Steve Moakler

{{Infobox musical artist | honorific_prefix = | name = Steve Moakler | honorific_suffix = | image = {{CSS image crop |Image = Steve Moakler - Joes Weed St Chicago 5.18.18 - ©2018 Jason Kalish.jpg |bSize = 279 |cWidth = 270 |cHeight = 250 |oTop = 0 |oLeft = 0 }} | image_size = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = | alias = | birth_date =  | birth_place = New Jersey, U.S. | origin = Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, U.S. | death_date =  | death_place = | genre = Country | occupation = | instrument = | years_active =  | label = Creative Nation | website = {{URL|www.stevemoakler.com/}} }}

'''Steve Moakler''' is an American country musician and songwriter from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, now based in Nashville, Tennessee.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/bethel-park-native-steve-moakler-returns-to-his-musical-roots/Content?oid=1822754|title=Bethel Park native Steve Moakler returns to his musical roots|last1=Deitch|first1=Charlie|date=May 6, 2015|publisher=Pittsburgh City Paper|accessdate=4 December 2015}}</ref> He has released five studio albums and has written songs for Nashville recording artists including Dierks Bentley's single "Riser."<ref name=":12">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/country/dierks-bentley-riser-new-single-6598030/|title=Dierks Bentley Explains Why New Single 'Riser' Is a 'Once In a Career' Song|last=Lendenmuth|first=Katy|date=June 15, 2015|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-07-20}}</ref>

== Early life == His mother was a nurse and his father an architect. His father's stereo and record collection inspired Moakler,<ref name="wacotrib">{{cite web|url=http://www.wacotrib.com/entertainment/accesswaco/music/songs-drive-steve-moakler-s-humble-operations-in-common-grounds/article_fdfc5fea-b44b-5afc-a9b4-ff1e47d6b8eb.html|title=Songs drive Steve Moakler's 'Humble Operations' in Common Grounds Visit|last1=Hoover|first1=Carl|date=April 16, 2015|publisher=Waco Tribune-Herald|accessdate=4 December 2015}}</ref> who started playing guitar and writing songs at age 14, and forming his first band in middle school.<ref name=":0" /> He played throughout Pittsburgh during his high school years. He graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2006 and turned down an independent record deal to move to Nashville.<ref name=":0" />

Moakler attended Belmont University in Nashville, taking classes during the week and playing shows on the weekends. After two years he left school to focus full-time on his music career.<ref name=":0" />

==Career== After moving to Nashville, Moakler began co-writing with songwriters<ref name=souldynamic>{{cite web|last1=Farley|first1=Cassie|title=Playing for a Dollar a Day - Steve Moakler Interview|date=21 May 2015|url=http://www.thesouldynamic.com/playing-for-a-dollar-a-day-steve-moakler-interview/|accessdate=4 December 2015}}</ref> such as Gordie Sampson, Barry Dean, and Luke Laird.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="wacotrib" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/steve-moakler-hot-artists-to-watch-2016/|title=Hot Artists to Watch|last=Dukes|first=Billy|date=January 7, 2016|website=Taste of Country}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.soundslikenashville.com/music/steve-moaklers-steel-town-is-a-personal-album-of-roots-and-reflection/|title=Steve Moakler's 'Steel Town' is a Personal Album of Roots and Reflection|last=Reuter|first=Annie|date=March 15, 2017|website=Sounds like Nashville}}</ref> He co-wrote Dierks Bentley's 2015 single "Riser," which Bentley states he built his album around.<ref name=":12"/> Moakler's songs have also been recorded by Reba McEntire,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://people.com/country/steve-moakler-talks-new-album-steel-town/|title=How Steve Moakler's New Album Pays Homage to the Hometown that gave him 'Strength'|last=Tracy|first=Brianne|date=March 17, 2017|website=People}}</ref> Ashley Monroe, Jake Owen, Ben Rector, and others.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=http://countrymusictattletale.com/2017/03/16/steve-moaklers-siriusxm-inaugural-highway-finds-tour-launches-today/|title=Steve Moakler's SiriusXM Inaugural 'Highway Finds Tour' Launches Today|last=Staff|date=March 16, 2017|website=Country Music Tattle Tale}}</ref>

As a performer and recording artist, Moakler's work has been praised by ''Rolling Stone Country'' as "thoughtful singer-songwriter fare in the blue-collar vein."<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/10-new-country-artists-you-need-to-know-february-2016-20160201/steve-moakler-20160131|title=10 New Country Artists You Need to Know: Steve Moakler|last=Staff|date=February 1, 2016|website=Rolling Stone Country}}</ref> His first record, ''All the Faint Lights'', was self-published. In 2011 he formed his own label, Free the Birds, and released two more albums independently, ''Watching Time Run'' and ''Wide Open''. The label also used the money raised to combat sex trafficking.<ref name="tunecore">{{cite web|url=http://www.tunecore.com/blog/2011/12/steve-moakler.html|title=Steve Moakler On The Making Of His Latest Album & Why He's Been Jumping Out Of Planes|last1=Rosokoff|first1=Jacqueline|date=14 December 2011|publisher=TuneCore|accessdate=4 December 2015}}</ref> In 2014, Beth Laird of Creative Nation sought out Moakler and retained him under management.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicrow.com/2014/11/steve-moakler-inks-management-deal-with-creative-nation/|title=Steve Moakler Inks Management Deal with Creative Nation|last1=Stephenson|first1=Troy|date=17 November 2014|publisher=MusicRow|accessdate=4 December 2015}}</ref> In 2016, he worked with Creative Nation producer Luke Laird on a self-titled EP, whose songs made up the first half of his 2017 album, ''Steel Town.''<ref name=":2" /> Moakler says the latter album was inspired by his upbringing in Pittsburgh.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/chattanooganow/music/story/2017/apr/06/steve-moakler-country-music-roots-steel/421220/|title=Rising Country Music Star Steve Moakler has Roots of Steel|last=Pierce|first=Susan|date=April 6, 2017|website=Times Free Press}}</ref> It has been called a more personal album,<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> as well as his "most country" album.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://chorus.fm/review/steve-moakler-steel-town/|title=Steve Moakler: Steel Town|last=Manning|first=Craig|website=Chorus.fm|date=16 March 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ebmediapr.com/news/steve-moakler%E2%80%99s-nostalgic-music-video-%E2%80%9Cwheels%E2%80%9D-premieres-exclusively-cmt|title=Steve Moakler's Nostalgic Music Video "Wheels" Premieres Exclusively on CMT|last=Staff|date=March 20, 2017|website=EB Media}}</ref> The first single, "Suitcase," became his first radio hit and first music video.<ref name=":2" /> The second single was "Love Drunk," followed by a third single, "Wheels."<ref name=":3" /> Moakler released his fifth album, ''Born Ready,'' in 2018. The album has been critically acclaimed,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sixshootercountry.com/2018/06/18/steve-moakler-born-ready-album-review/|title=Review: Steve Moakler: Born Ready|last=Wiggins|first=Mark|date=June 18, 2018|website=Six Shooter Country}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chorus.fm/review/steve-moakler-born-ready/|title=Review: Steve Moakler - Born Ready|last=Manning|first=Craig|date=June 15, 2018|website=Chorus.fm}}</ref> with Bobby Moore praising its "pop gems that clear the barrier between Americana and the country charts."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wideopencountry.com/review-steve-moakler-sings-for-the-working-man-on-born-ready/|title=Album Review: Steve Moakler - Born Ready|last=Moore|first=Bobby|date=June 2018|website=Wide Open Country}}</ref>

Moakler has been named an artist to watch by numerous outlets,<ref name=":6" /> including Rolling Stone Country,<ref name=":5" /> Spotify,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/user/spotlight_country/playlist/6S1nxwPrsSdnp9gsavISrA|title=Spotlight on Country|last=Staff.|date=December 15, 2015|website=Spotify}}</ref> and Taste of Country.<ref name=":4" /> He has been heavily promoted by SiriusXM's senior director of programming J.R. Schumann<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/features/2016-billboard-nashville-power-players-list-7453261/|title=Billboard's 2016 Nashville Power Players List Revealed|last=Staff|date=July 28, 2016|magazine=Billboard}}</ref> on station “The Highway.” The station also had him open their inaugural “The Highway Finds Tour.”<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.timesonline.com/49f51386-e72f-11e6-b2cb-0781f54596fc.html|title=8 Entertainment Bites|last=Tady|first=Scott|date=February 4, 2017|website=Times Online|access-date=July 30, 2018|archive-date=July 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730202522/http://www.timesonline.com/49f51386-e72f-11e6-b2cb-0781f54596fc.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":7" /> Moakler made his Grand Ole Opry debut on March 19, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.soundslikenashville.com/news/steve-moakler-makes-grand-ole-opry-debut/|title=Steve Moakler Makes Grand Ole Opry Debut|last=Laffer|first=Lauren|date=March 22, 2016|website=Sound like Nashville}}</ref> He opened for parts of Dan + Shay's "Obsessed Tour", Old Dominion's "Meat & Candy Tour",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forthecountryrecord.com/2015/11/22/steve-moakler-debuts-brand-new-single-suitcase/|title=Steve Moakler Debuts Brand New Single 'Suitcase'|publisher=For The Country Record|accessdate=4 December 2015|archive-date=8 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208161143/http://forthecountryrecord.com/2015/11/22/steve-moakler-debuts-brand-new-single-suitcase/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Willie Nelson's "God's Problem Child Tour", and Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's "Soul2Soul World Tour".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allaccess.com/country/10-questions/archive/26047/10-questions-with-steve-moakler|title=10 Questions with Steve Moakler|last=Staff|date=March 13, 2017|website=All Access}}</ref> Moakler toured in late 2017 and late 2018 on the "Hometowns and Campgrounds Tour,"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wideopencountry.com/steve-moakler-hometowns-campgrounds-tour/|title=Steve Moakler is Heading to his Fans' Backyards|last=Giardina|first=Courtney|date=Fall 2017|website=Wide Open Country}}</ref> and he headlined in spring 2018 on the "Born Ready Tour."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nashcountrydaily.com/2018/02/14/steve-moakler-born-ready-tour/|title=Steve Moakler: Born Ready Tour|last=Casey|first=Jim|date=February 18, 2018|website=Nashville Country Daily}}</ref>

Moakler's music has been featured in several movies, TV shows, and commercials.<ref name="tasteofcountry">{{cite web|url=http://www.tasteofcountry.com/steve-moakler-suitcase/|title=Steve Moakler Goes Back in Front of the Mic for 'Suitcase' [Exclusive Premiere]|last1=Whitaker|first1=Sterling|date=19 November 2015 |publisher=Taste of Country|accessdate=4 December 2015}}</ref> Two of Moakler's songs appeared in the movie ''October Baby'', and two songs also featured in the Netflix show ''The Ranch''. In 2017, Mack Trucks commissioned him to write and perform a song, “Born Ready,” for the release of their Anthem truck series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mcall.com/business/manufacturing/mc-biz-mack-unveils-new-highway-truck-20170912-story.html|title=Mack Unveils New Highway Truck|last=Harris|first=John|date=September 12, 2017|website=The Morning Call|access-date=July 30, 2018|archive-date=July 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730170928/http://www.mcall.com/business/manufacturing/mc-biz-mack-unveils-new-highway-truck-20170912-story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/country-cool/311272/|title=When Country Wasn't Cool|last=Pollack|first=Judann|date=November 13, 2017|website=Adage.com}}</ref>

==Discography==

=== Studio albums === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title ! rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Details ! colspan="4"| Peak chart positions |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! width="45"| US Heat <ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=steven moakler|chart=Heatseekers Albums}}|title=Steve Moakler Album & Song Chart History - Heatseekers Albums|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|accessdate=March 22, 2016}}</ref> ! width="45"| US Indie <ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=steven moakler|chart=Independent Albums}}|title=Steve Moakler Album & Song Chart History - Independent Albums|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|accessdate=March 22, 2016}}</ref> ! width="45"| US Country <ref name="Prometheus Global Media">{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=steven moakler|chart=Country Albums}}|title=Steve Moakler Album & Song Chart History - Country Albums|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|accessdate=March 22, 2016}}</ref> ! width="45"| US Folk <ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=steven moakler|chart=Folk Albums}}|title=Steve Moakler Album & Song Chart History - Folk Albums|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|accessdate=March 22, 2016}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| ''All the Faint Lights'' | * Release date: March 30, 2009 * Label: self-released | — | — | — | — |- ! scope="row"| ''Watching Time Run'' | * Release date: August 30, 2011 * Label: Free the Birds | 6 | 31 | — | — |- ! scope="row"| ''Wide Open'' | * Release date: March 18, 2014 * Label: Free the Birds | 4 | 37 | — | 5 |- ! scope="row" |'' Steve Moakler: The Mix Tape '' | * Release date: November 2015 * Label: Creative Nation Music * | — | — | — | — |- ! scope="row" |'' Steve Moakler: The EP '' | * Release Date: March 11, 2016 * Label: Creative Nation Music * |21 |— |38 |— |- ! scope="row" |'' Steel Town'' | * Release Date: March 17, 2017 * Label: Soundly Music * | — | — | — | — |- ! scope="row" |'' Born Ready '' | * Release Date: June 15, 2018 * Label: Creative Nation Music * | — | — | — | — |- ! scope="row" |'' Blue Jeans '' | * Release Date: January 17, 2020 * Label: Creative Nation Music * | — | — | — | — |- ! scope="row" |'' Make A Little Room '' | * Release Date: August 12, 2022 * Label: Creative Nation Music * | — | — | — | — |- |}

===Music videos=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! Year ! style="width:8em;"| Title ! Director |- | 2016 ! scope="row"| "Suitcase"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/videos/steve-moakler/1560841/suitcase.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009203758/http://www.cmt.com/videos/steve-moakler/1560841/suitcase.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 9, 2016|title=CMT : Videos : Steve Moakler : Suitcase|publisher=Country Music Television|accessdate=October 8, 2016}}</ref> | Wes Edwards |- | 2017 ! scope="row"| "Wheels" | Steve Boyle |- |2017 ! scope="row"| "Born Ready" |Mark Urmos |- |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moakler, Steve}} Category:Singers from Pittsburgh Category:American country singer-songwriters Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters Category:Country musicians from Pennsylvania Category:Singer-songwriters from Pennsylvania Category:People from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania Category:American male singer-songwriters Category:21st-century American male singers