In some respects, Justin Townes Earle seemed destined from birth to be a musician -- his father, Steve Earle, is one of America's most acclaimed singer/songwriters, and he was named in part for Townes Van Zandt, a close friend and mentor to Earle and an equally legendary tunesmith. But Justin also grew up learning the downside of the musician's life, and came up against some of the same demons that haunted his father. Born in 1982, Justin Townes Earle didn't see much of his dad through most of his childhood; after the release of his first album in 1986, Steve was often on the road, and a serious drug habit sidelined him through much of the early '90s. Despite it all, Justin developed an appetite for music, and in his teens began playing and singing with two different Nashville groups, a rock band called the Distributors and a bluegrass-influenced acoustic combo, the Swindlers. Justin also spent some time as a member of his father's touring band the Dukes, and sang one of his own songs, "The Time You Waste," on Steve's 2003 live album Just an American Boy. But Justin was fired from the Dukes after a dangerous appetite for drugs began interfering with his performances, and Justin told a Los Angeles Times reporter that he suffered his fifth major drug overdose, one which put him in the hospital for several days, when he was only 21. [CMT]
If you like Steve Earl, you are gonna love his son. A true talent. Look out for his new album Midnight at the Movies.
Here he is with an in store performance at Criminal Records, Atlanta, Georgia.
The Ghost of Virginia
From Justin's debut, 'The Good Life,' out now on Bloodshot Records -- An Americana
Music Association 2008 nominee!
Here he is with a performance at Brooklyn Pool, New York.
