Steve Seskin

Steve Seskin is an American singer, songwriter, and musician whose songs have been recorded by recording artists Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Waylon Jennings, Tim McGraw, Colin Raye, and Mark Wills among others. The debut single from McGraw's Set This Circus Down, "Grown Men Don't Cry", was nominated for a 2002 Grammy award and also garnered the No. 1 position on the Billboard Country Single Chart in June 2001.[1] Seskin also is known for performing at schools in support of the Operation Respect/Don't Laugh at Me project,[2][3] named after "Don't Laugh at Me," a song he wrote with Allen Shamblin that was recorded by Mark Wills[4] and Peter, Paul and Mary, among others.

Steve Seskin
Born (1952-03-31) March 31, 1952
OriginThe Bronx, New York City
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, musician
Years active1971 – present
LabelsSony Records
Websitesteveseskin.com

Seskin splits his time between touring, Nashville and Northern California.

Early life

Steve Seskin was born (March 31, 1952) in The Bronx, New York to parents Zelda (née Wein) and Irving Seskin. Seskin began playing guitar at 14 years old and started writing songs shortly after. He moved to San Francisco in 1971 and began his music career as a street performer progressing to festivals and clubs. There he met Ellen Seskin. They were married in 1981 and have one son, David.

After opening a concert for Crystal Gayle, she suggested that Seskin should go to Nashville to pursue songwriting, which he did.[5] During his first visit there in 1985, Seskin began with only one appointment with an ASCAP executive who subsequently arranged Seskin's appointments with several publishers.

Music career

Selected discography
ArtistSong TitleCreditYear
Reba McEntireCactus in a Coffee CanComposer2019
Crystal BowersoxAliveComposer2017
Seth GlierLike I DoComposer2017
Marie OsmondMusic is MedicineComposer2016
Seth GlierElectricityComposer2015
Tom Beck (actor)Go My WayComposer2012
Trent JeffcoatHero to SomeoneComposer2010
Tracy LawrenceI'm DoneComposer2009
Kathy MatteaRight Out of NowhereComposer2005
Peter, Paul and MaryDon't Laugh at MeComposer2005
EidolonLive to DanceComposer2004
Brian McComasI'll Always Be There For YouComposer2003
John Michael MontgomeryPicturesComposer2002
J. Michael HarterHard Call to MakeComposer2002
Georgia MiddlemanNo Place Like HomeComposer2001
Jerry Jeff WalkerEvery Drop of WaterComposer2001
Tim McGrawGrown Men Don't CryComposer2001
JohnsmithGod Knows WhyComposer2000
Penny FramstadPeople with My Last NameComposer2000
Toby KeithNew Orleanscomposer2000
Jerry KilgoreCactus in a Coffee CanComposer1999
The Oak Ridge BoysNew OrleansComposer1999
Olivia Newton-JohnAttentionComposer1998
Maria SangioloSomething RealComposer1998
The WilkinsonsThen There's YouComposer1998
Mark WillsDon't Laugh at MeComposer1998
Jeff WoodUse MineComposer1997
Sid SpencerIf You've Got LoveComposer1996
Paul JeffersonI'm HereComposer1996
Ricochet (band)Daddy's Moneycomposer1996
Wilcox and PardoeI Think About Youcomposer1995
Kenny ChesneyAll I Need to KnowComposer1995
Dennis WarnerSkippin' StonesComposer1995
Woody LeeI Like the Sound of ThatComposer1995
Collin RayeI Think About YouComposer1995
John Michael MontgomeryNo Man's LandComposer1995
Ricky SkaggsEvery Drop of WaterComposer1995
Neal McCoyFor a ChangeComposer1995
John Michael MontgomeryIf You've Got LoveComposer1994
Neal McCoyNo Doubt About ItComposer1994
Tim McGrawWelcome to the ClubComposer1993
Pam TillisWe've Tried Everything ElseComposer1992
John Michael MontgomeryLife's a DanceComposer1992
Darryl & Don EllisIt's Bigger Than the Both of UsComposer1992
Neal McCoyWhere Do Daddies Go?composer1992
Karen TobinWedding BedComposer1991
Dr. ElmoWedding BedComposer1991
Nitty Gritty Dirt BandYou Made Life Good AgainComposer1991
Delbert McClintonThat's the Way I FeelComposer1990
Waylon JenningsWrongComposer1990
The Marcy BrothersYou're Not Even CryingComposer1989
Moe BandyA Long Way From LonelyComposer1989
AlabamaShe CanComposer1989

Grown Men Don't Cry

"Grown Men Don't Cry", written by Tom Douglas and Steve Seskin was recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released in April 2001 as the first single from McGraw's 2001 album Set This Circus Down. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) chart and peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100

"Grown Men Don't Cry" debuted at number 30 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the chart week of March 24, 2001.

Chart (2001) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[6] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 25

Don't Laugh at Me

"Don't Laugh at Me", written by Allen Shamblin and Steve Seskin, was recorded by American country music artist Mark Wills. It was released in July 1998 as the second single from album Wish You Were Here. "Don't Laugh at Me" was a number 2 hit on the Billboard country charts. The song received Country Music Association nominations for Country Music Association's Single, Song and Video of the Year in 1998.

"Don't Laugh at Me" debuted at number 69 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of July 18, 1998. The song peaked at number 2 on the Hot Country Songs chart on October 10, 1998.

Chart (1998) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[8] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 73
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[10] 2

Books
  • Sing My Song Book & CD - A Kid's Guide to Songwriting - 2008[11]
  • A Chance to Shine Book & CD - 2006[12]
  • Don't Laugh at Me Book & CD - 2002[13]
  • Songwriting and the Guitar - 2000[14]

Teaching

Seskin teaches songwriting workshops throughout the U.S. as well as teaching songwriting courses at San Francisco State University, The Kerrville Folk Festival Songwriting School and The Rocky Mountain Folk Festival. He has played an active role as a songwriting teacher and mentor at West Coast Songwriters Association since 1988 and Nashville Songwriters Association International since 1995.[15][16][17]

Operation Respect Don't Laugh at Me

Seskin is the co-writer of “Don’t Laugh At Me”, the song that was the impetus for the Operation Respect program and organization, co-founded by Peter Yarrow.[18]

Operation Respect, a non-profit education and advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the social and emotional growth of children and youth, was founded in 1999 by Peter Yarrow of the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, and Dr. Charlotte Frank. Operation Respect was first inspired by a moment between father and daughter (Bethany Yarrow), a singer and activist who told her dad that he had to hear a song called Don’t Laugh at Me. She believed that it was exactly the kind of movement creating music Peter, Paul and Mary stood for. Written by Steve Seskin, now an Operation Respect Board Member, and Allen Shamblin, the lyrics of Don’t Laugh at Me is Operation Respect's theme song and classroom-based curricula. Since its inception, their speakers and performers have addressed over 500,000 educators, educational leaders, parents, students, policy makers and community members throughout the world.

Kids Write Songs

Seskin is the founder of Kids Write Songs, a songwriting workshop teaching creative expression to children of all ages as well as teaching them to create their own songs that address issues that affect bullying, respect, peer pressure, diversity, and self-esteem. Workshops consist of 3 to 4 sessions with about 30 students each session.[19]

The Parkland Project – Wake Up America

The Parkland Project, a youth-inspired songwriting initiative, released original songs at the National Association for Music Education National Conference. The tracks tell of the surviving students’ deep trauma from the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine's Day, Feb 14, 2018 and reflect a commitment to the student-led movements dedicated to stopping the killing of their classmates and peers, and the passing of gun laws to do so.

Written and composed by the students of Parkland, Florida, with the guidance of noted songwriters such as Steve Seskin and Peter Yarrow and music producers affiliated with Operation Respect, the album, Wake Up, America, its title track, followed by compositions, Song for the Silenced, Transparent, Valentine’s Day, Change the Ref, We Got the Power, Armor Off, Watering Can Full of Tears, The Children Will Lead the Way, and We Need was released. Proceeds from the songs benefit Shine MSD and Change the Ref, Parkland-based organizations providing art-based trauma informed therapy and advocates of gun-violence prevention.[20][21]

Sources

References
  1. Billboard Country Song Chart for 16, June 2005]
  2. "Broadway World interviews Steve Seskin and Seth Glier at Kerville Folk Festival". Broadway World – By Kathy Strain. June 3, 2015. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  3. "Creating Compassionate, Safe, Respectful Environments - Operation Respect". Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  4. "Singer-songwriter Steve Seskin's recipe for compassion". Radiance Magazine – By Toby Bielawski. 1999. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  5. "Nashville Comes to Pacifica With Songs in the Round". Pacifica Tribune Mercury News – By Toby Bielawski. January 8, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  6. "Tim McGraw Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  7. "Tim McGraw Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  8. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 7026." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. October 26, 1998. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
  9. "Mark Wills Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  10. "Mark Wills Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  11. "Sing My Song - A Kid's Guide to Songwriting". Amazon.
  12. Seskin, Steve; Shamblin, Allen (2006). A Chance to Shine. ISBN 1582461678.
  13. "Don't Laugh at Me Book & CD". Publishers Weekly -.
  14. Songwriting and the Guitar. 2000. ISBN 9781890490287.
  15. "Kerrville Folk Festival Songwriting School - Steve Seskin". –.
  16. "Country Music Hall of Fame - Songwriter Session - Steve Seskin". –.
  17. "Bluebird Café Nashville - Writers Night with Special Guest Steve Seskin – Hosted By Steve Goodie". –.
  18. "Steve Seskin". Operation Respect -.
  19. "Songwriter Steve Seskin Inspires Students to Write Songs About Respect - Park Record - By Scott Iwasaki". September 12, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  20. "PARKLAND STUDENTS RELEASE WAKE UP, AMERICA - Operation Respect". WRCB TV – By. November 11, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  21. "The Parkland Project Wake Up America - Operation Respect". PR Distribution– By. November 11, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  • www.steveseskin.com – Official website
  • – Operation Respect/Don't Laugh at Me project
  • – All Music
  • - Kids Write Songs
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