Born in Vancouver, Steve started his musical journey playing guitar, after his
family moved to Victoria and while attending John Stubbs Elementary school. His first band was called “The Tiger Tails” – they played at local Teen Town dances and wore T-shirts with a picture of “Tony The Tiger”. Brothers Kent & Brad Mundy rounded out the lineup. The first gig netted the band $5.00 and free pop.
In 1966 while still in his teens, Steve joined the band Bonded Stock, with friends Fraser Kerley, Mike Walker, Dave Macdonald and Pete Willing. The band was busy, with school dances and private ‘house parties’. Bonded Stock reunited 40 years later for a charity fund-raiser in 2006.
Steve and his family relocated to Nova Scotia where his pursuit of music
continued, gigging with local bands Pride & Joy, and Edward Teach, spending
several years touring the Maritimes.
Although he had become rather accomplished at guitar, he was told by a friend that guitarists were very plentiful and if he wanted to work, there was a greater demand for singing bass players.
Upon his return to the west coast in the early 1970’s, Steve got a gig playing
bass with a working Jazz Band called Nucleus, led by Dave Keen (saxophone),
and featuring his old friend Fraser Kerley. Shortly after, Steve was recruited by a group called Songbird, which had been assembled as a touring backup group for Tom Middleton.
After work on Tom’s album ‘It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference’, and the
follow-up tour, Songbird released two Canadian singles out of Mushroom
Records, I Believe (Stevie Wonder cover) and Dirty Work (Steely Dan cover).
Steve sang lead vocals and played bass. The records achieved Canadian ‘Gold’
status. Howard Leese played all guitars, Rob Deans on keys, with Mike Flicker
producing.
However, the project was short-lived, and Howard Leese went on to join the
band, Heart. The remaining members carried on, forming the band Maplerock in Vancouver. Keyboard player Rob Deans went on to join the band, Trooper.
Steve returned to Victoria in the late 1970's to start a family, opting for some
quality of life instead of a grinding life on the road. He remains active, writing
original material and working with a variety of local acts, ranging in genre from country rock to jazz and funk.
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