Steve Earle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Steve Earle
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Earle performing at the Rudolstadt-Festival in 2018
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| Birth name | Stephen Fain Earle |
| Born | January 17, 1955 Fort Monroe, Virginia, U.S. |
| Origin | San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1968–present |
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Stephen Fain Earle (born January 17, 1955) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He plays country, rock, and folk music. Steve Earle started his music journey as a songwriter in Nashville, Tennessee. He released his first short music collection, called an EP, in 1982.
His first big album, Guitar Town, came out in 1986. The main song from that album, also called "Guitar Town", became very popular, reaching number 7 on the Billboard country music chart. Since then, he has released many more albums. He has won three Grammy awards for Best Contemporary Folk Album. His song "Copperhead Road", released in 1988, is his most popular single. Many famous artists like Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson have recorded his songs.
Besides music, Steve Earle has also acted in TV shows, including The Wire and Treme. He has also written a novel, a play, and a book of short stories. Steve Earle is the father of the late singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle, and they often worked on music together.
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Steve Earle was born in Fort Monroe, Virginia, in 1955. His father worked there as an air traffic controller. Before he was two years old, his family moved to Texas, where he grew up mostly near San Antonio.
Steve started learning to play the guitar when he was 11. By age 13, he was performing in school talent shows. When he was 14, he left home to find his hero, the singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. Steve was a bit rebellious and left school at 16. He moved to Houston with his uncle, who was also a musician. In Houston, he finally met Townes Van Zandt. Steve was against the Vietnam War, and this experience helped shape his political views.
Music Career Highlights
Starting in Nashville and The Dukes
In 1974, when he was 19, Steve Earle moved to Nashville. He worked regular jobs during the day and played music at night. He wrote songs and played bass guitar for Guy Clark's band. He also sang on Clark's 1975 album. Steve appeared in a 1976 documentary film called Heartworn Highways, which showed the Nashville music scene. He worked as a songwriter for a company called Sunbury Dunbar. Later, he moved back to Texas and started his own band, called The Dukes.
In the 1980s, Steve Earle returned to Nashville. He wrote songs for other artists. For example, a song he co-wrote, "When You Fall in Love", was recorded by Johnny Lee and became a hit in 1982. Other artists like Carl Perkins also recorded his songs. Eventually, a record label called LSI asked him to record his own music.
Steve Earle released an EP called Pink & Black in 1982 with The Dukes. This led to him signing a record deal with Epic Records in 1983.
Breakthrough Albums and New Sounds
After some changes, Steve Earle signed a big record deal with MCA Records. In 1986, he released his first full-length album, Guitar Town. The song "Guitar Town" became a top ten hit that year. In 1987, he released Exit 0 with The Dukes, which was praised for mixing country and rock music.
In 1988, Steve Earle released Copperhead Road. This album blended folk music with hard rock and Irish influences. It became his highest-charting song in the United States and has sold over a million digital copies.
After a break from recording, Steve Earle released Train a Comin' in 1994. This album was nominated for a Grammy Award and marked a return to his acoustic, folk sound.
E-Squared Records and Later Works
In 1996, Steve Earle started his own record label, E-Squared Records. He released the album I Feel Alright, which combined country, rock, and rockabilly styles. His 1997 album, El Corazon (The Heart), was seen as a strong comeback.
In 1999, he explored bluegrass music with the album The Mountain, made with the Del McCoury Band. In 2000, he recorded Transcendental Blues, which includes the popular song "Galway Girl".
2000s and Beyond
Steve Earle continued to release music and share his views. His 2002 album Jerusalem featured songs about his anti-war and anti-death penalty beliefs. One song, "John Walker's Blues", about an American Taliban fighter, caused some discussion. He defended his songs and views on patriotism.
In 2004, he released The Revolution Starts Now, with songs influenced by the Iraq War. This album won a Grammy for best contemporary folk album. The title song was even used in a documentary film called Fahrenheit 9/11.
Steve Earle also hosted a radio show called The Steve Earle Show (formerly The Revolution Starts Now) from 2004 to 2007. He later hosted another show called Hardcore Troubadour on Sirius XM radio.
In 2009, he released Townes, a tribute album with 15 songs written by Townes Van Zandt. This album earned him another Grammy Award.
In 2010 and 2011, Steve Earle appeared in the HBO show Treme as a street musician named Harley Wyatt. In 2011, he released his first novel and a new album, both titled I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive.
He continued to release new music, including Terraplane in 2015, and So You Wannabe An Outlaw in 2017. In 2019, he released GUY, an album honoring his songwriting hero Guy Clark.
In 2020, Steve Earle was the musical director for a play called Coal Country, which was about a mining disaster. Songs from the play were included on his 2020 album Ghosts of West Virginia. In 2023, he shared that he is working on a musical based on the film Tender Mercies.
Personal Life and Family
Steve Earle has been married several times. He has three sons. His son Justin Townes Earle (1982–2020) was also a singer-songwriter. His youngest son, John Henry Earle, was born in 2010 and was diagnosed with autism. Steve Earle has become a strong advocate for people with autism. He has said that his main goal is to make sure his son will be okay in the future.
His sister, Stacey Earle, is also a musician and songwriter.
Activism and Beliefs
Steve Earle is known for sharing his political views, both in his songs and in interviews. He often speaks about issues he cares about. He identifies as a socialist and usually votes for Democratic candidates, even if he doesn't agree with everything they do.
He is a very strong opponent of the death penalty. This is his main area of political activism. Many of his songs, like "Billy Austin" and "Over Yonder (Jonathan's Song)", describe the experiences of people on death row. He also wrote "Ellis Unit One" from the point of view of a prison guard working on death row, for the film Dead Man Walking.
Steve Earle believes it's important to speak up against injustice. He feels a responsibility to use his public platform to talk about issues that affect people, especially those who might not have a voice. Since his youngest son was diagnosed with autism, Steve Earle has also become an advocate for people on the autism spectrum.
Discography
See also
In Spanish: Steve Earle para niños
