Sturgill Simpson

Sturgill Simpson

Sturgill Simpson is an American country singer-songwriter and actor from Jackson, Kentucky. He is associated with country, outlaw country, americana and bluegrass, and his work also draws on roots rock.

Background

Born in 1978, Simpson grows up in Breathitt County, Kentucky, before his family moves to Versailles, near Lexington, because of his father’s work. He graduates from Woodford County High School. His mother’s family works in coal mining, and he is the first male on that side of the family not to work in a strip mine or deep mine.

He serves three years in the United States Navy, spends time in Japan, then lives in Everett, Washington, before returning to Lexington, Kentucky.

Recording career

Simpson records as a solo artist and also works with Sunday Valley and Dead Ahead. He releases two albums independently through his own High Top Mountain Records: High Top Mountain and Metamodern Sounds in Country Music. His third studio album, A Sailor’s Guide to Earth, comes out on Atlantic Records and is his first major-label release.

Recognition and reception

Metamodern Sounds in Country Music receives a Grammy nomination for Best Americana Album. It is also listed 18th in Rolling Stone’s “50 Best Albums of 2014” and appears in NPR’s list of “50 Favorite Albums of 2014.” A Sailor’s Guide to Earth later wins Best Country Album at the 59th Grammy Awards and is also nominated for Album of the Year.

Style and influences

Simpson is often grouped with outlaw country and compared with Waylon Jennings, but he says Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Keith Whitley and Marty Robbins are bigger influences on his sound. He also says he tries to shape his career on that of Dwight Yoakam. His voice is described as recalling Merle Haggard, and his guitar style as bringing Buck Owens to mind. His music is described as combining traditional country, contemporary philosophy and psychedelic studio techniques.