Steve Balsamo

Infobox Musical artist


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Name = Steve Balsamo
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Birth_name = Steve Balsamo
Born = Birth date and age|1971|5|19|df=y
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Origin = Wales
Genre = Pop/Acoustic/Folk Rock
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URL = http://www.thestorys.co.uk

Steve Balsamo is a British singer and songwriter, famous for his lead role on the London version of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' during the mid-90s.

Biography

Steve Balsamo was born in Wales on 19 May 1971. His father, a chef from Venice, his mother Welsh. At school, Steve was evicted from the choir, being told he could not sing. He channelled his creative leanings into art and attended art school to specialise in painting. At the age of 17, Steve once again started singing and songwriting again, forming several bands that toured pubs and clubs doing renditions of classic rock songs.

He had jobs that included a stint as a piano remover and working at Port Talbot steelworks - in between bouts on the dole - taken to support himself whilst gigging, Steve secured a place at Bristol University to study Graphic Art. He turned it down to accept a place at a local music college, where he fatefully played the role of Jesus in a production of "Superstar". In the meantime, Steve picked up a guitar, taught himself to play and continued to write songs.

Around this time, Steve attended a workshop in Cardiff run by The Prince's Trust for unemployed musicians. So successful was Steve's performance, that he was asked to open The Prince's Trust Masters of Music Concert at Hyde Park in 1996. The Who, Alanis Morissette, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan were among those who entertained the 150,000 fans that day.

After a friend mentioned to Steve that Andrew Lloyd Webber was looking for a performer to play the part of Jesus. Seizing the opportunity to showcase his 3½ octave range voice, Steve was determined to get the part. Despite his lack of West End experience, Steve won the role of Jesus from the thousands who auditioned, leading to a memorable headline about the origins of the Son of God. His performance was a revelation and his face was seen on bus shelters across the capital. On one television performance from the show he not only had Andrew Lloyd Webber weeping, but also managed to sell £160,000 worth of tickets to “Superstar” in half an hour.

Steve signed to Columbia Records and started writing and recording his first album, “All I Am”, which was released in September 2002 to great reviews. The debut single from the album, “Sugar for the Soul” even cracked the UK Top 40, was a frequently-requested favourite on The Box music channel and led to a TOTP2 appearance for Steve. The second single from the album, “All I Am”, even became Ken Bruce’s single of the week on Radio 2.

Since leaving Columbia Records, Steve has formed a band with some friends from back home in Wales. They have called themselves The Storys and they consist of Andy Collins (bass/vocals/songwriting), Dai Smith (guitar/vocals/songwriting), Alan Thomas (keyboards), Brian Thomas (drums/percussion) and Rob Thompson (guitar/vocals/songwriting) and they have a sound that is described as "raw, rocking, with influences of The Eagles, Led Zeppelin and Badfinger". The band were personally chosen to support Elton John during his 2006 stadium tour. Their debut album has been released on Korova Records.

Steve and Storys bandmate Rob have also been working on progrock project CD ChimpanA, which Steve's vocals feature on.

Theatre

* Eric Woolfson's Poe (Concert Performance) - Edgar Allan Poe "Venue: Abbey Road Studios, London" (6 to 8 November 2003)

* Notre Dame De Paris - Phoebus "Venue: Dominion Theatre, London" (May to October 2000)

* Jesus Christ Superstar - Jesus of Nazareth "Venue: Lyceum Theatre, London" (November 1996 to September 1997)

* Les Miserables - Feuilly and understudied and played Marius "Venue: The Point, Dublin and Edinburgh Playhouse" (1993)

Discography

* "Immortal" CD Single(Released: 2003 / Label: Sony)Track Listing:
"1. Immortal (radio edit)"
"2. Immortal (full version)"
"3. Tiny star"

* "All I Am" CD Album (Released: 9 Sept 2002 / Label: Columbia) (Catalogue No: 5046292)Track Listing:
"1. Sugar For The Soul "
"2. All I Am Is You"
"3. How Can I?"
"4. Come What May"
"5. As Soon As I Can"
"6. Love Is The Word"
"7. Next Time I See Her"
"8. I Don't Know Why"
"9. Reverie "
"10. State of Grace"
"11. Fearless"
"12. Crying Shame"
"13. Hollow Tree"
14. Don't Fade On Me (hidden bonus track)

* "All I Am" 5 Track CD PROMO Album Sampler (Released: 2002 / Label: Columbia)(Catalogue No: XPCD1394)Track Listing:
"1. Sugar For The Soul"
"2. All I Am Is You"
"3. State of Grace"
"4. Come What May"
"5. Love Is The Word"

* "All I Am Is You" CD Single (Released: 2 Sept 2002 / Label: Columbia)(Catalogue No: 6730942)Track Listing:
"1. All I Am Is You"
"2. Stay"
"3. One Little Wish"

* "All I Am Is You" 1 Track PROMO CD Single (Released: 2002 / Label: Columbia)(Catalogue No: XPCD2715)Track Listing:
"1. All I Am Is You"

* "All I Am Is You" The Balsamo Project vinyl 12" Single (Released: 2002 / Label: Columbia) (Catalogue No: XPR3585)Track Listing:
"1. All I Am Is You - M*A*S*H Master Mix"
"2. All I Am Is You - M*A*S*H Club Mix"

* "Sugar For The Soul" The Balsamo Project Vinyl 12" Single (Released: 2002 / Label: Columbia)(Catalogue No: XPR3525)Track Listing:
"1. Sugar For The Soul - Soda Club Mix"
"2. Sugar For The Soul - Soda Club Dub"

* "Sugar For The Soul" CD Single (Released: 4 March 2002 / Label: Columbia)(Catalogue No: 6718552)Track Listing:
"1. Sugar For The Soul"
"2. I Fall Awake"
"3. Out There"
"4. Sugar For The Soul video"

* "Sugar For The Soul" 1 Track PROMO CD Single (Released: 2002 / Label: Columbia)(Catalogue No: XPCD1393)Track Listing:
"1. Sugar For The Soul"

Trivia

* Steve's only half Welsh as his father is Italian.
* Studied Art in Swansea and Performing Arts in Neath.
* Steve wrote "Because Of You" on Meat Loaf's - "Couldn't Have Said It Better" CD Album
* “The Son of God is Welsh” - One of the more memorable newspaper headlines when Steve landed the coveted role in the west end revival of the rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar” in 1996.

External links

* [http://www.thestorys.co.uk/ The Storys Official Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/thestorys/ The Storys Official MySpace]
* [http://www.myspace.com/stevebalsamo Steve Balsamo Official Myspace]
* [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Steve-Balsamo/15142982395 Steve Balsamo Official Facebook]
* [http://www.chimpana.com ChimpanA Official Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/chimpana ChimpanA MySpace]