Sturgill Simpson

Sturgill Simpson
A head shot of singer Sturgill Simpson, in an outdoor setting
Simpson in 2016
Background information
Birth nameJohn Sturgill Simpson[1]
Also known as
  • Johnny Blue Skies
Born (1978-06-08) June 8, 1978 (age 46)
Jackson, Kentucky, United States
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • actor
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active2004–present
Labels
Formerly of
  • Sunday Valley
Websitewww.sturgillsimpson.com Edit this at Wikidata

John Sturgill Simpson (born June 8, 1978)[5][6] is an American country music singer-songwriter and actor.[7][8] As of June 2024, he has released eight albums as a solo artist.[9] Simpson's style has been met with critical favor and frequent comparisons to outlaw country.

His first two albums, High Top Mountain[10] and Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, were independently released in the US[11] in 2013 and 2014 and in Europe, through the British record label Loose.[12] The latter album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Americana Album,[13] listed 18th on Rolling Stone's "50 Best Albums of 2014,"[14] and named among "NPR's 50 Favorite Albums of 2014."[15] Simpson's third album, A Sailor's Guide to Earth, was released in April 2016 on Atlantic Records and was his first major-label release,[16] later earning him Best Country Album at the 59th Grammy Awards and also being nominated for Album of the Year.[17]

Simpson's fourth album, Sound & Fury, was released on September 27, 2019, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album at the 63rd Grammy Awards. He released two albums in 2020 – Cuttin' Grass, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 – which feature bluegrass interpretations of songs from across his catalog, and marked his return to independent music. His seventh studio album, The Ballad of Dood and Juanita was released in August 2021. Having promised to release only five studio albums under his own name, not counting the Cuttin' Grass project, Simpson debuted the alter ego Johnny Blue Skies for his eighth album Passage du Desir.[18]

  1. ^ "Songwriter/Composer: Simpson, John Sturgill". BMI.
  2. ^ King, Sianna (September 30, 2021). "Album review: alt-country star Sturgill Simpson's The Ballad of Dood & Juanita". Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  3. ^ Ramsey, Jan (January 16, 2017). "Video: New Orleans Horns Light Up SNL With Sturgill Simpson". OffBeat. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  4. ^ "Loose". Loose Music. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  5. ^ "John Sturgill Simpson - Kentucky, Vital Record Indexes". FamilySearch.
  6. ^ "J Sturgill Simpson, United States Public Records, 1970–2009". FamilySearch.
  7. ^ Welch, Will (January 7, 2016). "Meet Three Country Badasses Who Are Shaking Up the Nashville Establishment". GQ.
  8. ^ Helman, Peter (July 30, 2019). "See Hollywood's Hottest New Star Sturgill Simpson In The Trailer For Horror Movie The Hunt". Stereogum.
  9. ^ Willman, Chris (June 5, 2024). "Sturgill Simpson Announces New Album, Tour; Says He Will Only Record Under the Name 'Johnny Blue Skies' From Now On". Variety.
  10. ^ Freeman, Jon (October 16, 2013). "On the Edge: Sturgill Simpson". Country Weekly.
  11. ^ Welch, Will (January 7, 2016). "The GQ&A: Sturgill Simpson, Country Music's Psychedelic Warrior-Philosopher". GQ.
  12. ^ "Rough Trade Shops". Rough Trade. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  13. ^ "57th Grammy Awards: Final Nominations List" (PDF). Grammys. National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc. 2014.
  14. ^ "50 Best Albums of 2014. 18: Sturgill Simpson, 'Metamodern Sounds in Country Music'". Rolling Stone. December 1, 2014.
  15. ^ Hilton, Robin (December 8, 2014). "NPR Music's 50 Favorite Albums Of 2014". NPR.
  16. ^ Strauss, Matthew (March 4, 2016). "Sturgill Simpson Announces New Album A Sailor's Guide to Earth, Shares "Brace for Impact (Live a Little)"". Pitchfork Media.
  17. ^ "Grammys 2017: Complete list of winners and nominees". Los Angeles Times. February 12, 2017.
  18. ^ Deusner, Stephen M. (July 12, 2024). "Sturgill Simpson/Johnny Blue Skies: Passage du Desir". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 14, 2024.