Artist: Stephe
Scene: Guitarslynger & Recording Artist
Stephe discovered “Pop” music young. He heard the Dave Clark Five and immediately knew that was what he wanted to do. Grandpa Hawthorne bought Stephe a set of drums for Christmas 1964. Stephe played drums in small groups until the summer of 1971. That was the summer that Stephe met twin brothers Dale and Gale Bass and guitarist, Gary Guthrie. They gave Stephe an electric guitar. That changed everything. Being left-handed made learning the guitar a challenge, but no other instrument has inspired Stephe as much.
In high school in Columbus, Ohio Stephe got a job in "Mirage" the house band at Ruthie’s Pit Stop Bar. No one knew that he was only seventeen. He celebrated his eighteenth birthday on stage there. Then in 1976 the band "Menagerie" was looking for a new guitarist. It was Mirage’s drummer who arranged that audition. Stephe was offered the job and accepted.
Menagerie recorded one LP and was committed to another. Jim Mc Fee and Heavy Campbell hired Stephe to replace TJ Evans. TJ rejoined the band and the four of them worked together for about two years. Stephe left that band with the "Gibson Flying V" that he still plays today.
Stephe played in club acts including one with the incredible Nina Olson until hooking up with "Toys". He wrote and recorded with Toys from 1979 to 1981. It was then that he started playing keyboards. He also built an 8 track recording studio in Columbus, Ohio. This led to him scoring the animated Sci-fi film "Gallager’s World". In 1983 Stephe built a successful career as a multi-media producer back in his hometown, Dayton, Ohio. Among his producing credits is a 1984 show in Boston featuring a live performance by, then Miss America, Vanessa Williams. He is also the award winning director and producer of dozens of videos.
Then in 1991 Stephe met Tom Heffner. Stephe and Tom kept "Rewind A Classic Rock Show" alive until 2004. Stephe and Tom built studio in 1995. That spawned "The Resistance". While artistically satisfying it didn’t catch on. Stephe also recorded and produced "Smakkedab" for Outland Records in 1996 and "Hold On!" by David Meese for Arel Records in 1998. When “Rewind” retired in 2004 Stephe joined another night club act called “Thunder”.
Right now, Stephe working at the Arel Records studio near Dayton, Ohio. The first recording in the new space, was ”Rock-n-Roll Mama”. Stephe actually wrote that song while working with "Toys". The present finds Stephe working on a second collection of holiday music as a gift for his wife Yvonda. Their two children are helping to select the songs to be recorded. "Merry Christmas" is doing well. He is also releasing a collection of pieces called "Finally My Turn". He is even considering finding another nightclub act to replace the now retired "Thunder". Stay tuned…
