Seasick Steve is an American blues musician who has become a popular icon in the UK and other countries. He is known for his distinctive style of playing personalized guitars, often made from scrap materials, and singing about his experiences as a hobo, a cowboy, a farm worker, and a carnival worker. He blends elements of country, blues, rock, and Americana in his music, creating a raw and authentic sound that appeals to fans of roots music.
Seasick Steve was born Steven Gene Leach in Oakland, California, in 1951. He left home at the age of 13 and began traveling across the US, hopping freight trains and looking for work. He also developed a passion for music and learned to play various instruments, including the guitar, the banjo, the harmonica, and the diddley bow. He performed in several bands, such as Shanti and Crystal Grass, and worked as a recording engineer and producer for artists like Modest Mouse and John Lee Hooker.
He moved to Norway in the late 1990s, where he married a Norwegian woman and adopted the name Seasick Steve. He started recording his own albums, such as Cheap, Dog House Music, and I Started Out with Nothin and I Still Got Most of It Left. He gained widespread recognition in 2006, when he appeared on Jools Holland's annual Hootenanny show on BBC TV, playing his song "Dog House Boogie" on a three-stringed guitar. Since then, he has released several more albums, such as Man from Another Time, Sonic Soul Surfer, and Love & Peace, and collaborated with musicians like John Paul Jones, Jack White, Nick Cave, and Tom Jones. He has also performed at various festivals and venues, such as Glastonbury, Reading, Isle of Wight, Royal Albert Hall, and Madison Square Garden. His latest album is "Sonic Soul Surfer".
Seasick Steve is regarded as one of the most original and charismatic blues artists of his generation. He has won several awards, such as the MOJO Award for Best Breakthrough Act, the Independent Music Award for Best Blues Album, and the Classic Rock Roll of Honour Award for Outstanding Contribution. He has also been nominated for Brit Awards, Mercury Prize, and Grammy Awards. He continues to make music and tour, inspiring audiences with his stories and songs.