User:Alsteeg/Alan Leslie Steeg

Two days before Christmas in the early morning of December 23,1966... Alan Leslie Steeg was born. Raised in Sioux City, Iowa A.L.S. was influenced from several generes of music. Perhaps the first kind of music he was influenced by was Country music, in which he literally would wake up to it every morning from the radio that was always playing in the kitchen. If he wasn't listening to the legendary artists on the radio, he would be listening to the legends on television. Everything from The Grand Ol' Opry to Lawrence Welk, Hee Haw and Elvis-Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite. These artists were great inspirations. When asked what kind of music do you like? Alan's response was always the same, "Anything that sounds good and makes sense, if it sounds good but doesn't make sense..it's meaningless, if it makes sense but doesn't sound good... it's meaningless, a song has to sound good AND make sense." Around eight years of age, Alan picked up a trumpet that his step-dad bought from a farm auction and played by ear, The Battle Hymm of the Republic. His mother and step-dad were impressed and enrolled him into music class in elementary school. By the time he reached 8th grade, his step-daddy bought him his first guitar. Although it was used and it came from a farm auction as well, Alan learned to play it by ear. This was perhaps the first time he was able to put his true feelings into his music. At this point and time, that trumpet gave way to the guitar and as A.L.S. puts it..."It's kinda hard to play a trumpet and sing at the same time". Plagued by family problems, he dropped unwillingly out of school in the 9th grade. Everything was put on hold, including the music. Life was coming at him fast. With no place to go and wearing out his welcome staying with some friends, he decided maybe it was just time to move on. And move on he did. He caught a Greyhound bus directly to Memphis,TN. Pretty much feeling deserted and outcast and at the end of the road, he longed to see this place they call Memphis-The Birthplace of Rock n Roll. It was here where all these legendary artists got their start from like: Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison Etc. Right there at that little building called Memphis Recording Service, better known as Sun Records. It was here that in 1987, A.L.S. would record as well. Nothing professional, just two songs, with only guitar and vocal. One called "Amazing Grace" and the second song called "Forget Me Never". It was also during this same time he entered a talent contest for 56 WHBQ. Having never entered any talent contest before and not sure of which song to send to get airplay, he decided to just send two songs ("For the Good Times"/"Precious Lord Take My Hand") and let the DJ decide which one he wanted to play. As it turns out, unbeknown to Alan at the time, both songs got air play. The following day Alan went to pick up the other studio track "Where Could I Go?" he cut at Sun the previous day when he ran across Gary Hardy, owner/operations manager of Sun Studio at the time. Not knowing they (56 WHBQ) even played his music, Gary Hardy told him "Hey Alan, i heard you on the radio last night, alot of people called in asking who that was and liked ya so much, they played both songs you sent in. You ought to come back on in here and record another one,see if you can win the grand prize (One year recording contract) Gary didn't realize A.L.S. already DID record one-"Where Could I Go?"( But To The Lord) Nervous and scared, Alan never did. "Probably should have, but didn't. Just wasn't really ready at that time and point in life" Alan said. Life's little detours came along and Alan moved further and further away from music. The music got traded in for 18 wheels. He continued to sing during these 13 years of driving tractor-trailers, but only behind the wheel to help keep him awake and at home. He never really left music, it's always been a big part of him, music just took back seat for the moment. But now, the tractor-trailer is taking a back seat to the music. When asked why now after 13 years?, Alan's response was "Theres no Life in driving a truck-It'll ruin a person if your around it long enough. Everything your trying to gain financially, isn't worth what your losing personally and by that i mean, your house is falling apart,your car is falling apart, your family is falling apart, your credit is falling apart,your resume' is falling apart. And worse, your health starts falling apart because of all the stress and the lifestyle of it all. I've always said, if the stress doesn't do me in, the truck will." Theres an old saying, "Do what you love to do, and you'll never have to work another day again. Music is something i love to do whether i get paid for it or not. It's through music that i can sincerely express myself and my feelings. It's who i am"