Steve Free
Encyclopedia
Steve Free is an award-winning Appalachian
musician
. He was born in Portsmouth, Ohio
on September 16, 1950 and is of part Shawnee
heritage.
Around this time he met Philadelphia, PA native John Starkey and formed a folk trio in Philadelphia. There, they recorded and released songs on two small record labels. In 1990, Free signed with Fraternity Records
, which is his current label. He shot to national attention in 1993 with his song about the Ohio Prison riot
entitled "Siege at Lucasville", which was used by the television series 48 Hours
when they covered the story about the prison riot on their program.http://www.poetsplatform.com/articles/48_hours/48.html
." Additionally, Cashbox Records has labeled him one of the most diverse artists known in music today. Free won eight ASCAP Awards, received a Platinum Award, and Charted 14 songs on The National and International Charts, including his "number one" song "Just a Baby Boy", which is becoming a worldwide Christmas
song. In 2008, he was awarded The State of Ohio’s Governor’s Award as "Individual Artist." The recent album was reviewed in the October 2008 Powersource Magazine.
and smaller venues such as Moyer’s winery and the Ye Olde Lantern in Portsmouth, Ohio
.
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. He was born in Portsmouth, Ohio
Portsmouth, Ohio
Portsmouth is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Scioto County. The municipality is located on the northern banks of the Ohio River and east of the Scioto River in Southern Ohio. The population was 20,226 at the 2010 census.-Foundation:...
on September 16, 1950 and is of part Shawnee
Shawnee
The Shawnee, Shaawanwaki, Shaawanooki and Shaawanowi lenaweeki, are an Algonquian-speaking people native to North America. Historically they inhabited the areas of Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Western Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania...
heritage.
Early career
Steve Free was born near Portsmouth, Ohio, on September 16, 1950, When he was 3, he moved to Tucson AZ for a short time and before returning to Ohio at age 9 where he graduated from Northwest High School, Scioto Co Ohio in 1968. He served in Air Force 1969-1973, where he took up the guitar and began writing songs.Around this time he met Philadelphia, PA native John Starkey and formed a folk trio in Philadelphia. There, they recorded and released songs on two small record labels. In 1990, Free signed with Fraternity Records
Fraternity Records
Fraternity Records was a small record label based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was started by Harry Carlson and silent partner Dr. Ashton Welsh in 1954.The first hit was local girl Cathy Carr's rendition of a Tin Pan Alley song, "Ivory Tower" in 1956...
, which is his current label. He shot to national attention in 1993 with his song about the Ohio Prison riot
Southern Ohio Correctional Facility
The Southern Ohio Correctional Facility is a maximum security prison in Lucasville, Ohio, United States. The prison was constructed in 1972 and currently contains the death house for Ohio where death row inmates are executed...
entitled "Siege at Lucasville", which was used by the television series 48 Hours
48 Hours (TV series)
48 Hours is a documentary and news program broadcast on the CBS television network since January 19, 1988. The program originally presented documentaries of various events related to a particular subject occurring within a 48-hour period, and is credited as one of the first to air a "reality show"...
when they covered the story about the prison riot on their program.http://www.poetsplatform.com/articles/48_hours/48.html
Today
Free is allegedly a nationally and internationally known recording artist whose style of music has labeled him the "Appalachian Jimmy BuffettJimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
." Additionally, Cashbox Records has labeled him one of the most diverse artists known in music today. Free won eight ASCAP Awards, received a Platinum Award, and Charted 14 songs on The National and International Charts, including his "number one" song "Just a Baby Boy", which is becoming a worldwide Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
song. In 2008, he was awarded The State of Ohio’s Governor’s Award as "Individual Artist." The recent album was reviewed in the October 2008 Powersource Magazine.
Venues
Steve Free and his band are popular throughout the Tri-State area, performing at diverse locations such as Camden ParkCamden Park (amusement park)
Camden Park is an amusement park located in Huntington, West Virginia. The park first opened in 1903 as a picnic spot along the Camden Interstate Railway street car line between Huntington and Ashland, Kentucky. It is traditional park home to over 30 rides and attractions. The park features two of...
and smaller venues such as Moyer’s winery and the Ye Olde Lantern in Portsmouth, Ohio
Portsmouth, Ohio
Portsmouth is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Scioto County. The municipality is located on the northern banks of the Ohio River and east of the Scioto River in Southern Ohio. The population was 20,226 at the 2010 census.-Foundation:...
.
External links
- Steve Free's Homepage
- Powersource Magazine
- http://www.oh.state.oh.us
- [htt://www.gtemusicmagazine.com]
- [www.ascap.com]
- http://www.stevefree.com/2008/gte_mag_cover/index.html