Stephen Simmons was raised in the small town of Woodbury, Tennessee. His mother was a schoolteacher and his father held a factory job. In his family, they were the first generation that didnt work the farm. As a songwriter and Ten years as a Road Dog, Stephens vision has grown to entail more than just reflections of rural America. The songs on his recordings, deal with existential realities that are familiar to country and city dwellers alike: redemption, heartbreak, hangovers and the loneliness of the road. Stephens records: Last Call, Drink Ring Jesus, Something In Between, The Blames On U.S., Girls, The Big Show and Hearsay (which were compared to everyone from Johnny Cash to Ryan Adams) combine virtuosic songcraft and musicianship with unparalleled artistic honesty. His work has been covered by Mojo Music, Uncut, and The Washington Post.
Simmons released his debut studio album, Last Call, in 2004. Lay On The Tracks, a standout track from Last Call, was a winner at the prestigious MerleFest Chris Austin Songwriting Competition. Last Call was praised by critics on both sides of the Atlantic, picked up and released by Rounder Europe Records; followed by three more Rounder Europe releases and extensive touring in Europe. As a Songwriter with Television credits (Sons of Anarchy) and as a steady road act (over 700 shows in past decade in ten countries) Simmons continues to evolve as an artist. His most recent albums have been released by USA indie label Lower 40 Records and in Europe on Germanys premiere roots label; Blue Rose Records.