During the 2016 election, he expressed support for Senator Bernie Sanders, whom he considered to have pushed Hillary Clinton to the left on important issues. Monday, Earle released a tribute that’s the most devastating of the three: J.T., in memory of his son Justin Townes Earle, who died in August. finds Steve Earle & The Dukes covering 10 of Justin’s songs – from “ I Don’t Care,” which appeared on his 2007 … Drug and personal problems derailed Earle's career in the late 1980s, but he eventually returned to recording and has since won multiple Grammys. Steve Earle, in full Stephen Fain Earle, (born January 17, 1955, Fort Monroe, Virginia, U.S.), American singer, songwriter, and guitarist who bridged the genres of rock and country music.. As a child growing up in Texas, Earle acquired his first guitar at age 11 and was playing proficiently two years later. [16], In 2010, Earle was awarded the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty's Shining Star of Abolition award. [1] Connie Smith recorded Earle's composition "A Far Cry from You" in 1985 which reached a minor position on the country charts as well. Justin … [5] Earle released the album El Corazon (The Heart) in 1997 which one reviewer called "the capstone of this [Earle's] remarkable comeback".[12]. Meet Steve Earle - the real deal - live and uncut. Maybe that's because he started recording it just months after his son, Justin Townes Earle, died alone in his Nashville … Schone, Mark. He ... Born: January 17, 1955 Earle's sister, Stacey Earle is also a musician and songwriter. [1][16] The album's song "John Walker's Blues", about the captured American Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh created controversy. Steve Earle has recorded tribute albums before, to songwriting mentors Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark. One can imagine the heartbroken father, working his way through his son’s impressive but suddenly finite catalog, making careful, loving choices. From the Album Look Again to the Wind: Johnny Cash's Bitter Tears Revisited August 15, 2014 Start your 30-day free trial of Unlimited to listen to this song plus tens of millions more songs. Television fans will recognize Earle fro… Earle began his career as a songwriter in Nashville and released his first EP in 1982. [5] By July 1993 Earle was reported to have regained his normal weight and had started to write new material. Steve Earle will play a solo acoustic “rehearsal show” at City Vineyard in New York on December 16, then Steve Earle & the Dukes, Jason Isbell, Josh Ritter, Amanda Shires, and The Mastersons will play the “John Henry’s Friends” benefit concert … 1. [16] The album was released on April 26, 2011 and was produced by T Bone Burnett and deals with questions of mortality with a "more country" sound than his earlier work. I didn't finish high school, so I wasn't a candidate for a student deferment. Earle is the father of late singer-songwriter and frequent collaborator Justin Townes Earle. Politically he identifies as a socialist, but tends to vote for Democratic candidates, despite not agreeing entirely with their politics. [39], In 1993, Earle was arrested for possession of heroin and in 1994, for cocaine and weapons possession. [36] He married Sandra "Sandy" Henderson in Houston at the age of 18, but left her to move to Nashville a year later[1] where he met and married his second wife, Cynthia Dunn. [citation needed], The song "The Revolution Starts Now" was used in the promotional materials for Michael Moore's anti-war documentary film Fahrenheit 9/11 and appears on the album Songs and Artists That Inspired Fahrenheit 9/11. Still, the more moving homage comes in the careful curation and performance of the son's songs. According to Earle, he wrote the song "Over Yonder" about a death row inmate with whom he exchanged letters before attending his execution in 1998. Oddly, the one new song feels impersonal even as it recounts their last phone call. Within days of Justin Townes Earle’s death, Steve Earle (65) began work on what would become J.T., an album of 10 of his son’s songs, and one new track by Earle… In a 2017 interview Earle stated about President Donald Trump: "We’ve never had an orangutan in the White House before. ), who passed away on August 20, 2020 in Nashville. The song's lyrics are directed towards the state of Mississippi and their refusal to abandon the Confederate Flag and remove it from their state flag. The title track became a Top Ten single in 1986 and his song "Goodbye's All We've Got Left" reached the Top Ten in 1987. President Joe Biden's inaugural parade to the Oval Office, Capitol rioter allegedly tweeted he wanted to 'assassinate' AOC, Biden’s agenda clashes with looming impeachment trial, Mexican leader says Biden offers $4B for Central America, US reaffirms Taiwan support after China sends warplanes, This cover image released by New West Records shows “J.T.” by Steve Earle & The Dukes, covering 10 songs from the catalog of Earle's son Justin Townes Earle, who died in August. Steve Earle & the Dukes, “J.T." [28][29], On September 10, 2015, Earle & the Dukes released a new internet single titled "'Mississippi, It's Time". Bledsoe, Wayne (January 14, 1996) STEVE EARLE KEEPS ON MAKING MUSIC ON HIS OWN TERMS, Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album, Songs and Artists That Inspired Fahrenheit 9/11, National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, Steve Earle Interview Part II (transcript), "Steve Earle brings Karla Faye Tucker's life to the stage", Song of the Day: Steve Earle, “Rednecks” (Randy Newman cover) » Cover Me, "Country Music Renegade Steve Earle to Launch a Weekly Show Exclusively on Sirius Satellite Radio", "Steve Earle Gives Nod to New Hometown in 'Washington Square Serenade, "Steve Earle – Washington Square Serenade", "New on Disc: Jessica Simpson, Joan Baez", Steve Earle Explores Immortality On New Album, "Steve Earle to Release New Album in 2015", Steve Earle Explains Rock History, New Album 'Terraplane' and Heading Towards Broadway, "Hear Steve Earle Denounce Confederate Flag in 'Mississippi, It's Time, "Shawn Colvin and Steve Earle: Two Old Pals on the Road Together", "Steve Earle and Shawn Colvin: nine divorces, two addictions, one perfect mix", "Steve Earle's New Album Pays Tribute To Guy Clark: 'The Greatest Story Songwriter That Ever Lived, "Here Are Hundreds More Artists Whose Tapes Were Destroyed in the UMG Fire", "Artists Sue Universal Music Group Over Losses in 2008 Fire", "Singer Justin Townes Earle, Son of Musician Steve Earle, Dead at 38", "Steve Earle On Staying Clean Through Personal Hardship ♫ Latest news at", "Goodbye Guitar Town: An Interview with Steve Earle", "US country singer Steve Earle subjected to witch-hunt", "Steve Earle talks outlaws, Guy Clark and Donald Trump", "https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/steve-earle-trump-supporters/", "25 years ago: Steve Earle talks bikers, executions, and "Justice in Ontario, "Dead Man Walking" Ambles Away With Year's Top Singles, AMA "Spirit of Americana" Free Speech Award, Ain't Ever Satisfied: The Steve Earle Collection, The Devil's Right Hand: An Introduction to Steve Earle, 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Steve Earle, Air America – Gloria Wise loan controversy, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steve_Earle&oldid=1000084077, Articles with dead external links from July 2019, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2012, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2017, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SELIBR identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Shop our range of T-Shirts, Tanks, Hoodies, Dresses, and more. John Henry loves playing the drums, Earle … In 2000, Earle recorded his album Transcendental Blues,[5] which features the song Galway Girl. [5][8] In August 1991, Earle appeared on the TV show The Texas Connection "looking pale and blown out". But this one is different. [33], On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Steve Earle among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire. Highly Recommended! They’re witnessing me be a better father than I was to them, and that’s gotta hurt a little. His son, John Henry, 10, and a memoir project are also keeping Earle busy, but he still finds time for his yoga practice, watching HBO shows and reading well-loved fantasy novels. Earle lived in Nashville for several years and assumed the position of staff songwriter at the publishing company Sunbury Dunbar. [5][40][41] A judge sentenced him to a year in jail after he admitted possession and failed to appear in court. The album was characterized as a return to the "folksy acoustic" sound of his early career. [5] Carl Perkins recorded Earle's song "Mustang Wine", and two of his songs were recorded by Zella Lehr. consists of 10 of his son's songs and one original composition, “Last Words." In the winter, he toured Europe and North America in support of Washington Square Serenade, performing both solo and with a disc jockey. His breakthrough album was the 1986 album Guitar Town. [9], In 1974, at the age of 19,[4] Earle moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and began working blue-collar jobs during the day and playing music at night. [50] In the song, Earle compared the conviction of the "Port Hope 6" to the massacre of the Black Donnellys in 1880. [8] At that time a writer for the Chicago Sun-Times called Earle "a visionary symbol of the New Traditionalist movement in country music. It feels like something he had to do, a father's way of grieving. [citation needed], In September 2007, Earle released his twelfth studio album, Washington Square Serenade,[23] on New West Records. [14] Earle wrote and produced an off-Broadway play about the death of Karla Faye Tucker, the first woman executed since the death penalty was reinstated in Texas. [43] As a recovering heroin addict, Earle has used his experience in his songwriting.[44]. [8], After losing his publishing contract with Dea and Carter, Earle met producer Tony Brown and after severing his ties with Lomax and Epic Records obtained a seven-record deal with MCA Records. And it comes down to the fact that people who can’t afford decent legal representation—who are subject to something like this happening and turning out very badly—feed my kids. [5] After his recording hiatus, Earle released Train a Comin' on Winter Harvest Records and it was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album in 1996. In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. [Earle and ex-wife Allison Moorer have an eight-year-old son, John Henry.] [1], Earle released Copperhead Road on Uni Records in 1988 which was characterized as "a quixotic project that mixed a lyrical folk tradition with hard rock and eclectic Irish influences such as The Pogues, who guested on the record". John Henry is autistic and largely non-verbal. [10], Earle released an EP called, Pink & Black, in 1982 featuring the Dukes. [20] Earle hosted a radio show on Air America from August 2004 until June 2007. Earle and Moore have one child together: a 7-year-old son named John Henry, who was diagnosed with autism at 23 months. [8] Earle then married Lou-Anne Gill a second time, and finally, in 2005, married singer-songwriter Allison Moorer with whom he had a son, John Henry Earle, in April 2010. Steve Earle quietly announced he was back in action and capable of making substantial, heartfelt music again with his 1994 acoustic album Train a Comin', but on 1995's I Feel Alright Earle showed he was truly back in fighting shape, and from the album's first moments he sounds ready to roar and holds nothing back. [5] During this period Earle wrote songs and played bass guitar in Guy Clark's band and sang on Clark's 1975 album Old No. (New West). [5][1] Earle was opposed to the Vietnam war as he recalled in 2012: ""The anti-war movement was a very personal thing for me. Steve Earle, “J.T.” (New West) The legendary songwriter pays tribute to his late son — and Roots N Blues festival veteran — Justin Townes Earle the best way he knows how. "Steve Earle". I was fucking going. One of the dangers that we’re in is if people like me keep thinking that everyone who voted for Trump is a racist or an asshole, then we’re fucked, because it’s simply not true. [49] In 2020, he stated: "I thought that, given the way things are now, it was maybe my responsibility to make a record that spoke to and for people who didn’t vote the way that I did. [41][43] Earle then completed an outpatient drug treatment program at the Cedarwood Center in Hendersonville, Tennessee. [9] Earle also noted when was an young man, his girlfriend was able to get an abortion despite the fact that abortion was illegal as her father was a doctor at the local hospital in San Antonio while several other girls he knew at the time were not able to get abortions as they lacked access to those with the necessary power to arrange an abortion, which he credits as the origin of his pro-choice views. [5][1] Later Earle grew tired of Nashville and returned to Texas where he started a band called The Dukes. [13] He made a foray into bluegrass influenced music in 1999 when he released the album The Mountain with the Del McCoury Band. While in Houston, Earle finally met Van Zandt. Three years ago Earle called President Donald Trump a 'fascist' and predicted the GOP Leader wouldn't finish his first (and presumably only) term. Steve Earle;The Milk Carton Kids. Earle married his third wife, Carol-Ann Hunter, who gave birth to his son, singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle (1982–2020). But this one is different. [25] (Prior to their collaboration on Day After Tomorrow, Baez had covered two Earle songs, "Christmas in Washington" and "Jerusalem," on previous albums; "Jerusalem" had also become a staple of Baez' concerts.) Ultimately, “J.T." This was a time when he was picking up new fans and releasing his best stuff ever. But the point is, that’s not a reason for doing or not doing anything, because…I very nearly went to prison myself for something I didn’t do, simply because a law enforcement agency didn’t want to admit that somebody had fucked up—they didn’t want to open the whole can of worms and all the other complaints that were constantly brought against the Dallas police department. Steve Earle shared a trio of songs from his new album, J.T., on his second appearance on Rolling Stone’s In My Room series. Steve Earle was born on January 17, 1955 in Fort Monroe, Virginia, USA as Stephen Fain Earle. [35], Earle has been married seven times, including twice to the same woman. [5] His novel, I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive, was published in the spring of 2011 and a collection of short stories called Doghouse Roses followed that June. The left has lost touch with American people, and it’s time to discuss that". "[9] The end of the Selective Service Act and the draft lottery in 1973 prevented him from being drafted, but several of his friends were drafted, which he credits as the origin of his politicization. (Ontario Provincial Police) is obviously not gonna be thrilled. St John, Lauren. Paul Kingsbury, Ed. In 2008, Earle produced Joan Baez's album Day After Tomorrow. Steve Earle's singing is more gruff and hard-edged than his son's, but his treatment of his son's work only highlights how good it is. The album, released Monday, is a tribute to his son. Some songs, including “Far Away in Another Town" and “Champagne Corolla," shed new light on what well-crafted compositions they are. High quality Steve Earle stationery featuring original designs created by artists. [34] Earle was one of five artists who filed a class action lawsuit against Universal on June 21, in response to an earlier Times report on the fire. Singer Justin Townes Earle has sadly died at the age of 38, it has been confirmed. [24] The disc features Earle's wife, Allison Moorer, on "Days Aren't Long Enough" and "Down Here Below." Or 1988’s “Devil’s Right Hand” (a cautionary narrative about gun culture). [19], In 2006, Earle contributed a cover of Randy Newman's song "Rednecks" to the tribute album Sail Away: The Songs of Randy Newman. There’s a lot of “What does this button do?” going on. In 1990, Earle stated in an interview about Justice In Ontario: "There’s some concern about reprisals because the O.P.P. Earle is a vocal opponent of capital punishment,[5] which he considers his primary area of political activism. J.T., which was released earlier this month, finds Earle paying tribute to his son, Justin Townes Earle, who died from a probable drug overdose in August at the age of 38. Unique Steve Earle clothing designed and sold by artists for women, men, and everyone. [1] In 1983, Earle signed a record deal with CBS and recorded a "neo-rockabilly album". Hardcore Troubadour: The Life and Near Death of Steve Earle, Fourth Estate, 2002. [8] In light of Earle's "increasing drug use", MCA Records did not renew his contract and Earle didn't record any music for the next four years. My hope is that I’ll be far too out-in-the-open and far too public for the police to do anything and get away with it. (New West Records via AP). [11] It was Earle's highest-peaking song to date in the United States and has sold 1.1 million digital copies there as of September 2017. Guest artists appearing on the album included Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, Moorer, and his son Justin. [1][8] Earle released his first full-length album, Guitar Town, on MCA Records in 1986. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The passion Steve Earle and his band, which once included Justin in their ranks, poured into them is palpable. Earle may hate Vice President Mike Pence even more. Whether he intended to be or not, he’s a real live fascist. [18] The album was released during the U.S. presidential campaign. But I was able to afford decent legal representation. Steve Earle was born on January 17, 1955 in Fort Monroe, Virginia and grew up in Texas. In 2010–2011, Earle appeared in seasons 1 and 2 of the HBO show Treme as Harley Wyatt, a talented street musician who mentors another character. That’s where my money comes from and that’s where my freedom comes from".[50]. His debut studio album was Guitar Town in 1986. Steve Earle has recorded tribute albums before, to songwriting mentors Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark. Veteran folk singer Steve Earle shared an intimate, seven-song concert with a small group of fans at Minneapolis club Icehouse in June. Warren, Doug (November 20, 2007) "Steve Earle: El Corozon E-Squared/Warner Bros". The details are intimate but somehow generic, and Steve Earle reveals more about their relationship in liner notes and interviews. [21] Later he began hosting a show called Hardcore Troubadour on the Outlaw Country channel. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Buy Steve Earle's album titled Townes. [8] The album's title track portrays a Vietnam veteran who uses his family background in running moonshine to become a marijuana grower/seller. "[8], In 1994, two staff members at Warner/Chappell publishing company, and Earle's former manager, John Dotson, created an in-house CD of Earle's songs entitled Uncut Gems and showcased it to some recording artists in Nashville. [citation needed] The album earned Earle a third Grammy award, again for best contemporary folk album. Earle was born in Fort Monroe, Virginia, where his father was stationed as an air traffic controller. Following the example of his musical hero Townes Van Zandt, Earle became a folk and country singer-songwriter. Steve Earle has 31 books on Goodreads with 8710 ratings. New York: This page was last edited on 13 January 2021, at 14:02. [8] Earle was "rebellious" as a young man and dropped out of school at the age of 16. [47] In a 2017 interview Earle stated about President Donald Trump: "We’ve never had an orangutan in the White House before. [52] Since his youngest son was diagnosed with autism, Earle has also become an advocate for people on the spectrum. GUY, Earle's tribute album to his songwriting hero Guy Clark was released on March 29, 2019. [5] He ran away from home at age 14 to search for his idol, singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. consists of … Several of his songs have provided descriptions of the experiences of death row inmates, including Billy Austin and Over Yonder (Jonathan's Song). [citation needed] That year, Earle was the subject of a documentary DVD called Just an American Boy. The hurt could be too raw to be so far out there, the way Steve Earle has been throughout his career. [15], In the early 2000s, Earle's album Jerusalem expressed his anti-war, anti-death penalty and his other "leftist views". [4] The family returned to Texas before Earle's second birthday, and he grew up primarily in the San Antonio area. Country crooner Steve Earle won't be wearing a MAGA hat on tour anytime soon. J.T., which was released earlier this month, finds Earle paying tribute to his son, Justin Townes Earle, who died from a probable drug overdose in August at the age of 38. Stephen Fain Earle (/ɜːrl/) (born January 17, 1955) is an American rock, country and folk singer-songwriter, record producer, author and actor. [5] His subsequent tour featured the Jerusalem album and was released as the live album Just an American Boy in 2003. The album contained 15 songs written by Townes Van Zandt. Earle is outspoken with his political views, and often addresses them in his lyrics and in interviews. Steve Earle has recorded tribute albums before, to songwriting mentors Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark. [1][37], Next, he married Lou-Anne Gill (with whom he had a second son, Ian Dublin Earle, in January of 1987) and then his fifth wife, Teresa Ensenat, who was an A&R executive for Geffen Records at the time. Maybe that's because he started recording it just months after his son, Justin Townes Earle, died alone in his Nashville apartment of an accidental overdose at the age of 38. [1], In 2004, Earle released the album The Revolution Starts Now, a collection of songs influenced by the Iraq War and the policies of the George W. Bush administration and won a Grammy for best contemporary folk album. Politically he identifies as a socialist, but tends to vote for Democratic candidates, despite not agreeing entirely with their politics. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. [26] Earle has recorded two other anti-death penalty songs: "Billy Austin", and "Ellis Unit One" for the 1995 film Dead Man Walking. Steve Earle’s most popular book is A Death in the Family. Greeting cards, journals, notebooks, postcards, and more. He really is a fascist. Steve Earle performing at the Rudolstadt Festival, Germany in 2018. The album will be released digitally on what would have been Justin’s 39th birthday, January 4, 2021, via New West Records. Exclusive Prime pricing. Our Stores Are Open Book Annex Membership Educators Gift Cards Stores & Events Help All Books ebooks NOOK Textbooks Newsstand Teens Kids Toys Games & Collectibles Gift, Home & Office Movies & TV Music Book Annex [5][6][7][1], Earle began learning the guitar at the age of 11 and entered a school talent contest at age 13. [1], In the 1980s, Earle returned to Nashville once again and worked as a songwriter for the publishers Roy Dea and Pat Carter. [30], On June 10, 2016, Earle released an album of duets with Shawn Colvin, titled simply Colvin And Earle, which was accompanied by a tour in London and the U.S.[31][32], On June 16, 2017, Earle & the Dukes released his seventeenth studio album, So You Wannabe An Outlaw. Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Americana Music “He’s got that mallet grip like I got,” observed Helm, and the next day a drum kit showed up on the Earle’s doorstep. Then Earle began "three years in a mysterious vaporization" according to the Chicago Sun-Times. He moved to Houston with his 19-year-old uncle, also a musician. “J.T." Later Dea and Carter created an independent record label called LSI and invited Earle to begin recording his own material on their label. J.T. Earle presented excerpts of his poetry and fiction writing at the 2000 New Yorker Festival. Acting as Earle's manager, John Lomax "sent the EP to Epic Records," and they "signed Earle" to a recording contract in 1983. On the forthcoming album, J.T., Steve Earle & The Dukes pay tribute to Steve’s late son, Justin Townes Earle (J.T. [citation needed], On February 17, 2015, Earle released his sixteenth studio album, Terraplane. Earle is outspoken with his political views, and often addresses them in his lyrics and in interviews. [1] Earle appeared in the 1975 film Heartworn Highways, a documentary on the Nashville music scene which included David Allan Coe, Guy Clark, Townes van Zandt and Rodney Crowell. [citation needed]. Engage yourself with a true artist! His songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Levon Helm, The Highwaymen, Travis Tritt, Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, Shawn Colvin, Bob Seger, Percy Sledge and Emmylou Harris. [51] He is pro-choice, and has argued that rich Americans have always had access to abortions, and that the political issue in the US is really whether poor women should have access. T… does what tribute albums are supposed to do. [27] During the second half of his 2011 tour with The Dukes and Duchesses and Moorer, the drum kit was adorned with the slogan "we are the 99%" a reference to the Occupy movement of September 2011. A message announcing the news was shared on the musician’s Instagram account on Sunday. "[49], In his 1990 song Justice in Ontario, Earle criticized the conviction of six Satan's Choice bikers for a 1978 murder in Port Hope, arguing that the accused were innocent, framed by the ruthless Corporal Terry Hall of the Ontario Provincial Police's Special Squad. Steve Earle. But this one is different. [22] Earle is also the subject of two biographies, Steve Earle: Fearless Heart, Outlaw Poet, by David McGee and Hardcore Troubadour: The Life and Near Death of Steve Earle by Lauren St John.