By Brent Thompson

Over the course of a nearly 50-year recording career, Steve Forbert has remained true to himself. Best known for his 1979 smash hit “Romeo’s Tune,” the singer/songwriter and Mississippi native has released a steady stream of acclaimed albums. On Wednesday, August 12, Forbert will perform at WORKPLAY. Recently, he spoke with us by phone from his New Jersey home.

Southern Stages: Steve, thanks for your time today. Are you at home or on the road right now?

Steve Forbert: I’m home now and I’ll be leaving tomorrow.

Southern Stages: Where is your home base these days?

Forbert: Asbury Park, N.J. I’ve been here since 2017.

Southern Stages: How many dates do you play per year?

Forbert: Maybe 50.

Southern Stages: If you will, talk about your latest recording projects.

Forbert: Daylight Savings Time is the most recent album of original songs. We’ve also remixed a record from 2015 that was called Compromised. We remixed it and it’s now called The Things That I See. It’s confusing – it’s the most recent release, but it’s not the most recent material.

Southern Stages: Of all of the albums you have recorded, how did you choose Compromise as the one to be remixed and re-released?

Forbert: One reason is that I own the material, the other being that I always felt it needed a little more space in the mixes.

Southern Stages: With a large catalog of songs under your belt, how do you comprise your live set lists these days?

Forbert: It almost always starts with a song called “Thinkin’.” The show always ends with “Romeo’s Tune” for obvious reasons. If things go well, we do as many encores that are doable. In between there, it’s all up for grabs. After we start with “Thinkin’,” it’s just a big list of songs that can be drawn from 40 years. I’m going to be playing with Anthony Crawford and Savana Lee at WORKPLAY. They’ll open the show and then Anthony will accompany me on lead acoustic guitar. We’ve already done a Two shows in Texas a couple of months ago, so we’re going to do some more.

Southern Stages: You’ve obviously seen a lot of industry changes over the course of your career. How do you view the current musical climate?

Forbert: In folk-rock and Americana, there just seems to be so many people now. I guess, just because I’m older [laughs], I’m constantly hearing of people I’ve never heard of. It seems like music and sports are so much bigger now – everything is just bigger, bigger, bigger. I don’t know why everybody got so interested in doing it. Maybe college got too expensive and people said, “What else can I do? Maybe I’ll look at this music thing.”

Southern Stages: How would you describe your songwriting process?

Forbert: I just started on something now and I know it’s going to take me a while – that’s the way it’s gone in the last few years. It may take a couple of weeks to write a song. I just kind of return to it throughout the day. It’s very rare that I can sit down anymore and write one in a burst. The last time that happened was “Buffalo Nickel” from [2022 album] Moving Through America. There was a tribute to Tom Petty called “Say Hello to Gainesville” that was pretty fast.

Southern Stages: How do songs stay fresh and relevant to you after you’ve performed some of them literally thousands of times?

Forbert: Basically, I’m just incorrigible [laughs]. People want to hear “Romeo’s Tune” and I wouldn’t be in the theatres and clubs I play if it wasn’t for that calling-card song. It’s fun to know at the end of the show I can sing it and people are going to sing along with it. It’s very rewarding, so it doesn’t get old.

Southern Stages: It seems the Americana genre is getting more broad in a good way. Do you feel your inclusion in the genre has helped your career?

Forbert: I think it’s easier for people to see where I fit in. [Record label] Rhino is going to put out a vinyl version of a record I did in 1996 – the record is called Rocking Horse Head. It’s never been on vinyl and it may have something to do with what you just said – the Americana thing being broader.

Southern Stages: As a guitarist, do you tend to seek out new gear or stick with your setup?

Forbert: I have what I have and stick with it – very much so. I’ve been playing this 1949 Gibson SJ since forever. It was actually pictured on my first record [1978’s Alive on Arrival]. Years ago, I settled on it as my main guitar and I play it at every show.

On Wednesday, August 12, Steve Forbert will perform at WORKPLAY. Anthony Crawford will open the 7:30 p.m., all-ages show. Advance tickets can be purchased at www.workplay.com.