BIO

Steven Clotzman is the author of more than 400 songs. His 30-year body of work reflects a variety of influences from rock-n-roll, folk, blues, country and Western, jazz; even 16th century Ladino romances. Clotzman’s finely crafted lyrics and storytelling demonstrate devotion to the songwriting craft as well as a deep reverence for great songs and songwriters.

A self-described “Jewish kid from La Puente,” a predominantly Latino working-class neighborhood east of LA, Clotzman began writing songs in high school. While punk raged and disco reigned, his early songs already reflected the acoustic roots-based styles he later came to embrace. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Clotzman attended college, more committed to songwriting than to academics, and performed mostly at political events and private recitals.

In 1984, married and living in LA, Clotzman began to experiment with blues and country themes. Always politically informed, in 1987 and 1988 he played guitar with El Mozote, a folkloric group from El Salvador. For most of the 1990s, Clotzman lived in South Bend, Indiana, where he turned to other forms of writing. He returned to LA in 2000.

Clotzman's best work grapples with the mixed up feelings of love, loss, and longing, and emotional distance and isolation is a recurring theme in even his most humorous and political songs.

Many of Clotzman's songs serve as a tip-of-the-hat to the songs and songwriters who have influenced him. Songs like “All the way Birmingham,” “Crying in my beer,” and “Road to Heaven” mention familiar names and places. Others honor particular styles, such as “A little bit like you” to Cole Porter, “God Bless our Child” to Merle Haggard, and “Circus Rag,” as much an homage to Blind Blake as it is to William Faulkner. Clotzman has expressed particular admiration for Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Randy Newman, Elvis Costello, John Prine, Jimmy Webb, and Hank Williams.

Steven Clotzman's notable work includes "So many ways," "Indiana Toll Road," and "The Death of Blind Lemon Jefferson." In addition to songs, he is the author of articles, stories, four unpublished novels, and more than a thousand poems.