Jeff Stevens (singer)
Encyclopedia
Jeffery David "Jeff" Stevens (born June 15, 1959 in Alum Creek, West Virginia
) is an American country music
singer, songwriter and record producer. He recorded two albums on Atlantic America Records with his brother Warren Stevens and cousin Terry Dotson as Jeff Stevens and the Bullets, and later as a solo artist on the same label. Since the early 1990s, Stevens has largely worked as a songwriter and producer for other artists.
. At age nine, he and his brother Warren entered a talent contest and won first place. Eventually, they and cousin Terry Dotson formed a band called Jeff Stevens and the Bullets, with Jeff on lead vocals and guitar
, Warren on bass guitar
and Dotson on drums
. The band recorded Bolt out of the Blue for Atlantic America Records
in 1986, which accounted for the singles
"Darlington County
" (a cover
of the Bruce Springsteen
song), "You're in Love Alone" and "Geronimo's Cadillac." A fourth chart single, "Johnny Lucky and Suzi 66," did not appear on an album. In the mid-1980s, Jeff Stevens and Dotson co-wrote Atlanta
's singles "Atlanta Burned Again Last Night
" and "Sweet Country Music
."
The Bullets broke up in 1990 and Stevens remained on Atlantic as a solo artist, releasing the solo single "You Done Me Wrong" and working with record producer Keith Stegall
for a solo debut album which was never released. From there, Stegall helped Stevens find found work as a songwriter, including the singles "I Fell in the Water" by John Anderson
, "Down in Flames
" by Blackhawk
, the Number One hit "Reckless
" for Alabama
, and "Big Love
" and "I Wanna Feel That Way Again" for Tracy Byrd. George Strait
also recorded Stevens' "Carried Away
," "Carrying Your Love with Me
" and "True
," the first two of which went to Number One as well. Stevens had another Number One in 2004 with Tim McGraw
's "Back When
."
In 2007, Stevens began working as a record producer
for Luke Bryan
and co-writer of his debut single "All My Friends Say
." Stevens' son, Jody, is one-half of the duo Fast Ryde
.
Alum Creek, West Virginia
Alum Creek is a census-designated place in Kanawha and Lincoln counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Located along the Coal River, it had a population of 1,749 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Alum Creek is located at ....
) is an American country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer, songwriter and record producer. He recorded two albums on Atlantic America Records with his brother Warren Stevens and cousin Terry Dotson as Jeff Stevens and the Bullets, and later as a solo artist on the same label. Since the early 1990s, Stevens has largely worked as a songwriter and producer for other artists.
Biography
Jeff Stevens was born June 15, 1959 in Alum Creek, West VirginiaAlum Creek, West Virginia
Alum Creek is a census-designated place in Kanawha and Lincoln counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Located along the Coal River, it had a population of 1,749 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Alum Creek is located at ....
. At age nine, he and his brother Warren entered a talent contest and won first place. Eventually, they and cousin Terry Dotson formed a band called Jeff Stevens and the Bullets, with Jeff on lead vocals and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, Warren on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and Dotson on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
. The band recorded Bolt out of the Blue for Atlantic America Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in 1986, which accounted for the singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Darlington County
Darlington County (song)
"Darlington County" is a 1984 song written and performed by Bruce Springsteen. It was released on the album Born in the U.S.A. and has remained a popular concert song for Springsteen and the E Street Band....
" (a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
song), "You're in Love Alone" and "Geronimo's Cadillac." A fourth chart single, "Johnny Lucky and Suzi 66," did not appear on an album. In the mid-1980s, Jeff Stevens and Dotson co-wrote Atlanta
Atlanta (band)
Atlanta was an American country music group formed in 1982 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. It was composed of Brad Griffis , Bill Davidson , Tony Ingram , Alan David , Allen Collay , Bill Packard , Jeff Baker , Dick Stevens and John Holder...
's singles "Atlanta Burned Again Last Night
Atlanta Burned Again Last Night
"Atlanta Burned Again Last Night" is the title of a song recorded by American country music group Atlanta. It was released in May 1983 as the lead single from their debut album Pictures. The song reached #9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart It was written by Jeff Stevens, Terry...
" and "Sweet Country Music
Sweet Country Music
"Sweet Country Music" is the title of a song recorded by American country music group Atlanta. It was released in February 1984 as the third single from their debut album Pictures. It was their highest charting single, reaching #5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and peaking at #2 on...
."
The Bullets broke up in 1990 and Stevens remained on Atlantic as a solo artist, releasing the solo single "You Done Me Wrong" and working with record producer Keith Stegall
Keith Stegall
Robert Keith Stegall is an American country music recording artist and record producer. Active since 1980, Stegall has recorded two-major label studio albums: 1985's Keith Stegall and 1996's Passages...
for a solo debut album which was never released. From there, Stegall helped Stevens find found work as a songwriter, including the singles "I Fell in the Water" by John Anderson
John Anderson (musician)
John David Anderson is an American country music artist with a successful career that has lasted more than 30 years...
, "Down in Flames
Down in Flames (Blackhawk song)
"Down in Flames" is the title of a song written by Michael Clark and Jeff Stevens, and recorded by American country music band BlackHawk. It was released in December 1994 as the fourth single from their self-titled debut album...
" by Blackhawk
Blackhawk (band)
Blackhawk is an American country music group founded in 1992 by Henry Paul , Van Stephenson , and Dave Robbins...
, the Number One hit "Reckless
Reckless (Alabama song)
"Reckless" is the title of a song written by Michael Clark and Jeff Stevens, and recorded by American country music group Alabama. It was released in September 1993 as the first single from their album, Cheap Seats...
" for Alabama
Alabama (band)
Alabama is a country music and southern rock band from Fort Payne, Alabama, United States. The band was founded in 1969 by Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry , soon joined by Jeff Cook...
, and "Big Love
Big Love (Tracy Byrd song)
"Big Love" is a song recorded by country music artist Tracy Byrd. It is the lead-off single released from his 1996 album of the same name. It peaked at #3 in the United States, and #5 in Canada...
" and "I Wanna Feel That Way Again" for Tracy Byrd. George Strait
George Strait
George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
also recorded Stevens' "Carried Away
Carried Away (George Strait song)
"Carried Away" is the title of a song written by Steve Bogard and Jeff Stevens, and recorded by George Strait for his 1996 album Blue Clear Sky. It was released in June 1996 as the second single from the album, and in August of that year, it became Strait's 30th Billboard number-one single...
," "Carrying Your Love with Me
Carrying Your Love with Me (song)
"Carrying Your Love with Me" is the title of a song written by Steve Bogard and Jeff Stevens, and recorded by country music single George Strait. It was released in May 1997 as the second single from his album of the same name. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks...
" and "True
True (George Strait song)
"True" is the title of a song written by Marv Green and Jeff Stevens, and recorded by American country music artist George Strait. It was released in June 1998 as the second single from his album, One Step at a Time. The song peaked at number 2 on the U.S...
," the first two of which went to Number One as well. Stevens had another Number One in 2004 with Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw
Samuel Timothy "Tim" McGraw is an American country singer and actor. Many of McGraw's albums and singles have topped the country music charts with total album sales in excess of 40 million units in the US, making him the eighth best-selling artist, and the third best-selling country singer, in the...
's "Back When
Back When
"Back When" is the title of a song written by Stan Lynch, Stephony Smith and Jeff Stevens, and recorded by American country music singer Tim McGraw. It was released in August 2004 as the second single from McGraw's 2004 album Live Like You Were Dying...
."
In 2007, Stevens began working as a record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
for Luke Bryan
Luke Bryan
Thomas Luther "Luke" Bryan is an American country singer who debuted in 2007 with the single "All My Friends Say", a Top 5 single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. His debut album, I'll Stay Me, was released on Capitol Records in 2007. This album also produced chart singles in "We Rode in...
and co-writer of his debut single "All My Friends Say
All My Friends Say
"All My Friends Say" is the debut single of American country music artist Luke Bryan. Released in January 2007, the single became Bryan's first chart entry, spending more than thirty weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, where it reached a peak of #5...
." Stevens' son, Jody, is one-half of the duo Fast Ryde
Fast Ryde
Fast Ryde is an American country music duo composed of singer-songwriters James Harrison and Jody Stevens, both of whom sing and play guitar. The duo was signed to Republic Records Nashville and has released three singles: "That Thang," "Make It Rain," and "Top Down," That Thang reached #38 on the...
.
Albums
| Year | Album information |
|---|---|
| 1986 | Bolt out of the Blue
|
Singles
| Year | Song | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
|||
| 1987 | "Darlington County Darlington County (song) "Darlington County" is a 1984 song written and performed by Bruce Springsteen. It was released on the album Born in the U.S.A. and has remained a popular concert song for Springsteen and the E Street Band.... " |
69 | Bolt out of the Blue |
| 1988 | "You're in Love Alone" | 61 | |
| "Geronimo's Cadillac" | 53 | ||
| 1989 | "Johnny Lucky and Suzi 66" | 70 | single only |