Steven Gellman
Honest, sincere and often humorous, Steven Gellman has performed his slice-of-life lyrics to audiences across the United States since the mid-90s. Described by Billboard Magazine as “intensely sensitive and impressively intelligent,” Steven’s songs tell stories of everyday life wrapped in notes that will have you humming along – long after the song is over. On stage, Steven combines friendly banter with a sonorous, tenor voice that critics have compared to the late John Denver.
Steven got his musical start teaching himself to play with a dime store guitar and the sheet music to Joan Jett’s I Love Rock n Roll. While his dream of playing in a rock band never came to fruition, Steven quickly found his passion for folk music co-founding the 90s folk-rock group Diamond Rose. When the band broke up, Steven decided to strike out on his own as a solo act. His debut release Photobook garnered critical acclaim – he was nominated for 4 awards from The Washington Area Music Association Awards (WAMA) and by The Gay/Lesbian American Music Awards (GLAMA) for Debut Album of the Year. His follow-up release, Return to Summer Lake, was hailed by Billboard Magazine as “essential for fans of sensitive acoustic music.”
Now, with 8 indie releases to his name, Steven showcases more than 20 years as a singer/songwriter. His most recent project is a set of companion holiday albums recorded live in a historic Maryland chapel. Songs of Winter’s Cheer and Hearth & Home bring to mind the Cowboy Junkies’ Trinity Session with a Peter, Paul and Mary vibe featuring holiday favorites and Steven’s original songs adapted for the season. These recordings capture the warm acoustics of the chapel providing the feel of an intimate concert experience.
Steven has traveled near and far to perform at renowned acoustic music venues
throughout the United States and Canada including the Birchmere in Alexandria, the Ark in Ann Arbor, the Blue Bird Café in Nashville, the Tin Angel in Philadelphia and Club Passim in Boston. In Washington, DC, he has performed at the venerated National Theatre and the most sought after venue of all, The White House. Steven has had the honor to open shows for Dar Williams, Cheryl Wheeler, Richie Havens, Richard Shindell and Al Stewart among others.
Don Murphy of the National Theatre said, “Steven Gellman’s insightful original songs and homespun stories provide a soul-warming folk rock respite in a busy chilly world.”
