Session bass and guitar player for Jerry Reed and others in the late-1970s to 1980s, including James Brown, Chet Atkins, B.B. King, and a long list of country and gospel greats. He played the Grand Ole Opry and Hee Haw several times. His career was ended in 2004 after another car hit him head-on, causing a stroke and leaving him paralyzed on his right side, and unable to speak, read, or write. He is a brother to engineer Jerry Shook.