothers, with whom he performed until 2003, touring nationally and internationally while simultaneously working on solo projects with Art Neville and Aaron Neville.[2] His versatility across multiple genres—funk, jazz, blues, and rock—led to extensive collaborations with artists including Willie Nelson, Boz Scaggs, Little Feat, Jon Cleary, and Rickie Lee Jones.[1][2] As a composer, his original compositions have been featured on ESPN, MTV, VH1, HBO, Food Network, NCIS, and Showtime Networks.[1][2] In 2015, Theriot achieved Grammy recognition as a producer for Jo-El Sonnier's album 'The Legacy.'[1] Since 2020, he has served as musical director and guitarist for Hall & Oates' touring band and as musical director and guitarist for the television show 'Live from Daryl's House.'[2]

Theriot's musical style is characterized by a distinctive blend of Louisiana funk, jazz sophistication, and blues sensibility, earning him recognition as a master of New Orleans groove traditions.[1][2] He has released four solo albums as a leader: Highway 90 (2000), The Grease Factor (2003), Dirty Power (2009), and Still Motion (2017), each featuring world-class musicians and showcasing his compositional prowess.[1][2] Beyond performance, Theriot has established himself as an educator and author, having taught guitar at the Atlanta Institute of Music from 1991 to 1993, written instructional columns for Guitar Player Magazine, authored instructional books and DVDs including 'New Orleans Funk Guitar Styles' and 'Rhythm Mojo,' and been featured in Guitar Player, Guitar World, DownBeat, Rolling Stone, and Vintage Guitar magazines.[1][2] In fall 2024, he was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, a recognition reflecting his profound influence on contemporary music and his role in preserving and advancing Louisiana's rich musical heritage.[2]

Fun Facts

• At age 12, Theriot performed at the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition, demonstrating his exceptional talent as a child musician.[2]
• Dweezil Zappa personally selected Theriot's composition 'Shrimp Boots' from The Grease Factor as the hands-down winner of the Broadjam Solo Contest out of nearly 500 contestants.[1]
• Theriot worked as a personal guitar instructor for actors Forest Whitaker and Nick Nolte for the 2010 movie My Own Love Song.[2]
• He was a guest on Sammy Hagar's 'Rock and Roll Roadtrip' where he was appointed to help musically direct the New Orleans episode.[2]

Associated Acts

• Big Sam’s Funky Nation
• Le Combo!

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Scott Henderson - Instructor at Guitar Institute of Technology who recommended Theriot for a teaching position (GIT instruction and mentorship) [Age 20 (approximately 1992)]

Key Collaborators

• The Neville Brothers - Member and touring guitarist (Tours and recordings with the band) [1996-2003]
• Hall & Oates - Musical director, guitarist, and band leader (Touring band and Live from Daryl's House) [2020-present]
• Art Neville and Aaron Neville - Session guitarist and collaborator on solo projects (Solo projects and recordings) [1996-2003]
• Willie Nelson - Session and touring guitarist (Various recordings and performances) [Multiple projects]
• Boz Scaggs - Touring band member (Touring band) [Three years on and off]
• Jon Cleary - Session guitarist and collaborator (Dyna-mite and Go Go Juice (Grammy winner for Best Regional Roots Album, 2016)) [Multiple albums]
• Rickie Lee Jones - Multi-instrumentalist on albums (Kicks and The Other Side of Desire) [Multiple projects]
• Jo-El Sonnier - Producer (Grammy-winning) (The Legacy) [2015]
• Larry Carlton and Paul Brown - Composer and instrumentalist (Soul Searchin') [2021]
• Mark Egan - Composer and instrumentalist (Cross Currents) [2024]

Artists Influenced

• Leni Stern - Named Theriot one of her 'guitar heroes' and 'favorite groove master' (Premier Guitar magazine interview) [Contemporary]
• Dweezil Zappa - Selected Theriot's composition 'Shrimp Boots' as hands-down winner of Broadjam Solo Contest (The Grease Factor (composition selection)) [Contemporary]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Big Wig (Still Motion)
2. Bring It (Dirty Power)
3. Just Sco Away (Still Motion)
4. F Thing! (Still Motion)
5. Yerba Mate Blues (Still Motion)
6. Old Men (Dirty Power)
7. Long Money (Still Motion)
8. Iridescence (Still Motion)
9. Mid City Ditty (Still Motion)
10. The Water Was Cool, Perfect (Still Motion)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #jazz