I am one and you are right.Unfortunately it can become a curse if you forget to still love them that disrespect your calling.I" m a 74 year old street singer and I played for two hours on my birthday,June 21 and didn't make a single dollar .I played the Dutchman,City of New Orleans,..You never call me by my name,Stan Rogers,Field Behind the plow,Mr. BO jangles,Navajo rug,(jj walker,the Breeze,jj Cale,Gordon Light foot.and Dylan, at least five of his and some of my own creations.Everybody passed me by.Later on at 3 am on the 22,I cried at people's indifference to an old man whom had outlived his time.A song I wrote 20 years ago is called It's a Young person'sn'world we live in. The wheel is still in spin,..not so sure if the lovers now will be later to win but I do know that I sat back stage with Gordon Lightfoot and later on went on to cover many of his songs on Church St.,Vermont and a hundred other artists.Like I said: sometimes gifts can turn ot to be not what you think gifts are supposed to be.Please excuse type errors as I sm not going to go back and edit
Only got fully into Steve in recent times. What an amazing guitarist & performer. Such a tragedy to lose a talent such as Steve at just 36. I imagine he & John Prine are really putting a show on in Heaven together.
If you can find it “Steve Goodman: Facing the Music” a full biography by Clay Eals. In the 1970’s Steve played Easter shows for 3 or 4 years and WNEW-FM, a progressive Rock station at the time. Vince Scelsa was the DJ for those shows and kept the tapes after the station changed format. It has been released as the “Easter Tapes” inbred Pajama Records. I heard at least two of those shows by leaving the dinner table to sneak up to my room and turn the radio on. I am guessing that he was in NYC to visit Sloan Kittering for his leukemia treatment and maintenance.
Had the pleasure of being a part of several shows when Steve played in Rockford, Ill. at Charlottes Web. In 1984 he was the featured artist for the Webs Anniversary shows here at the Web. He was in remission from his medical situation and it was a magical week-end. Later that year he was here to open for someone at the magnificent Coronado Theater and I went to visit with him and see how he was doing. He invited me backstage where we shared a meal and and chatted for a good bit. He was feeling great and looking forward to his upcoming schedule. 6 weeks later he was gone, a part of me died with him. Long may his music live!
6 years later he was gone. His final tour played one night at the Armadillo World Headquarters. It was simultaneously sad and triumphant. He chiseled each song into perfection.
Dammit, man. Steve was the bomb. Nothing, nobody in today's world can touch him. A true showman. I never realized how much impact he had on my style of performing. God bless you, Steve.
Saw Steve with John Prine and EmyLou Harris in 76. Showed up at a local club we had gone to for a beer after the concert. Unbelievably nice and funny guy.
I was lucky enough to meet Steve when he was playing at a club in Atlanta in the early 70's. Such a nice guy. He told me a friend of his was going to play at the club a few weeks later and I should check the guy out. I did. Guy's name was Jimmy Buffett.
His love and passion for music was infectious. You can't help but smile when you watch him shaking his head and jumping around on the stage. He had such energy, such talent and such a great attitude. He had so much life for someone who was deprived of so much of it. Rest in peace Steve Goodman, and I truly hope you and John are playing together at that Tree of Forgiveness Lounge in the clouds.
I was privileged to see the great Steve Goodman perform at the University of Illinois, Champaign in the Fall of 1982. I write Champaign and not Urbana because I think he performed at the Illini basketball arena which was in Champaign. Just to think he died less than 2 yrs after his Illini performance. And at least he understood men loved women and vice versa.
He was a true troubadour..s story teller like no other..he could transport you back in time you could smell the air of that time picture the local heroes in his songs.He was related able..a song about everyone and time of everyone can relate to...!!!
He was an amazing performer and had group of friends. Bob Dylan played on one of his albums, uncredited, John Prine, Jimmy Buffet, Arlo Guthrie, David Bromberg, Jethro Burns, and so many others. I road a train through Ohio, Illinois and Indiana and saw what “City of New Orleans” visualized. That song and my memories are intertwined forever.
He had so much talent! We lost him too soon. I got to see him once. He opened up for Steve Martin on his wild and crazy guy tour. I was only 12 years old, but it was very moving to me even at that age.
He was a true American treasure. Thanks for posting this performance. We can use some positive vibes with all the hate floating around. It's impossible for me to get down when I watch and listen to him play and sing.
I saw him in February of 1980 (perhaps it was 79?) at The Time Out (later it became Oscar’s) in Bloomington, IN when I was a student at IU. I have never seen such an energetic and enthusiastic performance in all my life. Just Steve and his guitar. I can still hear parts of that show, including some of his hilarious jokes between songs, forty-four years later.
I first heard his records at a buddy’s in 76 and loved him. Although I then bought his music I can’t believe I never went to see him live and he played around a lot- huge regret
You left us way too soon. Thank you for being your authentic self. My heart broke when I learned that you were already‘gone’. But for me- you will never die. Thank you for sharing your music, your voice- & making me happy. Much love, Amy & the kitty; Zoe.
I’m just becoming aware of Steve Goodman, Arlo Guthrie and Pete Seeger all because I Googled up the music of "Blood and Gold" the Tale that looks so Quinton Terantino of Germany! What an absolute Gem we lost at such a young age! I learned just about a year ago that the avocado really really hates Leukemia! So I eat one or two every day! I do wonder how many victims of Leukemia have and had no idea! Plants can heal us! Amen!
My old man my dad was wounded during D Day operations and in the battle of the Bulge he was one of the first 5 high school football coaches inducted into the Pa. High School football coaches Hall of Fame
Wow, he was pretty intense during this concert. I remember him being pretty light & slightly intense at times in the early 70s. He seems to have been trying really hard to have a good time. Dear man. He was so talented, a great writer, guitarist, singer and humourist and intelligent. He was a gift to me in my youth. I loved his music.
I saw him at The Timeout (R.I.P.) in Bloomington, IN on 2/14/80 solo and acoustic and I have never seen a more enthusiastic and energetic performer in my long life.
He was a regular at the Earl of Old town. Corky Segal and John Prine showed up too. Steve an John Prine sometimes showed up together, and smoked a Lotta dope between sets. "A good time was has by all.
This Steve Goodman Austin City Limits concert has always been wrongly dated as 1976 but it’s actually from 1978. It's a great show, and it's a shame it doesn't have the correct date on it. I hope it gets corrected someday.👍
Steve Goodman, your name suits you well. You are 1st Angel of Christ and blessed by God the Father the blessed Holy Spirit the blessed Holy Family and all of a rapturous Heaven. Peace Love Bliss Love Forever for you and all of your beautiful friends and family. Quantum kisses we all blow to you from a deeply grateful Earth. Amen Shawn Callie Arthur the world
I thought it was just me at first. The audio comes on again after a bit, so if you haven't heard the rest of the concert you're in for a treat... and If you have, you're in for a treat again!
Patty G. John Prine, Emmylou Harris learned me of Steve. And then later I realized he was the guy in front of certain Bleecker venues east of MacDougal, always hppoing ,only figured who this source-stone was from numerous refs from 1980 manhattan and then I left to save my life
Almost the same arthritis gig man...Great on you for still bangin' out chords and singin' out songs!!! Keep at it Brother it gives me peace too, Cheerz!!!
The song was written by Michael Smith, another frequent performer at the Earl. Steve also covered another of Michael’s songs,”Spoon River” which is a work of genius.
David Allen Coe told me that Steve Goodman wrote songs, back in 1979. He sure as hell did. Of course it wasn't really DAC telling *me*, but he told me anyway.
John Goodman, John Prine, Townes, Guy Clark, Jerry Jeff Walker… this list is long. Pretty sure those cats are long gone. But ….. Texas… When cross that red river hoss; it just don’t mean a thing, once you’re down in Texas; Bob Wills is still the king.
I wasn't saying Goodwin, or any of the artists I listed were Western Swing. I referenced Bob Wills to note the long and deep tradition of amazing music coming from Texas that isn't as well known as it should be. That, of course, comes with the concern that we don't need it. We're good just as we are. Cross that Red River... we love music from everywhere.. but Texas is still Texas.