Steve Poltz

Last updated

Steve Poltz
Steve-Poltz.JPG
Poltz performance in Café Continental, October 2012
Background information
Born (1960-02-19) February 19, 1960 (age 64)
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Origin San Diego, California, USA
Genres Pop rock, indie-rock, folk rock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1990s- current
Labels Mercury Records, 98 Pounder Records, Scam-o-Rama Records, Polygram
Website poltz.com
Steve Poltz performing at DelFest in May 2022, with his guitar called Smokey Joe Steve Poltz 20220528.jpg
Steve Poltz performing at DelFest in May 2022, with his guitar called Smokey Joe

Steve Poltz (born February 19, 1960) is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter and guitarist. [1] [2] He is a founding member of the indie-rock band the Rugburns and collaborated on several songs with singer Jewel, including the 1996 single "You Were Meant for Me", which reached number 2 in the US. [3]

Contents

As a solo artist, he often performs acoustic-only "good old-fashioned sing-along" shows.

Early life

Poltz was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and later immigrated with his family to Pasadena, California; ultimately moving to Palm Springs, California. He attended the University of San Diego, where he received a degree in political science. He met guitarist Robert Driscoll and the Rugburns were formed.

Career

Poltz and his bandmates developed a local and national cult following by playing coffeehouses and bars. While performing dates at the Innerchange Coffeehouse in San Diego, he formed a relationship with Jewel, [4] frequently opening for her on tours, co-writing songs, and appearing in her music video for "You Were Meant For Me." The song made it to Number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 song charts, charting in four other categories in the USA, and several European countries. [5] Poltz has also covered songs by others, which include some Jerry Hannan songs at live gigs.[ citation needed ]

In 1998, Poltz released his first solo album, One Left Shoe , for Mercury Records. A disagreement in the artistic direction of his material led to him leaving the label and forming his own company, 98 Pounder Records. Five years later, he recorded Chinese Vacation, an album heavily influenced by the events of September 11 and the murder of one of his closest friends. During a radio interview and performance on the Dave and Jimmy radio program, he performed a "male" version of "You Were Meant For Me". During the bridge, he went on a 5-minute rant on the morning zoo with Dave and Jimmy from WNCI and assorted stories in Las Vegas, including one that led to the album name One Left Shoe. Poltz also performed the song on the Bob and Tom Show and included the Cassidy story during the bridge.

In 2000, Poltz was awarded the title of "San Diego's Most Influential Artist of the Decade" at the 2000 San Diego Music Awards.[ citation needed ]

In 2012, Poltz guest-starred in the web series Up the Creek as a Canadian country singer named Peeve Stoltz. [6] He improvised the songs in the episode during filming.

Poltz collaborated as a songwriter with A. J. Croce on Croce's 2004 album Adrian James Croce .

According to his website biography, Poltz considers "Everything About You" to be the favorite among his own songs. It appears on the soundtrack album to the 1999 film Notting Hill .

Poltz is known to name his various guitars. They include Smokey Joe, which he saved from being destroyed, Clackety-Clack, Flowerpot, and Trailer-Trash.

Dreamer: A Tribute to Kent Finlay, released in early 2016 on Austin-based Eight 30 Records, features Poltz' version of Finlay's "The Plight of the Bumblebee".

Albums

Singles

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jewel (singer)</span> American musician (born 1974)

Jewel Kilcher, mononymously known as Jewel, is an American singer-songwriter. She has been nominated for four Grammy Awards and has sold over 30 million albums worldwide as of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Croce</span> American singer-songwriter (1943–1973)

James Joseph Croce was an American folk and rock singer-songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, he released five studio albums and numerous singles. During this period, Croce took a series of odd jobs to pay bills while he continued to write, record and perform concerts. After Croce formed a partnership with the songwriter and guitarist Maury Muehleisen in the early 1970s, his fortunes turned. Croce's breakthrough came in 1972, when his third album, You Don't Mess Around with Jim, produced three charting singles, including "Time in a Bottle", which reached No. 1 after Croce died. The follow-up album Life and Times included the song "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown", Croce's only No. 1 hit during his lifetime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Mraz</span> American singer-songwriter

Jason Thomas Mraz is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He rose to prominence with the release of his debut studio album, Waiting for My Rocket to Come (2002), which spawned the single "The Remedy " that peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. His second studio album Mr. A-Z (2005) peaked at number five on the Billboard 200.

<i>Pieces of You</i> 1995 studio album by Jewel

Pieces of You is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Jewel, released on February 28, 1995, by Atlantic Records. It was produced by Ben Keith, who has also produced works for artists such as Neil Young and Patsy Cline. Featuring acoustic guitar-based songs written when Jewel was a teenager, the album is composed of both live recordings from 1994 at the Innerchange, a coffeehouse in San Diego, and studio recordings completed at Neil Young's personal studio in Redwood City, California.

<i>Adrian James Croce</i> (album) 2004 studio album by A. J. Croce

Adrian James Croce is the self-titled fifth album by American singer-songwriter A. J. Croce, released in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A. J. Croce</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1971)

Adrian James "A.J." Croce is an American singer-songwriter. His parents are Ingrid Croce and Jim Croce.

The Rugburns are an American rock band from San Diego, California, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gregory Page (musician)</span> American singer

Gregory Page is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred Tackett</span> American songwriter

Fredrick O. Tackett is an American songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Originally a session player on guitar, mandolin, and trumpet, he is best known as a member of the band Little Feat.

<i>Damn Its 2 Early</i> 2003 live album by Various Artists

Damn It's 2 Early is the second CD of live music recorded on The Dudley & Bob Show released by the show and radio station KLBJ.

"Here Comes the King" is a well-known advertising jingle written for Budweiser, whose slogan is "The King of Beers." Budweiser is the flagship brand of the Anheuser-Busch brewery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)</span> 1974 song by Genesis

"I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)" was the first charting single by the rock band Genesis. It was drawn from their 1973 album Selling England by the Pound. The single was released in the UK in February 1974, and became a minor hit in April 1974, when it reached number 21 in the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Were Meant for Me (Jewel song)</span> 1996 single by Jewel

"You Were Meant for Me" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Jewel, released on her first album, Pieces of You (1995). It was written by Jewel and Steve Poltz. It describes a failed relationship and the narrator's inadequate attempts at moving on with her life.

Randy Rogers Band is an American country music band from San Marcos, Texas. The band is composed of Randy Rogers, Geoffrey Hill (guitar), Jon Richardson, Brady Black (fiddle), Les Lawless (drums), and Todd Stewart. They have recorded seven studio albums and two live albums, and have charted seven singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.

Ingrid Croce is an American author, singer-songwriter, and restaurateur. Between 1964 and 1971, Ingrid performed as a duo with her husband, Jim Croce, releasing the album Jim & Ingrid Croce in 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues)</span> 1974 single by Three Dog Night

"Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues)" is a composition by New Orleans rhythm and blues singer and songwriter Allen Toussaint which, in 1974, became a top 40 hit for Three Dog Night.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wirepony</span>

Wirepony is an American alternative rock band from San Diego, California. It was formed in 2003 by Patrick Dennis after his solo record for punk label Cargo Music was shelved in the late 90s. The first official Wirepony release, 'Home On The Strange' was recorded in 2004 featuring the then rhythm section of punk icon John Doe with guest appearances by Cindy Wasserman of Dead Rock West, but was not officially released until 2007. Other musicians on Wirepony recordings and tour have included members of Fluf, Olivelawn, Reeve Oliver, Tan Sister Radio, Lord Howler and Truckee Brothers. Wirepony's most recent album, 'Right Hook Of Love' was released in January 2010.

Adam Carroll is an Americana singer-songwriter who was born in Tyler, Texas, and has spent most of his career in the Austin, Texas area. Carroll has nine solo albums to his credit, all indie releases, beginning with 2000's South of Town. His songwriting, which focuses on life in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma, is influenced by the work of Texas greats such as Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt. He was honored in 2016 with the release Highway Prayer: A Tribute to Adam Carroll, which features recordings of his songs by some of Austin's leading Americana music artists, including Slaid Cleaves, James McMurtry, Terri Hendrix and Tim Easton.

<i>Taking the World by Donkey</i> 1995 studio album by the Rugburns

Taking the World by Donkey is an album by the American band the Rugburns, released October 31, 1995. It was their final album, due to Steve Poltz's decision to pursue a solo career. It was a commercial failure.

<i>One Left Shoe</i> 1998 studio album by Steve Poltz

One Left Shoe is the solo debut album by the American musician Steve Poltz, released in 1998. The first single was "Silver Lining". Poltz, at the time, expected to record again with the Rugburns, and considered One Left Shoe to be a "sensitive" folk excursion.

References

  1. ↑ "Live Sessions - Steve Poltz". NPR Music. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Steve Poltz And Special Guest Jack Tempchin Play Poway". BWW News Desk. October 4, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  3. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2013). "Steve Poltz". Allmusic review. Rovi Corp. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  4. ↑ "A Conversation with Steve Poltz". Puremusic. February 2008. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Jewel". Billboard.
  6. ↑ "Watch Episode 5 Jingle, Jangle, Jingles | up the Creek Episodes | Comedy Videos | Blip". Archived from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  7. ↑ Answering Machine is a self-released album composed of 56 separate 45-second songs which Poltz recorded as outgoing messages on his telephone message recorder while he was on tour. Reportedly, it is one of Neil Young's favorite records.
  8. ↑ A children's album credited to "The Barn".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.