Todd Snider
A sharp-witted, storytelling troubadour whose ramshackle folk songs offered hilarious and poignant commentary on life's oddballs and outcasts.
Born 1966 (age 60)·American singer-songwriter·Birthday: October 11·Generation X
Biography
Todd Snider emerged from the Pacific Northwest as a master of the musical tall tale, armed with an acoustic guitar, a harmonica, and a seemingly bottomless supply of characters. His songs, delivered in a conversational drawl, felt less like performances and more like confessions from a barstool philosopher. He built a dedicated following not on radio hits, but on the strength of his live shows and a deep catalog of albums that blended folk, country, and rock with a punk rock spirit. Snider's genius lay in his ability to find profound truth in absurdity, singing about aging hippies, conspiracy theorists, and down-and-out dreamers with equal parts empathy and wit. He carved out a unique space as a songwriter's songwriter, revered by peers and fans for his authenticity and his unwavering commitment to the story.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Todd was born in 1966, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Todd Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Todd's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 60
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Released over 20 studio albums, building a robust and deeply personal catalog of story-songs.
- Cultivated a formidable reputation as a live performer, known for his lengthy, anecdote-filled concerts.
- His song 'Talkin' Seattle Grunge Rock Blues' became a cult classic for its satirical take on the 1990s music scene.
- Wrote 'Ballad of the Kingsmen,' a detailed narrative song about the band behind the hit 'Louie Louie.'
- His album 'The Devil You Know' was produced by legendary musician Loretta Lynn.
Did You Know?
He was discovered by Jimmy Buffett's manager while playing in a Memphis bar, which led to his first record deal.
Snider is a direct descendant of Davy Crockett.
He wrote a song about getting a parking ticket in New York City called 'The Ballad of Cape Henry.'
He performed at the Grand Ole Opry numerous times.
Snider published a collection of his stories and essays titled 'I Never Met a Story I Didn't Like.'
“I'm not a folk singer. I'm a folk talker who found a guitar.”
