Dr. Ted Olson celebrates the life and music of Steve Young with a 3-CD set
Published on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 10:26 AM
steve young
Singer-songwriter Steve Young is primarily known for composing the popular song “Seven Bridges Road,” and although he is largely overlooked, he still has a wide range of influence.
A pioneer in three musical subgenres: country rock, outlaw country, and Americana, Young recorded a number of critically acclaimed albums.
The Eagles, Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams Jr., Billy Strings, Alan Jackson, and Del McCauley are among those who have performed and recorded his songs.
In August 2024, Omnivore Recordings released a three-CD set celebrating Young’s life and music.
Dr. Ted Olson of East Tennessee State University is co-producer.
Titled “Stars in the Southern Sky,” the set features Young’s legendary but long-unavailable 1975 album “Honky Tonk Man” and his own version of “Seven Bridges Road." Contains 34 unreleased concert recordings by Young from the mid-1970s, including: Other songs include “Montgomery in the Rain,” “Lonesome Only and Mean,” and the gospel song “Many Rivers.”
Concert recordings include several traditional ballads and blues covers by Young, as well as songs by “so-and-so” Southern songwriters ranging from Hank Williams Sr. to Johnny Horton. are.
Young, an Appalachian native, played Down Home in Johnson City.
And in 2000, at the invitation of Olson, a professor in ETSU’s Appalachian Studies and Bluegrass, Old Time, and Roots Music Studies programs, Young led a songwriting workshop for ETSU’s Bluegrass and English students.
“I’m sure the students who had the opportunity to participate in that workshop will have fond memories,” Olson said.
Earlier this month, Olson hosted a panel discussion about Young’s influence at the AMERICANAFEST conference in Nashville.
“Stars in the Southern Sky” aims to introduce “Honky Tonk Man” to a new generation while incorporating two previously unreleased live concert recordings by Young from the mid-1970s. All recordings were remastered by Grammy Award-winning sound engineer Michael Graves.
“It was an honor to help with this set,” Olson said. “Steve Young deserves more recognition for his significant contributions to American music, and I hope that ‘Stars in the Southern Sky’ will help more people recognize his legacy.” .”
