Todd Snider
Encyclopedia
Todd Daniel Snider is an American singer-songwriter
with a musical style that combines Americana
, alt-country, and folk
.
in a local bar, Snider decided that he didn't need a band to be a musician.
After moving to Memphis in the mid-1980s and establishing residency at a club named the Daily Planet, he was discovered by Keith Sykes, a member of Jimmy Buffett
's Coral Reefer Band
. A longtime acquaintance of John Prine
and Walker, Sykes began to work with Snider to help advance his career. Prine hired him as an assistant and then invited him to open shows. In time, Buffett heard Snider's demo tapes and signed him to his own label. Snider is a opinionated musician whose fans know him to be quite the workhorse. On his music, Snider has said "I was just trying to come up with the best... most open hearted ... well-thought-out lyrics I could come up with. I wanted every song to be sad and funny at the same time, vulnerable and entertaining at the same time, personal and universal at the same time. I wanted every song to be as uniquely written as possible and then I wanted to perform them in a studio loose and rugged and hopefully as uniquely as I could. My hope is to be hard to describe and/or new…I'm not saying I am. I'm just saying that's the hope."
, entitled Songs for the Daily Planet, was named for the bar where Snider used to play regularly in Memphis
. On that album were the minor hits "Talkin' Seattle Grunge Rock Blues"—a folk song about the early '90's grunge
scene, featuring a band that "refused to play" —and "Alright Guy," which later became the title cut of Gary Allan
's 2001 album.
He released two more albums for MCA, Step Right Up and Viva Satellite before moving to John Prine
's Oh Boy Records
where he made Happy to Be Here, New Connection, Near Truths and Hotel Rooms, East Nashville Skyline
, and Peace Love and Anarchy. That Was Me: The Best of Todd Snider 1994–1998 was released on the Hip-O Records
label in August 2005.
Snider's next studio album, The Devil You Know, was released in August 2006. It marked his return to a major label, New Door Records, a subsidiary of Universal Records
. The Devil You Know was named to several critics' year-end "best" lists, including a #33 ranking in Rolling Stone
magazine's top 50 albums of the year, a #25 ranking by No Depression magazine, and #14 by Blender
magazine.
Snider's album, Peace Queer, was released on October 14, 2008 and reached #1 on the Americana Airplay Chart on October 27, 2008. His album, The Excitement Plan, was released on June 9, 2009 on the YepRoc Label and was produced by Don Was
.
Snider contributed a cover version of A Boy Named Sue
to the 2010 Sugar Hill Records
album Twistable Turnable Man, a tribute by various artists to songwriter Shel Silverstein
.
Snider's songs "Late Last Night" and "I Believe You" have been recorded by the Oklahoma red dirt
band Cross Canadian Ragweed
. He co-wrote the song "Barbie Doll" with country star Jack Ingram
.
In February 2011 Todd Snider released a double disc live album called "The Storyteller" on his own record label Aimless Records. The album features live versions of songs spanning much of Snider's career along with some of the stories that have become a staple of his live show.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
with a musical style that combines Americana
Americana (music)
Americana is an amalgam of roots musics formed by the confluence of the shared and varied traditions that make up the American musical ethos; specifically those sounds that are merged from folk, country, blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll and other external influential styles...
, alt-country, and folk
American folk music
American folk music is a musical term that encompasses numerous genres, many of which are known as traditional music or roots music. Roots music is a broad category of music including bluegrass, country music, gospel, old time music, jug bands, Appalachian folk, blues, Cajun and Native American...
.
Biography
Singer-songwriter Todd Snider was born October 11, 1966, in Portland, Ore., and lived there until his family moved to Houston. When he was 15, he ran away from home with a friend and went back to Portland. After high school, he moved to Santa Rosa, Calif., to be a harmonica player. Then his brother, who lived in Austin, Texas, bought him a ticket to move there. After seeing Jerry Jeff WalkerJerry Jeff Walker
Jerry Jeff Walker is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is probably most famous for writing the song "Mr. Bojangles.-Biography:...
in a local bar, Snider decided that he didn't need a band to be a musician.
After moving to Memphis in the mid-1980s and establishing residency at a club named the Daily Planet, he was discovered by Keith Sykes, a member of Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy 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"...
's Coral Reefer Band
Coral Reefer Band
The Coral Reefer Band is the touring and recording band of American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. Originally it was a fictional band consisting of the imaginary members Marvin Gardens, Kay Pasa, Al Vacado and Kitty Litter....
. A longtime acquaintance of John Prine
John Prine
John Prine is an American country/folk singer-songwriter. He has been active as a recording artist and live performer since the early 1970s.-Biography:...
and Walker, Sykes began to work with Snider to help advance his career. Prine hired him as an assistant and then invited him to open shows. In time, Buffett heard Snider's demo tapes and signed him to his own label. Snider is a opinionated musician whose fans know him to be quite the workhorse. On his music, Snider has said "I was just trying to come up with the best... most open hearted ... well-thought-out lyrics I could come up with. I wanted every song to be sad and funny at the same time, vulnerable and entertaining at the same time, personal and universal at the same time. I wanted every song to be as uniquely written as possible and then I wanted to perform them in a studio loose and rugged and hopefully as uniquely as I could. My hope is to be hard to describe and/or new…I'm not saying I am. I'm just saying that's the hope."
Career
Snider's 1994 debut album on MCAMusic Corporation of America
MCA, Inc. was an American talent agency. Initially starting in the music business, they would next become a dominant force in the film business, and later expanded into the television business...
, entitled Songs for the Daily Planet, was named for the bar where Snider used to play regularly in Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. On that album were the minor hits "Talkin' Seattle Grunge Rock Blues"—a folk song about the early '90's grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
scene, featuring a band that "refused to play" —and "Alright Guy," which later became the title cut of Gary Allan
Gary Allan
Gary Allan Herzberg is an American country music artist, known professionally as Gary Allan.Signed to Decca Records in 1996, Allan made his debut on the United States country music scene with the release of his single "Her Man", the lead-off to his gold-certified debut album Used Heart for Sale,...
's 2001 album.
He released two more albums for MCA, Step Right Up and Viva Satellite before moving to John Prine
John Prine
John Prine is an American country/folk singer-songwriter. He has been active as a recording artist and live performer since the early 1970s.-Biography:...
's Oh Boy Records
Oh Boy Records
Oh Boy Records is an independent American record label founded in 1984 by singer John Prine, his manager Al Bunetta and their friend Dan Einstein. The label has released more than 40 audio and video recordings by singer-songwriters Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Slick Ballinger, Shawn Camp, Dan Reeder...
where he made Happy to Be Here, New Connection, Near Truths and Hotel Rooms, East Nashville Skyline
East Nashville Skyline
East Nashville Skyline is a studio album by Nashville, TN, singer-songwriter Todd Snider. The album was released in 2004.- Songs :The album contains a variety of songs, most of them concerning moments in Snider's past, such as his addiction rehab and various other troubles throughout his life...
, and Peace Love and Anarchy. That Was Me: The Best of Todd Snider 1994–1998 was released on the Hip-O Records
Hip-O Records
Hip-O Records is a record label, currently part of Universal Music Group, which specializes in reissues and compilations. Their Hip-O Select label is currently in the midst of releasing the Complete Motown Singles, a series of fourteen box sets which include both sides of every 45 from Motown...
label in August 2005.
Snider's next studio album, The Devil You Know, was released in August 2006. It marked his return to a major label, New Door Records, a subsidiary of Universal Records
Universal Records
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...
. The Devil You Know was named to several critics' year-end "best" lists, including a #33 ranking in Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's top 50 albums of the year, a #25 ranking by No Depression magazine, and #14 by Blender
Blender (magazine)
Blender was an American music magazine that billed itself as "the ultimate guide to music and more". It was also known for sometimes steamy pictorials of celebrities....
magazine.
Snider's album, Peace Queer, was released on October 14, 2008 and reached #1 on the Americana Airplay Chart on October 27, 2008. His album, The Excitement Plan, was released on June 9, 2009 on the YepRoc Label and was produced by Don Was
Don Was
Don Was is an American musician, bassist and record producer.-Life and career:Was was born in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Oak Park High School in the Detroit suburb of Oak Park, then attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor but dropped out after the first year...
.
Snider contributed a cover version of A Boy Named Sue
A Boy Named Sue
"A Boy Named Sue" is a song written by Shel Silverstein and performed by Johnny Cash. Cash was at the height of his popularity when he recorded the song live at California's San Quentin State Prison at a concert on 24 February 1969. The concert was filmed by Granada Television for later...
to the 2010 Sugar Hill Records
Sugar Hill Records
Sugar Hill Records may refer to:*Sugar Hill Records , specializing in rap music*Sugar Hill Records , specializing in bluegrass and country music...
album Twistable Turnable Man, a tribute by various artists to songwriter Shel Silverstein
Shel Silverstein
Sheldon Allan "Shel" Silverstein , was an American poet, singer-songwriter, musician, composer, cartoonist, screenwriter and author of children's books. He styled himself as Uncle Shelby in his children's books...
.
Snider's songs "Late Last Night" and "I Believe You" have been recorded by the Oklahoma red dirt
Red Dirt (music)
Red Dirt Music is a music genre that gets its name from the color of soil found in Oklahoma. Although Stillwater, Oklahoma is considered to be the epicenter of Red Dirt music, there's a Texas Red Dirt sound as well. Outlaws Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson are associated with that distinctive...
band Cross Canadian Ragweed
Cross Canadian Ragweed
Cross Canadian Ragweed was an American Red Dirt/Texas Country/Country rock band. The name of the band came from the combination of three band members' names, Grady Cross , Cody Canada , and Randy Ragsdale . Jeremy Plato's name was not involved in the band naming...
. He co-wrote the song "Barbie Doll" with country star Jack Ingram
Jack Ingram
Jack Owen Ingram is an American Texas Country artist signed to Big Machine Records, an independent record label. He has released eight studio albums, one extended play, six live albums and eighteen singles. Although active since 1992, Ingram did not reach the U.S. country Top 40 until the late...
.
In February 2011 Todd Snider released a double disc live album called "The Storyteller" on his own record label Aimless Records. The album features live versions of songs spanning much of Snider's career along with some of the stories that have become a staple of his live show.
Albums
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US Heat Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
US Indie Independent Albums The Billboard Independent Albums is a chart of the highest-selling independent music albums and extended plays in the United States, compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is used to list artists who are not signed to major labels... |
||
| 1994 | Songs for the Daily Planet | 23 | ||
| 1996 | Step Right Up | |||
| 1998 | Viva Satellite | |||
| 2000 | Happy to Be Here | |||
| 2002 | New Connection | 45 | ||
| 2003 | Near Truths and Hotel Rooms | |||
| 2004 | East Nashville Skyline East Nashville Skyline East Nashville Skyline is a studio album by Nashville, TN, singer-songwriter Todd Snider. The album was released in 2004.- Songs :The album contains a variety of songs, most of them concerning moments in Snider's past, such as his addiction rehab and various other troubles throughout his life... |
44 | 28 | |
| 2005 | That Was Me: The Best of Todd Snider 1994–1998 | |||
| 2006 | The Devil You Know | 173 | 4 | |
| 2007 | Peace Love and Anarchy (Rarities, B-Sides, & Demos, Vol. 1) |
|||
| Live with the Devil You Know (Grimey's - Nashville) | ||||
| The Devil You Know DVD | ||||
| 2008 | Peace Queer | 8 | 44 | |
| 2009 | The Excitement Plan | 144 | 6 | 31 |
| 2011 | Todd Snider Live: The Storyteller | 7 | 36 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US MSR | CAN AC | |||
| 1994 | "Talkin' Seattle Grunge Rock Blues" | 31 | — | Songs for the Daily Planet |
| "This Land is Our Land" | — | — | ||
| 1995 | "Alright Guy" | — | 33 | |
| 1996 | "I Believe You" | — | — | Step Right Up |
| "Late Last Night" | — | — |
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "Alright Guy" | Jim Shea |
External links
- Todd Snider official page
- EighteenMinutes.com - The Todd Snider Archives
- Todd Snider Feature and CD reviews at Country Standard Time
- Interview from honesttune.com
- Interview on AmericanaRoots.com
- Interview June 2009 on NPR