The following article appeared in the Community Common | Portsmouth, OH | Progress Edition 2009
Date: Feb. 22, 2009
Steve Free Named "Ohio's Treasure"
Southern Ohio singer/song-Ariter/recording artist Steve Free capped off 2008 with, a year in which he won the Governor's Award as Ohio's Top Artist, being named an "Ohio Treasure " by the Ohio Arts Council with an International #1 record. Free's single Everybody's Friend hit the #1 spot on The International Christian Country Charts, in October 2008. The song also hit the Top 40 on The Country, Americana and NPR/College Charts receiving over 2000 spins a week worldwide. This was Steve's 13th charted song for Fraternity records. His Cd Coming Home was also a commercial and critcal success
Power Source Magazine -Nashville Cd review said "Steve Free is the embodiment of The American folk spirit. If our nation is a melting pot, then this album is it's reflection". Steve was featured on the cover of the national music publication GTE Music Magazine and also was featured in The International Musician, the magazine of The AFM Musician's Union ... which goes to professional musician's worldwide.
Steve's Christmas song Just A Baby Boy continues to grow in popularity each year and is quickly becoming a Christmas classic .. this year being per-formed by orchestra's, schools, chruches, choirs and other groups worldwide. Steve performs the song every year with The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra at their Christmas Concert at The VRCA. There may be a " Christmas album " in the future .. something fans of Steve's music have been asking for ...Steve's latest single Party On The River/Wayfaring Stranger will be released in March 2008. Steve Free will continue to keep his busy performing schedule in 2009 with over 200 shows throughout the U.S. and Canada, primarily in his home area of Appalachia and the;
Ohio Valley. ;
Steve Free is a member of the Ohio Arts Council and Midwest Arts Council "Ohio Artist On Tour" which has a popular educational program focusing on Southern Ohio's Native American & Appalchian roots.
A Summer tour of Kansas & Oklahoma, where Steve is quite popular, has been scheduled as well. For a full schedule and info visit:
www.stevefree.com.