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. Earle is outspoken with his political views, and often addresses them in his lyrics and in interviews. On the forthcoming album, J.T., Steve Earle & The Dukes pay tribute to Steve’s late son, Justin Townes Earle (J.T. Still, the more moving homage comes in the careful curation and performance of the son's songs. [8], His 1990 album The Hard Way[8] had a strong rock sound and was followed by "a shoddy live album" called Shut Up and Die Like an Aviator. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. Politically he identifies as a socialist, but tends to vote for Democratic candidates, despite not agreeing entirely with their politics. Television fans will recognize Earle fro… He ... Born: January 17, 1955 John Henry loves playing the drums, Earle … The hurt could be too raw to be so far out there, the way Steve Earle has been throughout his career. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? [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. One can imagine the heartbroken father, working his way through his son’s impressive but suddenly finite catalog, making careful, loving choices. [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. [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. Steve Earle has recorded tribute albums before, to songwriting mentors Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark. ), who passed away on August 20, 2020 in Nashville. Justin … That’s where my money comes from and that’s where my freedom comes from".[50]. “J.T." consists of … St John, Lauren. 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. JUSTIN Townes Earle, son of folk-rock musician Steve Earle, has died at the age of 38. [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. Earle began his career as a songwriter in Nashville and released his first EP in 1982. [8] At that time a writer for the Chicago Sun-Times called Earle "a visionary symbol of the New Traditionalist movement in country music. Warren, Doug (November 20, 2007) "Steve Earle: El Corozon E-Squared/Warner Bros". [19], In 2006, Earle contributed a cover of Randy Newman's song "Rednecks" to the tribute album Sail Away: The Songs of Randy Newman. Steve Earle performing at the Rudolstadt Festival, Germany in 2018. [15], In the early 2000s, Earle's album Jerusalem expressed his anti-war, anti-death penalty and his other "leftist views". The details are intimate but somehow generic, and Steve Earle reveals more about their relationship in liner notes and interviews. 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. But how can you blame a father for not being vulnerable enough in his grief? This was a time when he was picking up new fans and releasing his best stuff ever. Steve Earle was born on January 17, 1955 in Fort Monroe, Virginia and grew up in Texas. In 1990, Earle stated in an interview about Justice In Ontario: "There’s some concern about reprisals because the O.P.P. He really is a fascist. 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. [5] Earle released the album El Corazon (The Heart) in 1997 which one reviewer called "the capstone of this [Earle's] remarkable comeback".[12]. Earle's sister, Stacey Earle is also a musician and songwriter. Singer-songwriter, recording artist and producer. In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. [13] He made a foray into bluegrass influenced music in 1999 when he released the album The Mountain with the Del McCoury Band. "Steve Earle". 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. The album was released January 4 on what would have been his son, Justin Townes Earle’s, 39 … [5][6][7][1], Earle began learning the guitar at the age of 11 and entered a school talent contest at age 13. Then Earle began "three years in a mysterious vaporization" according to the Chicago Sun-Times. They’re witnessing me be a better father than I was to them, and that’s gotta hurt a little. [18] The album was released during the U.S. presidential campaign. There’s a lot of “What does this button do?” going on. [8] Earle was "rebellious" as a young man and dropped out of school at the age of 16. [citation needed], In September 2007, Earle released his twelfth studio album, Washington Square Serenade,[23] on New West Records. [5][17] Earle responded by appearing on a variety of news and editorial programs and defended the song and his views on patriotism and terrorism. And I think I especially have a responsibility to do that, ’cause if I didn’t have any money right now I’d be in prison in Texas—I’m convinced of that. Hardcore Troubadour: The Life and Near Death of Steve Earle, Fourth Estate, 2002, Hoekstra, Dave (July 11, 1993) "Steve Earle On the Road To Comeback", Chicago Sun-Times. [38] John Henry was diagnosed with autism before age two. [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. Earle is outspoken with his political views, and often addresses them in his lyrics and in interviews. The album contained 15 songs written by Townes Van Zandt. Guest artists appearing on the album included Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, Moorer, and his son Justin. [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. does what tribute albums are supposed to do. High quality Steve Earle stationery featuring original designs created by artists. [10], Earle released an EP called, Pink & Black, in 1982 featuring the Dukes. Greeting cards, journals, notebooks, postcards, and more. [16], In 2010, Earle was awarded the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty's Shining Star of Abolition award. 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. 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. (New West Records via AP). [45][46] 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. [26] Earle has recorded two other anti-death penalty songs: "Billy Austin", and "Ellis Unit One" for the 1995 film Dead Man Walking. [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". Highly Recommended! Earle is the father of late singer-songwriter and frequent collaborator Justin Townes Earle. Earle has never been one for beating around the bush. Steve Earle. The song was released for sale the following day with all proceeds going towards the Civil Rights organization Southern Poverty Law Center. 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. His 2012 novel I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive describes the life of a morphine-addicted doctor in 1963 San Antonio before Roe v. Wade who treats gunshot wounds and provides illegal abortions to poor women. [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. A song he co-wrote, "When You Fall in Love", was recorded by Johnny Lee and made number 14 on the country charts in 1982. [1][16] The title song was used by General Motors in a TV advertisement. finds Steve Earle & The Dukes covering 10 of Justin’s songs – from “ I Don’t Care,” which appeared on his 2007 … I was fucking going. 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 GUY, Earle's tribute album to his songwriting hero Guy Clark was released on March 29, 2019. Since then Earle has released 20 more studio albums and received three Grammy awards. In 2000, Earle recorded his album Transcendental Blues,[5] which features the song Galway Girl. Schone, Mark. But I was able to afford decent legal representation. Hardcore Troubadour: The Life and Near Death of Steve Earle, Fourth Estate, 2002. 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. 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. [5] His subsequent tour featured the Jerusalem album and was released as the live album Just an American Boy in 2003. [28][29], On September 10, 2015, Earle & the Dukes released a new internet single titled "'Mississippi, It's Time". Steve Earle & the Dukes, “J.T." [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. New York: This page was last edited on 13 January 2021, at 14:02. [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. 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. [1], In the 1980s, Earle returned to Nashville once again and worked as a songwriter for the publishers Roy Dea and Pat Carter. [24] The disc features Earle's wife, Allison Moorer, on "Days Aren't Long Enough" and "Down Here Below." [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. Singer Justin Townes Earle has sadly died at the age of 38, it has been confirmed. Exclusive Prime pricing. [5] He ran away from home at age 14 to search for his idol, singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. Earle is a vocal opponent of capital punishment,[5] which he considers his primary area of political activism. [citation needed] That year, Earle was the subject of a documentary DVD called Just an American Boy. In a 2017 interview Earle stated about President Donald Trump: "We’ve never had an orangutan in the White House before. Meet Steve Earle - the real deal - live and uncut. J.T. While in Houston, Earle finally met Van Zandt. In 2008, Earle produced Joan Baez's album Day After Tomorrow. Earle married his third wife, Carol-Ann Hunter, who gave birth to his son, singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle (1982–2020). [11] Conversely, he has also written a song from the perspective of a prison guard working on death row in Ellis Unit One, a song written for the film Dead Man Walking, the title based on the name of the State of Texas men's death row. consists of 10 of his son's songs and one original composition, “Last Words." Each year, Earle organizes a benefit concert for the Keswell School, which his son John Henry attends and which provides educational programs for children and young adults with autism. You can’t stand by and let stuff like that go down without saying anything about it. [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. [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. "[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'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. Politically he identifies as a socialist, but tends to vote for Democratic candidates, despite not agreeing entirely with their politics. His debut studio album was Guitar Town in 1986. This resulted in several of Earle's songs being recorded by Travis Tritt, Stacy Dean Campbell and Robert Earl Keen. [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.) Steve Earle was born on January 17, 1955 in Fort Monroe, Virginia, USA as Stephen Fain Earle. [citation needed] The album earned Earle a third Grammy award, again for best contemporary folk album. Steve Earle has recorded tribute albums before, to songwriting mentors Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark. He fully inhabits every last song. Earle was born in Fort Monroe, Virginia, where his father was stationed as an air traffic controller. The passion Steve Earle and his band, which once included Justin in their ranks, poured into them is palpable. But this one is different. It’s scary. Acting as Earle's manager, John Lomax "sent the EP to Epic Records," and they "signed Earle" to a recording contract in 1983. Shop our range of T-Shirts, Tanks, Hoodies, Dresses, and more. But this one is different. 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. John Henry is autistic and largely non-verbal. [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. [5][1] Later Earle grew tired of Nashville and returned to Texas where he started a band called The Dukes. Unique Steve Earle clothing designed and sold by artists for women, men, and everyone. [8] The album's title track portrays a Vietnam veteran who uses his family background in running moonshine to become a marijuana grower/seller. Steve Earle has recorded tribute albums before, to songwriting mentors Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark. [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. [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. [citation needed], On February 17, 2015, Earle released his sixteenth studio album, Terraplane. (New West). 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. [47] In a 2017 interview Earle stated about President Donald Trump: "We’ve never had an orangutan in the White House before. Veteran folk singer Steve Earle shared an intimate, seven-song concert with a small group of fans at Minneapolis club Icehouse in June. You can hear Earle's socialist leanings in both his interviews and songs. (Ontario Provincial Police) is obviously not gonna be thrilled. 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. Maybe that's because he started recording it just months after his son, Justin Townes Earle, died alone in his Nashville … The album was characterized as a return to the "folksy acoustic" sound of his early career. [1][16] The album's song "John Walker's Blues", about the captured American Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh created controversy. He moved to Houston with his 19-year-old uncle, also a musician. Steve Earle has 31 books on Goodreads with 8710 ratings. [5], In 1996, Earle formed his own record label, E-Squared Records, and released the album, I Feel Alright, which combined the musical sounds of country, rock and rockabilly. I didn't finish high school, so I wasn't a candidate for a student deferment. In March 2014, Earle announced that he and Moorer had separated. Following the example of his musical hero Townes Van Zandt, Earle became a folk and country singer-songwriter. 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