Steve Earle

Steve Earle

Steve Earle is a US singer-songwriter from Hampton, Virginia, who is associated with country, americana, folk, bluegrass, country rock and rock. Born Stephen Fain Earle in 1955, he grows up in the San Antonio, Texas area after his family returns there from Virginia before his second birthday.

Early life and career

Earle begins learning guitar at 11 and places in a school talent contest at 13. As a teenager he is strongly influenced by Townes Van Zandt, who becomes a major role model for him. He leaves school at 16, moves to Houston with an uncle who is also a musician, marries, and works a series of odd jobs before meeting Van Zandt in person.

He moves to Nashville in 1975 and starts working as a songwriter. In his early years there he records with Guy Clark and Emmylou Harris. He earns a first country hit in 1981 by writing Johnny Lee’s top ten single “When You Fall in Love”. His early performing style is rockabilly-informed.

Breakthrough and setbacks

His first full album, Guitar Town, arrives in 1986 and becomes both a critical and commercial success, selling more than 300,000 copies. The record helps establish him as a major figure in country music. He later struggles with drug addiction, leaves performing and recording after being dropped by MCA in 1991, and is jailed on drug and firearm charges. After his release in 1994, he returns to music.

Later work and themes

After his return, Earle’s work becomes more varied, drawing on acoustic, bluegrass and roots rock styles. Albums such as I Feel Alright and Transcendental Blues receive strong reviews and solid sales. His 2002 album Jerusalem addresses the September 11 attacks and brings wider attention to his left-wing political views, including in the song “John Walker’s Blues”. He also records a tribute album of Townes Van Zandt songs called Townes. His later original album I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive appears in 2011, and its track “This City” is written for the HBO series Treme and used on the show before the album appears.

Other work and collaborations

Earle is also a published writer, a political activist noted for opposing the death penalty in the United States, and a playwright who writes and directs a play. He appears in small roles on the HBO series The Wire and Treme. His sister Stacey Earle is also a singer-songwriter, as is his former wife Allison Moorer, whom he marries in 2005. His son Justin Townes Earle is also a singer-songwriter, and is named after Townes Van Zandt.

Bands and labels

He records and performs under several group names, including Steve Earle & the Dukes, The Twangtrust, Steve Earle & The Train Band and Colvin & Earle. His labels include E-Squared and Exile on Jones Street Music.