1974 to 1999 Steve Earle

earle performing in 2007 @ midlands music festival in westmeath, ireland

in 1974 @ age of 19 earle moved nashville, tennessee, , began working blue-collar jobs during day , playing music @ night. during period earle wrote songs , played bass guitar in guy clark s band , on clark s 1975 album old no. 1. earle appeared in 1975 film heartworn highways, documentary on nashville music scene included david allan coe, guy clark, townes van zandt , rodney crowell. earle lived in nashville several years , assumed position of staff songwriter @ publishing company sunbury dunbar. later earle grew tired of nashville , returned texas started band called dukes.

in 1980s earle returned nashville once again , worked songwriter publishers roy dea , pat carter. song co-wrote, when fall in love , recorded johnny lee , made number 14 on country charts in 1982. carl perkins recorded earle s song mustang wine , , 2 of songs recorded zella lehr. later dea , carter created independent record label called lsi , invited earle begin recording own material on label. connie smith recorded earle s composition far cry in 1985 reached minor position on country charts well.

earle released ep called, pink & black, in 1982 featuring dukes. acting earle s manager, john lomax sent ep epic records, , signed earle recording contract in 1983. in 1983 earle signed record deal cbs , recorded neo-rockabilly album .

after losing publishing contract dea , carter, earle met producer tony brown , after severing ties lomax , epic records obtained seven-record deal mca records. earle released first full-length album, guitar town, on mca records in 1986. title track became top ten single in 1986 , song goodbye s ve got left reached top ten in 1987. same year released compilation of earlier recordings entitled, tracks, , album dukes, called exit 0, received critical acclaim blend of country , rock.

earle released copperhead road on uni records in 1989 characterized quixotic project mixed lyrical folk tradition hard rock , eclectic irish influences such pogues, guested on record . album s title track portrays vietnam veteran uses family background in running moonshine become marijuana grower/seller. earle began 3 years in mysterious vaporization according chicago sun-times.

his 1990 album hard way had strong rock sound , followed shoddy live album called shut , die aviator. in august 1991 earle appeared on tv show texas connection looking pale , blown out . in light of earle s increasing drug use mca records did not renew contract , earle didn t record music next 4 years. july 1993 earle reported have regained normal weight , had started write new material. @ time writer chicago sun-times called earle visionary symbol of new traditionalist movement in country music.

in 1994, 2 staff members @ warner/chappell publishing company, , earle s former manager, john dotson, created in-house cd of earle s songs entitled uncut gems , showcased recording artists in nashville. resulted in several of earle s songs being recorded travis tritt, stacy dean campbell , robert earl keen. after recording hiatus, earle released train comin on winter harvest records , nominated grammy award best contemporary folk album in 1996. album characterized return folksy acoustic sound of career.

in 1996 earle formed own record label, e-squared records, , released album, feel alright, combined musical sounds of country, rock , rockabilly. earle released album el corazon (the heart) in 1997 1 reviewer called capstone of [earle s] remarkable comeback .

according earle, wrote song on yonder death row inmate whom exchanged letters before attending execution in 1998. made foray bluegrass influenced music in 1999 when released album, mountain del mccoury band. in 2000, earle recorded album transcendental blues, features song galway girl.