No Matter What, Steve Brownell is an American

Firelands country music fans have a reason to be excited.

Local favorite Steve Brownell has just completed his new album "No Matter What." The album, produced by Ivey Music International (IMI), includes musical contributions by country music legends such as Kerry Marx, who played guitar for Johnny Cash, and Katherine Marx, the piano player for Olivia Newton John's band. Fiddle player Joe Spivey and Steel guitar player Micheal Johnson, who both contributed their musical talent to Shania Twain, also add elements to Brownell's new score.

IMI, owned by Steve Ivey, has produced projects for many country music celebrities including Darryl Worley, Crystal Gayle and the Oak Ridge Boys. The set contains 10 songs, three of which Steve wrote or co-wrote. Steve meticulously selected the seven tracks to include on his album from more than 600 pieces submitted by songwriters from Nashville.

"I wanted to choose the absolute best songs I could find," Brownell said.

The album also features Brownell's most popular song, "We are Americans," with musical contributions from 450 students from Berlin-Milan and Milan Elementary schools. Brownell describes the experience of the live recording with those students as the moment music meant the most to him.

"Being in the middle of all those kids while they are singing every word, hitting every note, meant so much to me," Brownell said.

The students from both schools also enhanced the song by translating it for the hearing-impaired through use of sign language.

The song "We Are Americans" envelopes the very essence of Brownell's constant celebration and support of the American Armed Forces who have and still continue to fight for all of us everyday.

"If I were able to play just one last song for any inspiration of mine, I would play 'We Are Americans' for any American who has, currently is, or will be defending this nation," Brownell said.

Brownell also had the occasion to perform this song at a very emotional service for the victims and families of United Flight 93, which crashed on 9/11. The service was held at a chapel in Shanksville, Pa., near the site of the plane crash, on the one-year anniversary.

Brownell, a 1987 Perkins High School graduate, husband to a loving wife and father of two children, is a self-taught musician of contemporary country music. Besides being a vocalist, Brownell can play the piano and acoustic guitar. He has entertained the Firelands for more than 20 years performing more than 220 shows in this area in the last year alone.

In addition to opening for Travis Tritt and Phil Vasser, Brownell has been a stand-in on the K96 Friday morning show playing live requests for his local fans, and he will debut his new album on the morning show Friday, May 19. He also will sign albums from 1-3 p.m. at By Design behind the Sandusky Mall. He will perform his album live for the first time Sunday, May 21 at the Asher Bash, a charity event at Roeder's Harley-Davidson from noon-6 p.m.

"The Firelands area means everything to me," Brownell said. "It certainly isn't the money that motivates me to do what I do. It is the people, friends and family who embrace my music and enjoy themselves that is the ultimate payoff."

Steve Brownell

Written by Matthew Alan Marshall