Steve Barton (musician)
Encyclopedia
Steve Barton is an American rock musician and songwriter best known for his work with the band Translator
.
Born in Los Angeles to actor parents, Dan and Anne Barton, music got into his blood at an early age. 11 year-old Steve and his band The Present Tense recorded his song "Lost" with Producer Mike Curb
, but due to legalities the single wasn't released until 2000 as a bonus track on Steve's debut solo CD "The Boy Who Rode His Bike Around the World". Barton had his first publishing deal as a songwriter with ABC Dunhill Music at age 14. He kept writing and went on to play guitar behind Ella Woods on a German USO tour. Next was a tour of Japan in 1978 with a Beatles cover band playing first George, then John, alongside drummer Dave Scheff as Ringo. The two would go on to form Translator
in 1979 with bassist Larry Dekker. After playing around L.A. for a few months Robert Darlington joined as the second guitarist–songwriter and the group moved to San Francisco, where they gained an enthusiastic local following and soon signed a recording deal with Howie Klein
's 415 Records
. They released four albums and the hit single written by Steve, "Everywhere That I'm Not" which was the most requested song on San Francisco radio station KUSF for six months after its release. Up-and-coming producer David Kahne
oversaw the band’s first album Heartbeats and Triggers, which was notable for its blend of folk-rock guitars and thoughtful lyrics, delivered in a post-punk way. Kahne also helmed the poppier follow-up No Time Like Now which received a rave from Musician magazine that said Translator were “the only rockers left who are capable of writing love songs that are neither cliches nor abstractions.” Translator tapped Ramones producer Ed Stasium for 1985's psychedelic-tinged Translator LP, “just to see what would happen if we worked with someone else”, Barton says. By their final LP Evening of the Harvest, Translator had morphed into a skillful proto-jam band and their adventurous sounds were highly praised by David Fricke in Rolling Stone.
Translator played to packed crowds for several years before the group parted ways and Barton went on to write and record as a solo artist. Starting in 2000 he put together his current band, The Oblivion Click, with bassist Derrick Anderson and drummer Robbie Rist
. Their releases include "Charm Offensive", "Flicker of Time" and "Gallery". In early 2011 Steve released "Projector", an album made up of songs written in the immediate aftermath of his dad's death in 2009. Steve plays all of the instruments on that album. It was recorded and mixed on tape and was produced by long-time friend Marvin Etzioni (Lone Justice). Translator continues to perform occasionally including well-received shows at SXSW in 2006 and a sold-out Slim's show in San Francisco in September 2009.
Translator (band)
Translator is a San Francisco rock band that had success during the 1980s. They created a sound that spanned updated British Merseybeat and stripped-down punk-like rock to psychedelia. Inspired by the Beatles and 1960s California folk-rock bands such as The Byrds, their guitar-based music was...
.
Born in Los Angeles to actor parents, Dan and Anne Barton, music got into his blood at an early age. 11 year-old Steve and his band The Present Tense recorded his song "Lost" with Producer Mike Curb
Mike Curb
Michael Curb is an American musician, record company executive, NASCAR and IRL race car owner. A Republican, he served as the 42nd Lieutenant Governor of California from 1979-1983 under Democratic Governor Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, Jr...
, but due to legalities the single wasn't released until 2000 as a bonus track on Steve's debut solo CD "The Boy Who Rode His Bike Around the World". Barton had his first publishing deal as a songwriter with ABC Dunhill Music at age 14. He kept writing and went on to play guitar behind Ella Woods on a German USO tour. Next was a tour of Japan in 1978 with a Beatles cover band playing first George, then John, alongside drummer Dave Scheff as Ringo. The two would go on to form Translator
Translator (band)
Translator is a San Francisco rock band that had success during the 1980s. They created a sound that spanned updated British Merseybeat and stripped-down punk-like rock to psychedelia. Inspired by the Beatles and 1960s California folk-rock bands such as The Byrds, their guitar-based music was...
in 1979 with bassist Larry Dekker. After playing around L.A. for a few months Robert Darlington joined as the second guitarist–songwriter and the group moved to San Francisco, where they gained an enthusiastic local following and soon signed a recording deal with Howie Klein
Howie Klein
Howie Klein is an American DJ, music producer, record label founder, record label executive, and political blogger, who was president of Reprise Records from 1989 to 2001....
's 415 Records
415 Records
415 Records was a San Francisco record label created in 1978. The label focused its efforts on local punk rock and new wave music acts of the late 1970s through the late 1980s, including The Offs, The Nuns, Romeo Void, and Wire Train...
. They released four albums and the hit single written by Steve, "Everywhere That I'm Not" which was the most requested song on San Francisco radio station KUSF for six months after its release. Up-and-coming producer David Kahne
David Kahne
David Kahne is an American record producer. Kahne started his musical career as a working musician and then became notable for his role as in-house producer and engineer at 415 Records, the first American new wave music label, and for his subsequent roles as Vice President of A&R at Columbia...
oversaw the band’s first album Heartbeats and Triggers, which was notable for its blend of folk-rock guitars and thoughtful lyrics, delivered in a post-punk way. Kahne also helmed the poppier follow-up No Time Like Now which received a rave from Musician magazine that said Translator were “the only rockers left who are capable of writing love songs that are neither cliches nor abstractions.” Translator tapped Ramones producer Ed Stasium for 1985's psychedelic-tinged Translator LP, “just to see what would happen if we worked with someone else”, Barton says. By their final LP Evening of the Harvest, Translator had morphed into a skillful proto-jam band and their adventurous sounds were highly praised by David Fricke in Rolling Stone.
Translator played to packed crowds for several years before the group parted ways and Barton went on to write and record as a solo artist. Starting in 2000 he put together his current band, The Oblivion Click, with bassist Derrick Anderson and drummer Robbie Rist
Robbie Rist
Robert Anthony Rist is an American actor and musician.-Acting and voiceover work:As a child, Rist played Cousin Oliver in the final six episodes of The Brady Bunch. With the regular children all getting older, his inclusion was intended to reintroduce cute younger children to the series...
. Their releases include "Charm Offensive", "Flicker of Time" and "Gallery". In early 2011 Steve released "Projector", an album made up of songs written in the immediate aftermath of his dad's death in 2009. Steve plays all of the instruments on that album. It was recorded and mixed on tape and was produced by long-time friend Marvin Etzioni (Lone Justice). Translator continues to perform occasionally including well-received shows at SXSW in 2006 and a sold-out Slim's show in San Francisco in September 2009.
External links
- Steve Barton official website
- Translator website
- rollingstone.com
- [ allmusic.com article]