# Kevin Salem

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kevin_Salem
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kevin_Salem.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Salem
> Source revision: 1245919158
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{short description|American singer-songwriter and record producer}}
'''Kevin Salem''' is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He began his career as a member of [Dumptruck](/source/Dumptruck_(band)), and subsequently played with multiple artists on tour, including [Yo La Tengo](/source/Yo_La_Tengo) and [Freedy Johnston](/source/Freedy_Johnston), before beginning his solo career.

==Biography==
Salem grew up in [Johnstown, Pennsylvania](/source/Johnstown%2C_Pennsylvania), where he decided he wanted to be a successful guitarist.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kevinsalem.com/biography | title=Biography | work=Kevinsalem.com | accessdate=26 June 2017}}</ref> Most of the bands in his hometown were [cover band](/source/cover_band)s, but he became interested in other types of music after traveling to [New York City](/source/New_York_City), where he saw [Hüsker Dü](/source/H%C3%BCsker_D%C3%BC), [Tommy Keene](/source/Tommy_Keene), and [The Replacements](/source/The_Replacements_(band)). His musical career began when he joined Dumptruck in 1986, after which he performed on their 1987 album ''For the Country'' (though not on any of their other albums).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1996/08/14/ax-man-of-the-apocalypse/b45d37ba-813e-4949-a303-410d6dce7cb0/ | title=Ax Man of the Apocalypse | work=[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post) | date=14 August 1996 | accessdate=26 June 2017 | author=Jenkins, Mark}}</ref> During the early 1990s, he became a touring and session guitarist who played for numerous artists, including Yo La Tengo, Freedy Johnston, and [Chris Harford](/source/Chris_Harford). He has also done session work for [the Pooh Sticks](/source/the_Pooh_Sticks), and produced albums by [Giant Sand](/source/Giant_Sand), [Chocolate Genius](/source/Chocolate_Genius), and [Madder Rose](/source/Madder_Rose).<ref name=nd>{{cite web | url=http://nodepression.com/article/kevin-salem-soul-gold | title=Kevin Salem - Soul of gold | work=[No Depression](/source/No_Depression_(magazine)) | date=31 October 2001 | accessdate=26 June 2017 | author=Cornell, Rick}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=kevin_salem | title=Kevin Salem | work=[Trouser Press](/source/Trouser_Press) | accessdate=26 June 2017 | author=Gilmer, Vickie}}</ref>

===Solo career===
Salem released his first solo album, ''Soma City'', on [Roadrunner Records](/source/Roadrunner_Records) in 1994.<ref name=kampert>{{cite web | url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-11-17/features/9411170152_1_star-guitar-elvis-costello | title=Kevin Salem Soma City (Roadrunner) | work=[Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune) | date=17 November 1994 | accessdate=26 June 2017 | author=Kampert, Patrick}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> It was followed two years later by ''[Glimmer](/source/Glimmer_(album))'', which was also released on Roadrunner Records.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1996-09-12/features/9609120220_1_star-lends-matthew-sweet | title=Kevin Salem Glimmer (Roadrunner) | work=Chicago Tribune | date=12 September 1996 | accessdate=26 June 2017 | author=Klein, Joshua}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> He released his third solo album, ''Ecstatic'', in 2001.<ref name=nd/> Artists who made cameos on ''Ecstatic'' included [Vicki Peterson](/source/Vicki_Peterson), [Donovan](/source/Donovan), and [Alice Temple](/source/Alice_Temple).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/kevin-salem-mn0000084549/biography | title=Kevin Salem Biography | work=[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) | accessdate=26 June 2017 | author=Prato, Greg}}</ref>

==Critical reception==
Peter Margasak, of ''[Chicago Reader](/source/Chicago_Reader)'', wrote that ''Soma City'' was "impressive", writing of Salem, "While he offers nothing especially new, his emotion-drenched work is pretty darn close to impeccable. Among endless waves of novelty, this kind of solidity can be a blessing."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/kevin-salem/Content?oid=886646 | title=Kevin Salem | work=[Chicago Reader](/source/Chicago_Reader) | date=9 February 1995 | accessdate=26 June 2017 | author=Margasak, Peter}}</ref> Patrick Kampert gave the album 3 out or 4 stars, describing it as "a strong outing, similar in texture to the [Sand Rubies](/source/Sand_Rubies)' stellar debut".<ref name=kampert/> The album appeared on multiple critics' year-end lists for 1994, and Salem tied for first place in ''[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)''{{'}}s "Best New Male Singer" poll that year.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.courant.com/1995/02/25/rocker-kevin-salems-lot-much-improved-since-overcoming-lyme-disease-2/ | title=Rocker Kevin Salem's Lot Much Improved Since Overcoming Lyme Disease | work=[Hartford Courant](/source/Hartford_Courant) | date=25 February 1995 | access-date=26 June 2017 | author=Catlin, Roger}}</ref>

==Discography==
*''Soma City'' (Roadrunner, 1994)
*''[Glimmer](/source/Glimmer_(album))'' (Roadrunner, 1996)
*''Ecstatic'' ([Future Farmer](/source/Future_Farmer_Records), 2001)
<ref>^ Klein, Joshua (12 September 1996). "Kevin Salem Glimmer (Roadrunner)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 26 June 2017</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|https://www.kevinsalem.com/}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Salem, Kevin}}
Category:Living people
Category:American rock guitarists
Category:American rock singers
Category:Guitarists from Pennsylvania
Category:People from Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Category:Roadrunner Records artists
Category:Record producers from Pennsylvania
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kevin Salem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Salem) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Salem?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.