Steven Fromholz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Steven John Fromholz
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Steven Fromholz at the 2007 Texas Book Festival.
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| Background information | |
| Born | June 8, 1945 Temple, Texas, United States |
| Died | January 19, 2014 (aged 68) Eldorado, Texas, United States |
| Genres | Texas country, outlaw country |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, poet |
| Years active | 1960–2013 |
| Associated acts | Stephen Stills, Rick Roberts, Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson |
Steven John Fromholz (June 8, 1945 – January 19, 2014) was an American singer and songwriter. He was chosen as the Poet Laureate of Texas in 2007. This means he was recognized as a very important poet for the state.
About Steven Fromholz
Steven Fromholz was born in Temple, Texas, USA. He finished high school in Denton, Texas, in 1963. That same year, he started college at North Texas State College. There, he was the president of the Folk Music Club.
He served in the United States Navy in California from 1963 to 1968. During this time, he started performing music. After leaving the Navy, he formed a music group called Frummox with Dan McCrimmon. Fromholz also played music with Stephen Stills and Rick Roberts before he started performing by himself.
Many famous artists recorded his songs. Willie Nelson recorded Fromholz's song "I'd Have to be Crazy." This song became very popular. Lyle Lovett also sang Fromholz's songs "Texas Trilogy" and "Bears." Other artists like Hoyt Axton, John Denver, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Sturgill Simpson also recorded his music.
Steven Fromholz did many things besides singing and writing songs. He also tried acting, writing plays, and writing poetry. He produced music records and narrated stories. He even wrote short songs for commercials, called jingles. He also worked as a guide for whitewater river trips.
In 2007, the Texas State Legislature named him the Poet Laureate of the State of Texas. This was a big honor for his poetry. His last book was called Steven Fromholz: New and Selected Works.
He had two daughters. One was named Darcie, and he wrote a song for her called "Dear Darcie." His record company, Felicity Records, was named after his other daughter, Felicity.
His First Album: Here to There
Fromholz's first album, Here to There, is a special album for Texas music fans. It is hard to find now because it has not been printed in a long time.
He recorded this album in 1969 with his music partner Dan McCrimmon. They were a duo called "Frummox." This album was very important for Texas music. It came out before the "Outlaw" music style became popular in Texas. This was when Willie Nelson moved to Austin and became a big star. The album has never been officially released on CD.
A very important part of the album is his "Texas Trilogy." This is a group of three songs meant to be played together. The songs are "Daybreak," "Trainride," and "Bosque County Romance." They tell stories about life in the countryside of Texas in the 1950s. The songs are set in the town of Kopperl, in Bosque County, Texas.
Here are the songs on the album:
- "Man With The Big Hat" (6:00)
- "Kansas Legend" (2:43)
- "Song For Stephen Stills (High Country Caravan)" (3:57)
- "Jake's Song" (3:23)
- "Texas Trilogy: a) Daybreak" (3:18)
- "Texas Trilogy: b) Trainride" (2:21)
- "Texas Trilogy: c) Bosque County Romance & Daybreak (reprise)" (4:38)
- "There You Go" (2:45)
- "Weaving Is The Property Of Few These Days" (3:36)
- "Lovin' Mind" (2:40")
The Texas Trilogy Book
Fromholz's "Texas Trilogy" songs also inspired a book. The book was written by Craig D. Hillis and Bruce F. Jordan. It was called Texas Trilogy: Life in a Small Texas Town. The authors used photographs to show the places mentioned in the songs. They also included interviews with people from Kopperl, Texas. The book was liked for its pictures.
Fromholz himself also published a book called Texas Trilogy.
His Passing
Steven Fromholz passed away on January 19, 2014. He died in an accident while preparing to hunt near his home outside Eldorado, Texas. He was buried in the Fort McKavett Cemetery nearby.
