Short answers, pulled from the story.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine is an American music critic born on the 18th of June, 1973, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is best known as a former senior editor at AllMusic, where he wrote artist biographies and record reviews. He has also contributed liner notes and co-authored volumes in the All Music Guide book series covering blues and hip-hop.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine is a nephew of Michael Erlewine, the former musician who founded AllMusic. That family connection gave Stephen a direct path into the organization, where he eventually became a senior editor.
Erlewine studied at the University of Michigan, where he majored in English. During his time there he served as music editor and then arts editor of The Michigan Daily, and worked as a DJ at the campus radio station WCBN.
Erlewine contributed to two volumes in the All Music Guide series: "All Music Guide to the Blues: The Definitive Guide to the Blues" and "All Music Guide to Hip-Hop: The Definitive Guide to Rap & Hip-Hop."
The surname Erlewine is pronounced "ɜrlwaɪn."
At The Michigan Daily, the University of Michigan's campus newspaper, Erlewine served as music editor from 1993 to 1994 and then as arts editor from 1994 to 1995.