Song:Things Go Up
Album:Dog House Music
The road to stardom for throwback bluesman Seasick Steve Wold is so unlikely it should probably be turned into a movie. Who would think that a guy who looks like a hobo and and sings and plays blues in the style of long forgotten legends would have a major label deal? And he's especially popular in England. Wold was born 1941 in Oakland, CA. He learned to play guitar as a child but left home at age 13 to flee his stepfather's abuse. He was a hobo for almost 20 years. He would hop trains, do odd jobs and worked as a carnie, a cowboy and a migrant worker. He also toured with blues musicians in the 60s and occasionally played sessions. He also became a big part of the growing Seattle music scene while living in Olympia in the late 80s usually as a recording engineer. Eventually he moved with his family to Norway in 2001. He released his debut solo CD Cheap independently. It got the attention of British label Bronzerat and Dog House Music was released in 2006. An appearance on Jools Holland's New Year's Eve Hootenany show made Seasick Steve a sensation in England. He also won the 2007 MOJO Award for Best Breakthrough Artist. He was too big for Bronzerat so they made a distribution deal with Warner Bros. His major label debut I Started Out With Nothin' and I Still Got Most Of It Left reached #9 on the UK Album chart. Steve moved to Rykodisc/Atlantic and his 2009 CD Man From Another Time reached #4 on the UK Album chart. His new CD ...Songs For Elizabeth will be released shortly. Seasick Steve's fame has mostly been in England. But I could see him doing very well on the US festival circuit. He has something and his music is really good. BTW, Wold says he really does get seasick. Here's the video for Things Go Up by Seasick Steve.
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