Steve was born and raised in Nanaimo B.C. and is a product of the School District 68 band program.In 1984 he was part of a gold medal winning big band under the direction of Bryan Stovell. From there he went on to study non-music subjects, working and studying across Canada in diverse cities from Vancouver to Ottawa as well as in small coastal communities on Vancouver Island. In 1990 he graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Arts in Geography. Upon receiving his degree he worked in several jobs in the mapping field until corporate lay-offs in 1998 encouraged him to return to his first love - music.
In the fall of 1999 Steve returned to school studying music at Malaspina University College (now Vancouver Island University) in Nanaimo. Even before his studies there were completed he was gaining a reputation as an accomplished bassist in the style of the late Ray Brown. He worked throughout his college years playing gigs in the mid-Vancouver Island area with Steve Jones, Barry Miller, Peder Long, Saboro Mcivor and Norm Porter.
During the summer of 2003 he attended the Victoria Conservatory summer jazz workshop where he studied with jazz greats Neil Swainson, Misha Piatogorsky and Don Thompson. Mr. Thompson remarked at this time "(Steve is) a great player, with an amazing amount of potential."
Steve moved to Victoria in 2006 where he has continued his playing at venues such as the Superior Café, The Fort Street Café, the Spiral Café and Vista 18. He has played and jammed with many of Victoria's finest musicians including Mowbray and Mills, Noah Becker and Dana McLeod.
In 2007 and 2008 Steve was a member of the Anna Acevedo Lyman Latin Jazz Trio playing as the house band at Illios Restaurant in Nanaimo and at the Glo EuroPub in Victoria, and continues to be an essential part of this band.
In the winter of 2009 Steve was invited to join Brianne de Verteuil and her Savvy 6, a 30's and 40's style band. In the subsequent months the group has become regular at Hermann's Jazz Club in Victoria as well as playing at such places as Abkhazi Gardens. In August 2010, the Savvy 6 played at Butchart Gardens in Victoria as part of their summer concert series.
Steve started playing the 'ukulele in March of 2010 and has made great strides on this instrument. In September of 2010 he travelled to Sonoma, California to study with Kimo Hussey, Hawaiian master of the 'ukulele at the E Ho'omau 'Ukulele Workshop. Steve was privileged to join Kimo on stage during the Saturday evening benefit concert (playing bass) during this workshop. Kimo encouraged Steve to teach and promote the ukulele.
Steve continues to play bass and 'ukulele in Victoria, across the island, and further afield. He also teaches guitar, bass and 'ukulele at Tom Lee Music in Victoria and has been involved in the formation of Nanaimo's first 'ukulele circle.
