Everyday Creation
Everyday Creation is about living our purpose, lifting our vibes, and expressing our creativity for the highest good. The show's title refers to three types of creation: The ways we express ourselves (for example, with art, music and so many other pursuits fueled by purpose and passion); the parts of life that fill us with awe — birth, death, love, the big picture; and our innate personal power to create our best possible lives while also making the world a better place. You’ll hear conversations with terrific guests on matters we care about, as well as spiritual perspectives, personal essays on being our best selves, and episodes simply for information and fun. I'm your host Kate Jones, welcoming you to Everyday Creation.
Everyday Creation
Tribute to Steve Harwell, featuring Sheldon Zoldan
Steve Harwell, frontman and co-founder of Smash Mouth, retired in 2021 from the group because of ongoing health issues. He was only 56 when he died.
The group is best known for “All Star,” written by guitarist Greg Camp who said it was for fans who sent in letters telling the band how they were being bullied. In this official video, you can watch Harwell and his fellow Smash Mouth members performing the song.
The image in the chapters is from a 2013 cookbook, "Smash Mouth: Recipes from the Road," by Harwell, fellow band member Paul DeLisle, and Robert Hayes. I found a paperback version on Amazon.
Also in the chapters, you can go right to the tribute by skipping my intro; feel free to skip my closing remarks too. Both are there to provide context for those who haven't listened to the other tributes.
Throughout much of his life, Harwell struggled with alcoholism, which was exacerbated by the 2001 death of his 6-month-old son, Presley. Harwell established a disease prevention fund, the Presley Scott Research Foundation for Leukemia, in his child's honor.
This tribute is one of 44 episodes dedicated to significant figures in the music industry who passed away in 2023. All were written and recorded by longtime writer/editor Sheldon Zoldan, who also writes Song of the Day, a music-related story sent daily to an email list of subscribers. To get on his subscriber list, email shzoldan@comcast.net with the subject line ADD ME TO SOTD.
Audio engineer/musician Mike Villegas edited all the audio for this series. Hope you enjoy these intriguing glimpses into the lives of the people who made some of the music we love.
This is Kate Jones. Thank you for listening to Everyday Creation, available on YouTube and in podcast directories including Apple, Spotify and Audible.
Kate:
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Hello, and welcome to Everyday Creation. This is
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your host, Kate Jones, with one of 44
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tributes
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to significant figures in the music industry
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who passed away in 2023.
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My guest Sheldon Zoldan,
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a longtime writer and newspaper editor,
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wrote these short biographies
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and recorded them.
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Each one is an intriguing
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glimpse into the life and impact of someone
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who contributed
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to the soundtracks of our lives. Here's what
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Sheldon has to say in this tribute.
Sheldon:
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Steve Harwell's legacy was tarnished with alcohol-fueled
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outbursts
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and hate-filled rants
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during the final years of his life.
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The events forced him to retire as frontman
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for Smash Mouth, the group he co-founded.
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Harwell died September 4th in Boise, Idaho, from
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liver failure.
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He was 56.
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Harwell
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began as a rapper in the group F.O.S.
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but changed course and co-founded Smash Mouth in 1994.
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The group had a hit in 1997
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with "Walkin' on the Sun,"
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but it was "All Star" from their second
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album that brought them immortality.
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Guitarist
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Greg Camp wrote it after record executives said
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they needed a song that would be a
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good single.
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Camp wrote it for fans who sent in
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letters telling the band how they were being
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bullied.
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It reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot
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100 in 1999.
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It became more famous when it was played
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over the opening credits of "Shrek"
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in 2001.
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The band put out more albums during the
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2000s
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but not with the same success.
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Meanwhile,
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Harwell's life began to spin out of control.
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His 6-month-old son died in 2001.
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He battled alcoholism
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and, in 2013.
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was diagnosed with serious heart problems
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and Wernicke
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encephalopathy,
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which affects memory and speech.
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He became erratic during concerts,
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sometimes swearing at audience members.
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He collapsed on stage during a concert in
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2016.
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His final outburst came during a show in
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Bethel, New York, in 2021
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when he looked intoxicated,
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slurred his words,
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threatened the audience members, and is said to
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have given the Nazi salute.
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He retired soon after, blaming mental and physical
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issues.
Kate:
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This is Kate again. Please go to the
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description for more information and to hear the
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song that Sheldon referenced.
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If you enjoyed this tribute, please check out
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the rest of them. Although some of the
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names are not as familiar as others, the
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biographies
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are equally intriguing.
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Thank you for listening to Everyday Creation.
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Please share this episode with anyone who might
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enjoy it.
