{{Short description|South African musician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Steve Louw | image = Steve Louw.jpg | alt = Steve Louw 2020 Photo by Saudiq Davids, used with permission | caption = Steve Louw 2020 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|09|16|df=y}} | birth_place = The Hague | occupation = Musician | years_active = 1981–present | style = Album rock, country rock, blues rock, Americana | website = https://stevelouw.com }}

'''Steve Louw''' (born 16 September 1955) is a South African musician and singer-songwriter who specialises in album rock, blues rock, country rock and Americana music. He was born in The Hague and has been active as a musician since 1981.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Steve Louw: South African Rock Legend|url=http://rock.co.za/stevelouw/index.html|access-date=23 May 2021|website=rock.co.za}}</ref> He was inducted in the South African Rock Hall of Fame in 2003.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=SA Rock Hall OF Fame – Inductees|url=http://www.sarockdigest.com/halloffame/inductees.htm|access-date=30 May 2021|website=www.sarockdigest.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=1 October 2003|title=Steve Louw Inducted Into SA Rock Hall Of Fame|url=https://stevelouw.com/2003/10/01/steve-louw-inducted-into-sa-rock-hall-of-fame/|access-date=30 May 2021|website=Steve Louw|language=en}}</ref>

==Life and career== Louw, who was born Stephen Geoffrey Louw, learnt to play the guitar after being inspired by the music of Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and Neil Young, and formed his first band, Atlantic Rose, while in high school in Cape Town in the late 1960s. While a student at Stellenbosch University in the 1970s he became involved in the local music scene, playing his own songs in various line-ups.

His career as a professional musician began in the early 1980s when he formed the band All Night Radio with fellow former Stellenbosch University students Nico Burger (guitar) and Rob Nagel (bass).<ref>[https://www.iol.co.za/entertainment/music/steve-louw-is-back-in-town-957884 Steve Louw is back in town, iol.co.za]</ref> The group recorded two albums – ''The Heart's the Best Part'' (1984) with US producer John Rollo, and ''The Killing Floo''r (1986), on which Louw began a partnership with producer Kevin Shirley that still continues.

Louw then formed the band Big Sky and in 1990 released their debut album, ''Waiting for the Dawn'', again produced by Shirley. The album arrived just as South Africa began moving away from apartheid rule and the group's music helped soundtrack a decade of positive revolution. The title track is today considered a South African rock classic. Big Sky released another five albums over the next 15 years: ''Horizon'' (1995), ''Going Down with Mr Green'' (1997), ''Best of the Decade'' (1999), ''Beyond the Blue'' (2002) and ''Trancas Canyon'' (2008); as well as the concert DVD ''Heart and Soul'', filmed at Cape Town's Little Theatre in 2008.

Louw and Big Sky achieved considerable success in South Africa with sell-out tours and several major radio hits including "Kathleen", "Mr Green", "One Cut With a Knife", "Strange Room" and "Diamonds and Dirt", and in 1996 the band won the FNB South African Music Award for Best Pop Music Performance, Best Rock Album for the album "Horizon".<ref>{{Cite web|date=6 March 2013|title=Horizon|url=https://stevelouw.com/albums/steve-louw-and-big-sky/horizon/|access-date=29 May 2021|website=Steve Louw|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=SA Rock Digest|url=http://sarockdigest.com/archives/issue_38.html|access-date=29 May 2021|website=sarockdigest.com}}</ref>

In 1998 Big Sky opened for US singer-songwriter Rodriguez on his triumphant debut tour of South Africa, with the musicians in the band also backing the US artist.<ref>[https://www.news24.com/news24/the-dawn-is-nigh-20020902 The dawn is nigh, News24.com]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=13 June 2013|title=Musicians|url=https://blog.sugarman.org/southafricantour1998/musicians/|access-date=23 May 2021|website=Blog.SugarMan.org|language=en}}</ref> The tour is chronicled in the 2012 Oscar-winning documentary ''Searching for Sugar Man''. Louw gained an international profile after he collaborated with Brian May (Queen) and Dave Stewart (the Eurythmics) on the track "Amandla", recorded for the 46664 Aids awareness project inspired by the work of Nelson Mandela.

In 2021 Louw returned with the album "Headlight Dreams",<ref name=":1" /> produced by Shirley and recorded in Nashville with crack studio musicians and featuring a guest appearance by US guitar legend Joe Bonamassa.<ref>[https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/steve-louws-backstory-to-realising-headlight-dreams/ar-BB1gSVs4 Steve Louw's backstory to realising headlight dreams, MSN.com]</ref> The album received critical acclaim and the first single, "Wind in Your Hair", become a Spotify hit.<ref>{{Cite web|title=#MusicExchange: Steve Louw releases new album Headlight Dreams|url=https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/480/215656.html|access-date=23 May 2021|website=www.bizcommunity.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=7 May 2021|title=Steve Louw new album 'Headlight Dreams' out today & featuring Joe Bonamassa {{!}} Music Exchange|url=https://stevelouw.com/2021/05/07/steve-louw-new-album-headlight-dreams-out-today-featuring-joe-bonamassa-music-exchange/|access-date=23 May 2021|website=Steve Louw|language=en}}</ref>

In September 2022 Louw announced his sophomore solo release "Thunder and Rain", available November 11, 2022 through BFD.<ref>[http://www.enigmaonline.com/tag/thunder-and-rain/ Steve Louw Announces New Album ‘Thunder And Rain’]</ref> The album was produced by Kevin Shirley and features Joe Bonamassa and Doug Lancio.<ref>[https://triplement.wordpress.com/2022/09/23/south-african-rocker-steve-louw-announces-new-album-thunder-and-rain-available-november-11/ South African rocker Steve Louw announces new album Thunder and Rain available November 11]</ref>

On September 6, 2024, Louw released his third solo album ''Between Time'', produced by Kevin Shirley.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Louw |first=Steve |date=7 June 2024 |title=Steve Louw - Between Time |url=https://stevelouw.com/albums/steve-louw-between-time/}}</ref>

On May 15, 2026, Louw released his fourth solo album ''Traces Of The Flood'', produced by Kevin Shirley.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-26 |title=Steve Louw – Traces Of The Flood |url=https://stevelouw.com/discography/steve-louw-traces-of-the-flood/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |website=Steve Louw |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Yourglivch |first=Steve |title=Traces of the Flood |magazine=Blues Matters |issue=161 |date=May 2026 |page=57 |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/71103175/bm-issue-161-may-2026/57 |access-date=2026-05-17}}</ref>

==Discography==

===Albums===

* ''The Heart's The Best Part'' (1984) All Night Radio <ref>{{Citation |title=All Night Radio - The Heart's the Best Part Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-hearts-the-best-part-mw0003468244 |language=en |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=All Night Radio - The Heart's The Best Part |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/2107333-All-Night-Radio-The-Hearts-The-Best-Part |language=en |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref> * ''The Killing Floor'' (1986) All Night Radio <ref>{{Citation |title=All Night Radio - The Killing Floor Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-killing-floor-mw0003468240 |language=en |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=All Night Radio - The Killing Floor |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/11008265-All-Night-Radio-The-Killing-Floor |language=en |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref> * ''Waiting For The Dawn'' (1990) Big Sky <ref>{{Citation |title=Big Sky - Waiting for the Dawn Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/waiting-for-the-dawn-mw0003465295 |language=en |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Steve Louw & Big Sky - Waiting For The Dawn |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/1388239-Steve-Louw-Big-Sky-Waiting-For-The-Dawn |language=en |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref> * ''Horizon'' (1995) Big Sky <ref>{{Citation |title=Big Sky - Horizon Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/horizon-mw0003465296 |language=en |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Steve Louw & Big Sky - Horizon |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/9777390-Steve-Louw-Big-Sky-Horizon |language=en |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref> * ''Going Down With Mr Green'' (1997) Big Sky <ref>{{Citation |title=Big Sky - Going Down with Mr Green Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/going-down-with-mr-green-mw0003465311 |language=en |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Steve Louw & Big Sky - Going Down With Mister Green |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/10649494-Steve-Louw-Big-Sky-Going-Down-With-Mister-Green |language=en |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref> * ''Best Of The Decade'' (1999) Big Sky <ref>{{Citation |title=Big Sky - Best of the Decade Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/best-of-the-decade-mw0003465309 |language=en |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Steve Louw & Big Sky - Best Of The Decade |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/15628819-Steve-Louw-Big-Sky-Best-Of-The-Decade |language=en |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref> * ''Beyond The Blue'' (2002) Big Sky <ref>{{Citation |title=Big Sky - Beyond the Blue Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/beyond-the-blue-mw0003465314 |language=en |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Steve Louw & Big Sky - Beyond The Blue |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/12213319-Steve-Louw-Big-Sky-Beyond-The-Blue |language=en |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref> * ''Trancas Canyon'' (2008) Big Sky <ref>{{Citation |title=Big Sky - Trancas Canyon Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/trancas-canyon-mw0003465315 |language=en |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Steve Louw & Big Sky - Trancas Canyon |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/15692611-Steve-Louw-Big-Sky-Trancas-Canyon |language=en |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref> * ''Headlight Dreams'' (2021) <ref name=":1">{{Citation |title=Steve Louw - Headlight Dreams Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/headlight-dreams-mw0003489501 |language=en |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Steve Louw - Headlight Dreams |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/18466750-Steve-Louw-Headlight-Dreams |language=en |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref> * ''Thunder And Rain'' (2022) <ref>{{Citation |title=Steve Louw - Thunder and Rain Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/thunder-and-rain-mw0003822166 |language=en |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Steve Louw - Thunder And Rain |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/25126522-Steve-Louw-Thunder-And-Rain |language=en |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref> * ''Between Time (''2024'')'' <ref>{{Cite web |title=Steve Louw - Between Time |url=https://stevelouw.com/albums/steve-louw-between-time/ |website=Steve Louw}}</ref> * ''Traces Of The Flood (''2026'')'' <ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-26 |title=Steve Louw – Traces Of The Flood |url=https://stevelouw.com/discography/steve-louw-traces-of-the-flood/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |website=Steve Louw |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Personal life == Louw married Erna Pienaar in 1988 and has three children.

== Sources == * https://sarockmusic.com/south-africas-rock-family-trees/steve-louw-family-tree/ * http://sarockdigest.com/archives/issue_113.html

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [https://stevelouw.com Official website]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Louw, Steve}} Category:South African musicians Category:1955 births Category:Living people