|
Steve Robinson
Steve, a native Long Islander, has been a carpenter, high school English teacher, commercial shell fisherman, truck driver, landscape crew foreman, air traffic controller, union rep., and computer programmer (and those are just some of the jobs). "It hasn’t been dull", as Ellen, his wife of 35 years, puts it. What he is now is one hell of a songwriter, guitarist, singer, and performer.
"Music has always been a big part of my life. I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember. It’s an Irish thing." Steve is a self-taught guitarist and has developed his own unique finger style combining driving rhythms with tasteful licks. His songwriting abilities were confirmed by fellow songwriters when they chose him as the winner of the coveted ISS Writer’s Choice award the first time he entered.
His CD of 12 originals, Back Roads, contains 12 gems that range from blues, country, soul, folk, and jazz, each one delivered with an authenticity and soulfulness that is rare. The musicians include drummer John O Reilly (Richie Havens, Ritchie Blackmore, Rainbow, Blue Oyster Cult, Earl "Fatha" Hines and the Trans Siberian Orchestra), slide guitarist Mark Newman (Sam The Sham and Kathy Tricolli) - acoustic bass, fiddle, and harmonica played by Tony Montalbo (Buddy Rich and Kathy Tricolli), and Paul Errico who is currently on tour with Steve Forbert. Last but not least is producer and elecric bass and guitar phenom Bob Stander who has toured with the Platters and recorded such artists as Pete Townshend, Simon Townshend, Roy Buchanan, Frank Carillo, and Steve Arrington (Slave).
Steve has been featured at some of the top acoustic venues on Long Island, the Eclectic Café with the New Jersey duo Open Book, and at the Hard Luck Café with Ina May Wool. Recently he had the honor of opening for Steve Earle’s sister Stacy and her talented husband Mark Stuart.
Ask him about his musical influences and he is likely to smile. "Too many to count." His favorite artists tend to be other great songwriters such as John Hiatt, Delbert McClinton, Steve Earle, Guy Clark, Paul Brady and, currently, Jimmy LaFave and Slaid Cleaves. "Each of these guys has a knack for reaching into your gut and pulling out a truth so crystal clear it leaves you gasping for breath. That is the kind of songwriter I want to be." He is well on his way.
| 
