Steve Free is an award-winning Appalachian musician. He was born in Portsmouth, Ohio on September 16, 1950 and is of part Shawnee heritage.
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Steve Free was born near Portsmouth, Ohio, on September 16, 1950, When he was 3, he moved to Tucson AZ for a short time and before returning to Ohio at age 9 where he graduated from Northwest High School, Scioto Co Ohio in 1968. He served in Air Force 1969-1973, where he took up the guitar and began writing songs. Around this time he met Philadelphia, PA native John Starkey and formed a folk trio in Philadelphia. There, they recorded and released songs on two small record labels. In 1990, Free signed with Fraternity Records, which is his current label. He shot to national attention in 1993 with his song about the Ohio Prison riot entitled "Siege at Lucasville", which was used by the television series 48 Hours when they covered the story about the prison riot on their program.[1]
Free is allegedly a nationally and internationally known recording artist whose style of music has labeled him the "Appalachian Jimmy Buffett." Additionally, Cashbox Records has labeled him one of the most diverse artists known in music today. Free won eight ASCAP Awards, received a Platinum Award, and Charted 14 songs on The National and International Charts, including his "number one" song "Just a Baby Boy", which is becoming a worldwide Christmas song. In 2008, he was awarded The State of Ohio’s Governor’s Award as "Individual Artist." The recent album was reviewed in the October 2008 Powersource Magazine.
Steve Free and his band are popular throughout the Tri-State area, performing at diverse locations such as Camden Park and smaller venues such as Moyer’s winery and the Ye Olde Lantern in Portsmouth, Ohio.