Nancy asked me to remember one of her favs from a while ago, Steve Wariner. I proudly played all his songs, as there was a time he could really do no wrong. His list of accomplishments is huge, but we will hit the highlights. He was also a gigantic favorite with young fans in the early 1980's when we needed young fans. That was a great gift he gave us then. He was one of the artists that helped me fall in love with Country Music!
His First Big Hit - 1980 Your Memory
Steve Wariner is an amazing musician, singer, writer and about everything else. He got a break when he was a band member for the late Dottie West, which at that time was a really good gig. Eventually he had a solo career in the 1980's that was very successful, and totally enviable. Fans loved him, and he's another artist that seldom, if ever, released a mediocre song. In fact, he peeled off ten number one songs in his early success, and had a bunch of great songs that didn't hit number one. He was one of our biggest hit makers!
One Of The Best Country Songs Of The 1980's - Smash #1 (Ronnie Milsap Passed On This Song)
He recorded 18 albums, and had about 50 singles. Lynda, Some Fools Never Learn, Lonely Women Make Good Lovers, Life's Highway, these are just a few of his biggest songs. He also recorded duets with Glen Campbell, Garth, Nicolette Larsen, Diamond Rio, and Brad Paisley. His career has been incredible.
Kansas City Lights - Off That First Album, Country Gold
He was playing bass for Chet Atkins, when he released his breakout album and in 1980 (self titled) and it was a smash. His first single, Your Memory, a big song, followed by All Roads Lead To You #1, Kansas City Lights, By Now, all did very well on the charts, and a star was born. (He left Atkins band) That first album was loved, as it is as good a breakthrough album as you will ever hear. Over the next decade, Wariner was on fire, as fans loved him and so did radio.
This Helped Wariner Shift Gears - GREAT Song!
Steve Wariner was as played an artist as we had then. His sound was sophisticated, refined, and was just flat out great. Wariner, in the early days was not a traditionalist, but his music was amazing. His sound would evolve as the format did, and his music and image did as well. Very few, if any artist did as good a job as changing as he did. He was commercially born during Urban Cowboy, and then was led into the New Traditionalists, and beyond. What he did was remarkable, as others were stubbornly left behind.
Lynda - This Was #1 -As He Evolved With The Format
That was a great move on his part. But by the end of the 1980's things cooled down some on the charts. Then a real resurgence in the late 1990's gave Wariner a different kind of success. A duet with Garth, and he turned to writing great songs for artists like Garth, Clint Black, and others. Then he recorded the gem of his career in many fans eyes, Holes In The Floor Of Heaven in 1998 that won about every single award you can win. It is still a huge favorite with many fans, some who are not even familiar with the Wariner of the early 1980's. If that's you, you've have a real treat ahead of you if you look for his music, this article will give you a great place to start.
This Song Is A Classic - Multi-Award Winner
He has reinvented himself many times, and that's smart. Writer, master musician, insanely great guitarist, singer, collaborator, ambassador, Grammy winner, awards nominee and winner, and flat out star. Steve Wariner is a great example of being nimble in an ever changing business. And for those who are not really familiar with him, if you Google him and spend some time listening, you are about to discover a new favorite of yours I have no doubt. I was a big fan and have a ton of respect for every ounce of incredible talent he has.
#1 With Garth
Steve Wariner is a star - Period. Flat out star in Country Music!
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