Steve Tannen

Steven J. "Steve" Tannen (born 1968) is an American singer-songwriter. He is best known for being in the folk-pop duo The Weepies.[1][2]

This article is about the American folk singer and songwriter. For former American football player, see Steve Tannen (American football).
Steve Tannen
Birth nameSteven J. Tannen
Born1968 (age 54–55)
OriginNew York City, U.S.
GenresIndie Folk, folk-pop, folk rock
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active2000–present
LabelsNettwerk
Websitetheweepies.com

Early life and career

Tannen was born in New York City, but grew up in Australia and Canada in addition to New York. He started performing at an early age and learned music at home. He is the grandson of magician Louis Tannen and the brother of songwriter Greg Tannen and screenwriter Robert Tannen.[3]

Steve graduated from Mamaroneck High School. He received a degree in English from Stanford University.[4] Tannen worked as a production assistant in Hollywood, becoming a script reader and assistant to film director Norman Jewison.[5] He interned at radio station KCRW, and then moved to Colorado to work for the Computational and Information Systems Laboratory (CISL) at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).[6] He left NCAR after a year and worked odd jobs around the US, developing a personal mix of folk and rock.

He returned to New York and, with the help from former Suzanne Vega guitarist Jon Gordon, started a rock and roll project.[7] This turned into his debut album "Big Señorita" which was chosen as one of Performing Songwriter Magazine's Top 12 Independent Releases of 2001. In 2001, while touring behind Big Senorita, Tannen met his future wife and musical partner Deb Talan at a show at Club Passim in Cambridge, Massachusetts.[8] His second solo CD "Stopped at a Green Light" was released in September 2003; this was quickly followed by the first Weepies album Happiness in December of that same year.

In addition to The Weepies' albums, Talan and Tannen collaborated with singer/actress Mandy Moore on her 2007 album Wild Hope. Together, they wrote and recorded five songs with Mandy – the single "Extraordinary," the title track "Wild Hope," "All Good Things," "Few Days Down" and "Looking Forward to Looking Back."[9]

Steve is also a member of The Tannen Brothers, in which he plays with his brother Greg Tannen.

Discography
Year Title Label
2000 Big Señorita Independent
2003 Stopped at a Green Light Independent

References
  1. "The Weepies: Beautiful Music Together". NPR. September 9, 2006. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  2. "The Weepies: Finding A Comforting 'Hideaway'". NPR. May 14, 2008. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  3. "Catching Up With Greg Tannen (Interview Transcript)". AcousticLive. June 1, 2011. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  4. "Answers – the Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions". Answers.com.
  5. "Steve Tannen | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic.
  6. "Computer Operations and Facilities". Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. "Suzanne Vega Setlists". Archived from the original on March 22, 2007. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  8. "The Weepies: Beautiful Music Together (Interview Transcript)". NPR. September 9, 2006. Retrieved October 23, 2009.
  9. Farnsworth, Amy (June 19, 2007). "On new album and in films, Moore has an edge". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 23, 2009.
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