Steve Farmer (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Steve Farmer
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| Born | December 31, 1948 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | April 7, 2020 (aged 71) Redford, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres |
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| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, lyricist, musician, teacher |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1967–2020 |
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Steven O. Farmer (born December 31, 1948 – died April 7, 2020) was an American musician. He was a talented guitarist, songwriter, and lyricist. Steve is most famous for his work with the band The Amboy Dukes. In 1968, he helped write their hit song, "Journey to the Center of the Mind". Steve wrote the words for this popular song, which reached number 16 on the music charts. He also wrote or co-wrote 22 other songs for the first three albums by The Amboy Dukes.
Contents
The Amboy Dukes Band
The band's first album was called The Amboy Dukes. It became popular and appeared on the music charts. This album included their first hit song, "Baby, Please Don't Go". This song was a powerful version of an older song by Big Joe Williams.
Their second album was Journey to the Center of the Mind. This album was a type of rock music called "psychedelic rock opera." It was their most successful album and had their biggest hit song. The third album was named Migration. Even though it wasn't a big commercial success, it showed how much Steve Farmer's songwriting had improved. It also showed how much Ted Nugent's guitar playing and songwriting had grown. All three albums were released by Mainstream Records. Steve Farmer's ideas for words and music often used "psychedelic" images. This style was very important in the popular culture of the late 1960s.
Steve Farmer's 2000 Album
In the year 2000, Steve Farmer finished a new music project. He called this album Journey to the Darkside of the Mind. It was released by Saint Thomas Records. Rick Lober, who was also a member of The Amboy Dukes, helped Steve with this album. The album was produced by Victor Peraino. Victor is known for his creative work with the Mellotron instrument. He worked with the English musician Arthur Brown.
| Track | Title | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Journey to the Darkside of the Mind" | 3:05 |
| 2 | "Shadows on the Wall" | 4:10 |
| 3 | "The Stone" | 3:05 |
| 4 | "Hiroshima" | 6:50 |
| 5 | "Detroit After Dark" | 3:00 |
| 6 | "Journey Sojourn Soul" | 4:30 |
| 7 | "Ivory Castles" | 4:00 |
| 8 | "Death Is Life" | 2:00 |
| 9 | "Saint Phillips Friend" | 3:49 |
| 10 | "Perfect Day" | 6:40 |
| 11 | "Sir Thomas Sonnet" | 1:38 |
| 12 | "Magically Hip – Hip Death Goddess" | 5:00 |
Band Award and Reunion
On April 17, 2009, The Amboy Dukes received a special award. This happened at the 18th yearly Detroit Music Awards. The original members of the band played together on stage. It was their first performance in thirty years.
The musicians who played at The Fillmore Detroit were:
- Ted Nugent on lead guitar
- Steve Farmer on guitar
- John Drake on vocals
- Andy Solomon on keyboards
- Rick Lober on keyboards
- Bill White on bass
The band received a Distinguished Achievement award. This award recognized their important contributions to rock music history.
Later Life and Passing
Steve Farmer passed away at his home in 2020. He was 71 years old.
