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United States Steve Grand is an American singer, songwriter, and model known for his musical contributions and advocacy within the LGBTQ+ community, performing at various Pride events and partnering with organizations like the Human Rights Campaign.
Steve Grand has chosen to build his own team and create his own 'record label' called 'Grand Nation' to manage his music career.
Steve Grand is the owner and designer of Grand Axis, a men's underwear and swimwear brand. The brand also includes shorts, socks, T-shirts, and hats.
Steve Grand has partnered with the Human Rights Campaign as part of his activism for LGBT equality.
Steve Grand has partnered with The Anti-Violence Project as part of his activism for LGBT equality.
Steve Grand has partnered with Bailey House, performing at their benefit, as part of his activism for LGBT equality.
Steve Grand has partnered with the GLSEN Respect Awards, performing at their event, as part of his activism for LGBT equality.
Steve Grand has partnered with Out & Equal Workplace Advocates as part of his activism for LGBT equality.
Steve Grand has partnered with the March on Springfield for Marriage Equality, performing at the event, as part of his activism for LGBT equality.
Steve Grand was born on February 28, 1990, in Lemont, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. He began writing music at the age of 11. After completing studies at Lemont High School, he attended Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, for one year before returning to Chicago. He enrolled at the University of Illinois at Chicago but later left to focus on his music career. Prior to his widespread musical recognition, Grand pursued modeling under various pseudonyms and appeared as a cover model for Australia’s DNA magazine in 2011. He also performed as a pianist at Chicago-area churches and clubs, and uploaded cover songs to YouTube under the name Steve [Starchild]. Grand’s musical influences include a diverse range of artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga, and Fall Out Boy.
Grand gained significant public attention on July 2, 2013, with the release of his self-funded music video for “All-American Boy” on YouTube. The video, produced for US$7,000, quickly went viral, achieving over 1 million views within eight days. This success led to appearances on national media platforms such as Good Morning America and CNN. Although some media labeled him as the “first openly gay male country singer,” Grand has stated he does not identify primarily as a country artist, emphasizing his broader musical and songwriting interests. He performed “All-American Boy” on WLS-TV’s Windy City Live on July 18, 2013. In September 2013, he released the follow-up single “Stay,” and subsequently “Time” in 2014.
His debut album, “All American Boy,” was released on March 24, 2015, following a highly successful Kickstarter campaign that raised $326,593, significantly exceeding its initial goal. Following the album’s release, Grand embarked on a tour across the United States, performing at Gay Pride Festivals and supporting LGBTQ+ causes. In June 2015, he traveled to Europe as an Arts Envoy for the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, promoting LGBT rights in Austria and performing at Europride in Riga, Latvia. In December 2017, Grand made his acting debut in the web series “Falling for Angels.” His second album, “Not the End of Me,” was released on July 6, 2018, charting at number 10 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart.
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