Trapper Schoepp

Trapper Schoepp was born in Red Wing, Minnesota and grew up in the nearby town of Ellsworth, Wisconsin.{{cite news |last=Nerhaugen |first=Ruth |url=https://www.republican-eagle.com/entertainment/music/4467531-trapper-schoepp-headlines-july-4-concert-park |title=Trapper Schoepp headlines July 4 concert in park |work=Red Wing Republican Eagle |date=July 2, 2018 |accessdate=April 7, 2019 }}{{cite news |last=Barr |first=Teri |url=http://www.maximumink.com/index.php/articles/permalink/trapper_schoepp |title=Maximum Ink Interview |work=Maximum Ink music magazine |date=January 2019 |accessdate=April 7, 2019}} Tanner Schoepp co-writes and tours alongside his brother. After a back injury from BMX bike riding, his mother signed him up for guitar lessons as a "safer hobby".{{cite news |last=Barriere |first=Gabrielle |url=https://mediamilwaukee.com/features/trapper-schoepp |title=Rising Musician Trapper Schoepp Sticks to His Roots |work=Media Milwaukee |publisher=University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee |date=May 8, 2016 |accessdate=April 7, 2019 }} While recovering from the injury, he heard Bob Dylan's song "Hurricane" in the movie of the same name which inspired him to become a musician: "That first A minor chord got my blood pumping. Hearing the conviction in his voice as he told the story of an innocent man wrongly accused was life-changing".{{cite news |url=https://www.republican-eagle.com/news/1121710-trapper-set |title=The Trapper is set |work=Red Wing Republican Eagle |date=November 17, 2007 |accessdate=April 7, 2019 }}

File:Trapper_Schoepp_and_The_Shades.jpg at the Mainroom of First Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2012]]

At age 17, he started a band called The Trapper Schoepp Band with his brother, Tanner Schoepp (bassist) and local friends, while attending Ellsworth High School. The Trapper Schoepp Band released an early debut album called A Change in the Weather (2007) before the Schoepp brothers moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for college.

At age 19 he started a new band with his brother called Trapper Schoepp & the Shades, while attending the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM) and released Lived and Moved (2009), which refers to his move from his small town to Milwaukee: "I really wanted to get out of that small town, but I think that everyone who goes through that transitional phase feels a little lost. You have all this ambition, but you're really clueless and you don't know what to do with it. There's this uncertainty. So for me, recording this record was definitely a way to deal with those adolescent blues that I think everyone experiences around this age".{{cite news |last=Rytlewski |first=Evan |url=https://shepherdexpress.com/music/local-music/trapper-schoepp-lived-moved-ready/ |title=Trapper Schoepp: Lived and Moved, Ready for More |work=Shepherd Express |date=February 3, 2010 |accessdate=April 7, 2019 }}

Schoepp graduated from UWM with a degree in journalism focusing on radio broadcasting and obtained a Certificate in Rock-and-Roll while studying under the late Dr. Martin Jack Rosenblum, who was a music history and literature professor at the University.

Trapper Schoepp & the Shades signed a record deal with SideOneDummy Records and released their national debut Run, Engine, Run in September 2012. Rolling Stone premiered the album's title track on September 20, 2012.{{cite web |title=‘Run, Engine, Run’ by Trapper Schoepp & the Shades – Free MP3 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/run-engine-run-by-trapper-schoepp-the-shades-free-mp3-20120920 |website=Rolling Stone |accessdate=November 14, 2018 |date=September 20, 2012}} The song, a tribute to the Schoepps' grandfather and his 1964 Mercedes-Benz, was also featured on Car Talk's Whad'Ya Know?.{{cite news |url=http://www.notmuch.com/wyk/trapper-schoepp-and-shades |title=Trapper Schoepp and the Shades |work=Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know? |date=October 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031416/http://www.notmuch.com/wyk/trapper-schoepp-and-shades |archivedate=March 4, 2016 |accessdate=April 7, 2019 }} The band toured on a 25-stop with The Wallflowers and also alongside Old 97's,{{cite news |last=Mueller |first=Kevin |url=https://www.milwaukeemag.com/story-lines-trapper-schoepp-rangers-valentines/ |title=Storylines |work=Milwaukee Magazine |date=July 3, 2015 |accessdate=April 7, 2019 }} The Jayhawks, Soul Asylum, Tommy Stinson, Social Distortion, The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, Frank Turner, Cory Chisel and The Wandering Sons.

Schoepp signed to Xtra Mile Recordings and released his second album, Rangers and Valentines on April 1, 2016. The album's name, along with the featured track "Dream", paid tribute to Geo Valentine and Schoepp's former professor Dr. Martin Jack Rosenblum (stage name Holy Ranger), both of whom were influential in developing his music education.{{cite news |last=Levy |first=Piet |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/music/local-beat/2016/03/31/watch-trapper-schoepp-perform-songs-from-new-album-rangers-valentines/84943636/ |title=Watch Trapper Schoepp perform songs from new album ‘Rangers & Valentines’ |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date=March 30, 2016 |accessdate=April 7, 2019 }} The music video for the song "Settlin' or Sleepin' Around" features Richard Riehle and was shown at the 2016 Milwaukee Film Festival.{{cite news |last=Teich |first=Mitch |last2=Nowakowski |first2=Audrey |url=https://www.wuwm.com/post/trapper-schoepps-settlin-or-sleepin-around-featured-milwaukee-film-festival#stream/0 |title=Trapper Schoepp's 'Settlin' or Sleepin' Around' Featured in Milwaukee Film Festival |work=Milwaukee Public Radio |date=December 27, 2016 |accessdate=April 14, 2019 }}

In 2017, Schoepp released Bay Beach Amusement Park, a six-song concept album based on the rides at the amusement park of the same name in Green Bay, Wisconsin. "Each song takes the listener on a different ride. I had this idea for years but it took me years to piece together how I wanted the songs to flow and what rides I wanted to sing about... It was pretty funny, the whole process, because when I started telling my band about it, they thought I was a crazy person until I had all the demos of the songs. It kind of started as an inside joke and the whole idea kind of exploded".{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Joshua |url=https://www.milwaukeemag.com/trapper-schoepp-on-wisconsin-releasing-new-ep-inspired-green-bay-amusement-park/ |title='On Wisconsin' Musician is Releasing a New EP Inspired by Green Bay Amusement Park |work=Milwaukee Magazine |date=May 31, 2017 |accessdate=April 14, 2019 }} The album was recorded in Pachyderm Studio in Cannon Falls, Minnesota. The album is inspired by the sounds of Little Richard, Chuck Berry, and Elvis Presley as an ode to the retro rides at the park, including the Zippin Pippin, Presley's favorite rollercoaster. The band commemorated the album with a performance celebrating the 125th anniversary of the amusement park,{{cite news |last=Sumka |first=Ken |url=https://radiomilwaukee.org/discover-music/music-news/schoeppperformsbaybeachatbaybeach/ |title=Trapper Schoepp performed 'Bay Beach Amusement Park' EP at Bay Beach Amusement Park |work=Radio Milwaukee |date=August 9, 2017 |accessdate=April 14, 2019 }} as well as nationwide tours with Ha Ha Tonka and BoDeans. "The Scat" became the theme song for the Onion's inaugural podcast “A Very Fatal Murder."

In 2018, Schoepp wrote music and additional lyrics to the unfinished Bob Dylan song "On, Wisconsin", originally written in 1961. Sharing a co-writing credit with Dylan, Schoepp recorded the song at Wauwatosa's Wire & Vice studio for his 2019 album Primetime Illusion.{{cite web |last1=Robbins |first1=Dean |title=Bob Dylan's Ode To Wisconsin |url=https://www.wisconsinlife.org/story/bob-dylans-ode-to-wisconsin/ |website=Wisconsin Life |accessdate=November 14, 2018 |date=October 6, 2017}}{{cite web |last1=Nelson |first1=James B. |title=Local musician Trapper Schoepp to release 'On, Wisconsin,' a song he co-wrote with Bob Dylan |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2018/11/14/trapper-schoepp-shares-songwriting-credit-dylan-wisconsin/1991798002/ |website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |accessdate=November 14, 2018 |date=November 14, 2018}} The album was produced by Patrick Sansone of Wilco and released on January 25, 2019.{{cite news |last=Donohue |first=Shawn |url=https://glidemagazine.com/219337/trapper-schoepp-delights-with-70s-influenced-rock-folk-via-primetime-illusion-album-review/ |title=Trapper Schoepp Delights with 70's Influenced Rock & Fold via 'Primetime Illusion' (Album Review) |work=Glide Magazine |date=January 25, 2019 |accessdate=April 14, 2019 }} The songs for the album came at a time when Schoepp "was at a personal rock bottom. I had re-herniated a disk in my back that I had surgery on a few years prior. My longtime partner and I had just split and my creative well was just running dry".{{cite web |last1=Greene |first1=Andy |title=How a Wisconsin Singer Got a Bob Dylan Co-Writing Credit for New Song ‘On, Wisconsin’ |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/how-a-wisconsin-singer-got-a-bob-dylan-co-writing-credit-for-obscure-1961-song-754945/ |website=Rolling Stone |accessdate=November 14, 2018 |date=November 13, 2018}} Two weeks prior to the release of Primetime Illusion, Schoepp released his single "What You Do to Her" featuring Nicole Atkins. The song is the story of someone who gets away with sexual assault, and how everyone is affected by the crime. According to Schoepp: "We're all affected by this–not only the victims, but their families, their friends, and the community as a whole. For too long men have stood on the sidelines and allowed this to become primarily a women's issue. I think everyone has an obligation to call out behavior like this. It's one thing to show solidarity behind the scenes but we need to be more vocal as men".{{cite news |last1=Lynch |first1=Joe |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8492916/trapper-schoepp-nicole-atkins-what-you-do-to-her-video |title=Trapper Schoepp Debuts Arresting Video for 'What You Do to Her' ft. Nicole Atkins: Premiere |work=Billboard |date=January 10, 2019 |accessdate=April 14, 2019 }} He joined Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network's National Leadership Council as an advocate in supporting survivors of sexual violence and bringing their perpetrators to justice.{{cite web |url=https://www.rainn.org/leadership-and-governance |title=National Leadership Council |publisher=Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network |accessdate=April 14, 2019 }}

After the cancellation of his European tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Schoepp returned to the studio and recorded May Day, which was released May 21, 2021 on Grand Phony records.{{cite web |url=https://shepherdexpress.com/music/local-music/trapper-schoepp-seeks-renewal-on-his-new-album-may-day/ |title=Trapper Schoepp Seeks Renewal on his New Album, ‘May Day’ |publisher=Shepherd Express |accessdate=April 20, 2021 }} The additional downtime due to the pandemic also meant he could finetune his piano skills, which were featured for the first time on this album.{{cite web | last=Schultz | first=Blaine | title=Trapper Schoepp’s Homework for Life and Heavy Metaphors for an Historic Year | website=Shepherd Express | date=March 30, 2021 | url=https://shepherdexpress.com/api/content/b9d0a5f8-9158-11eb-bd9b-1244d5f7c7c6/ | access-date=May 28, 2021}} The album title comes from the pagan origins of May Day, with Schoepp explaining, "On May Day, I use the natural world as a motif because I feel a strong connection to it. Nature is something real that I can feel, see, smell and touch, and it's a place where I've found comfort in these times...The pandemic devastated the live music industry but the need to be transported through song remained. I hope May Day offers that sort of escape".{{cite web | last=Tanzilo | first=Bobby | title=Milwaukee's Trapper Schoepp's got a new record coming in May | website=OnMilwaukee | date=March 19, 2021 | url=https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/trapper-schoepp-river | access-date=May 28, 2021}} Tom Lanham of the San Francisco Examiner referred to the album as among the best of 2021.{{cite web | last=Lanham | first=Tom | title=Trapper Schoepp’s ‘May Day’ one of 2021’s best albums | website=The San Francisco Examiner | date=May 26, 2021 | url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/entertainment/trapper-schoepps-may-day-one-of-2021s-best-albums/ | access-date=May 28, 2021}} Writing for Rock Cellar magazine, Jeff Slate referred May Day as "a remarkable new album...Classic-sounding, old school pop songs that pack a bigger punch than just about anything currently on the charts".{{cite web | title=Trapper Schoepp Talks 'May Day,' Collaborating with Bob Dylan, More | website=Rock Cellar Magazine | date=May 21, 2021 | url=https://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/trapper-schoepp-interview-may-day-album-bob-dylan/ | access-date=May 28, 2021}}

Siren Songs was release April 21, 2023 (Grand Phony Records).{{Cite web |title=Siren Songs, by Trapper Schoepp |url=https://trapperschoepp1.bandcamp.com/album/siren-songs-2 |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=Trapper Schoepp |language=en}}

• Run, Engine, Run (2011 - Good Land Records/2012 - SideOneDummy Records reissue, released as Trapper Schoepp & the Shades)
• Rangers & Valentines (2016 - Xtra Mile Recordings)
• Bay Beach Amusement Park (album) (2017 - Xtra Mile Recordings)
• Primetime Illusion (2019 - Xtra Mile Recordings)
• May Day (2021 - Grand Phony Records)
• Siren Songs (2023 - Grand Phony Records)

• American Songwriter July 2012 Sampler - "So Long"
• Good Land Records Summer 2012 Sampler - "Pins and Needles"

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• [http://www.trapperschoepp.com Official Website]

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Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters

Category:Living people

Category:Singer-songwriters from Minnesota

Category:People from Ellsworth, Wisconsin

Category:People from Red Wing, Minnesota

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Singer-songwriters from Wisconsin