Steve Smith (musician)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Steve Smith


Img_capt =
Img_size = 200
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Steve Smith
Born = birth date and age|1954|08|21
Whitman, Massachusetts, U.S.
Instrument = Drums
Genre =
Years_active = 1970 - Present
Associated_acts = Vital Information
Journey
Mariah Carey
URL = [http://www.sticktrix.com/ Official Website]

Steve Smith (born on August 21 1954 in Whitman, Massachusetts) is a famous American drummer who has worked with hundreds of artists in his career. Modern Drummer Magazine readers voted him the "#1 All-Around Drummer" five years in a row. In 2001, Modern Drummer named Steve as one of the "Top 25 Drummers of All Time", and in 2002 he as voted into the "Modern Drummer Hall of Fame".

Biography

At age nine, in 1963, Smith began studying the drums with local Boston area teacher Bill Flanagan, who played in big bands in the swing era. Smith performed in the usual school band program and garage bands while in his teens, but also began to broaden his performing experience by playing in a professional Concert band and even the big band at the local college, Bridgewater State College. After high school, he attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Smith toured with jazz violinist Jean-Luc Ponty as well as Montrose before joining the rock band Journey in 1978. He occupied the drum chair during Journey's most commercially successful period (late 1978-mid 1985). Steve and the band went their separate ways in 1985, but he returned in 1995 for the band's 1996 comeback album Trial by Fire. In the interm, he played with Journey offshoot The Storm.

He has also done sessions for pop artists such as Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli,Elisa, Vasco Rossi, Corrado Rustici, Zucchero, Savage Garden, Bryan Adams, as well as world musicians such as Zakir Hussain. Additionally, he has played with various jazz artists including Mike Mainieri's Steps Ahead, Wadada Leo Smith, Tom Coster, Ahmad Jamal, Dave Liebman, Larry Coryell, Victor Wooten, Mike Stern, Randy Brecker, Scott Henderson, Frank Gambale, Stuart Hamm, Dweezil Zappa, Anthony Jackson, Aydın Esen, George Brooks, Michael Zilber, Steve Marcus, Andy Fusco, Kai Eckhardt, Lee Musiker, Howard Levy, Oteil Burbridge, Jerry Goodman,Tony MacAlpine and Bill Evans. Smith also leads his own jazz group, Vital Information.

In 2001 Modern Drummer Magazine named Smith as one of the "Top 25 Drummers of All Time". The following year, he was voted into the "Modern Drummer Hall of Fame". In 2003, his Hudson Music DVD "Steve Smith Drumset Technique - History of the U.S. Beat" was voted #1 Educational DVD of the year. Also in 2003, Steve Smith recorded two albums with Buddy's Buddies, a quintet comprised of Buddy Rich alumni,released two CDs on the Tone Center label. Both were recorded live at the famous London jazz club Ronnie Scott's. They are "Very Live at Ronnie Scott's Set One & Set Two."

Recently, Steve Smith and Buddy's Buddies was renamed "Steve Smith's Jazz Legacy". The band now pays tribute to many great jazz drummers in addition to Buddy Rich. In 1989, Smith headlined the Buddy Rich Memorial Scholarship Concert held in New York City, performing a magical duet with fellow drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith.

Having received his first drum kit at age two, Smith began taking drum lessons at age nine with Bill Flanagan. He got his first “real” drum set when he was 12 years old. He played with both school bands and garage bands during his teens. His first “paid gig” was with a garage band. He graduated from high school in 1972. He joined with the Lin Biviano big band at 19, and played with them for two years. Although many of his peers have said "that personally Steve can come across a bit standoffish at times", he still is a good technician.

Smith studied with Alan Dawson at Berklee. He is a single father. He was voted “top drummer” in 2001.

Equipment

Steve Smith currently endorses Sonor Drums and Zildjian Cymbals. He also uses his own Vic Firth Signature Sticks, which features an elongated tip with a long shoulder and short taper, 16" long and .555" in diameter.

Steve also uses Sonor Hardware, Roland Electronics, Shure Microphones, DW Pedals, Puresound Snare Wires and Remo Drumheads.

teve Smith 30th Anniversary Kit:

*Sonor Beechwood Drums & Zildjian Cymbals:
*Drums — Birdseye Amber Finish
**8x8" Tom
**10x8" Tom
**12x8" Tom
**14x14" Floor Tom
**16x16" Floor Tom
**12x5" Snare Drum
**14.5.5" Sonor Cast Steel Snare (w/Phonic Lugs)
**20x16" Bass Drum (w/ Felt Strips)

*Cymbals — Zildjian
**14" A Armand Hi-Hats
**22" K Dark Medium Ride
**20" K Constantinople Flat Ride
**19" Armand "Beautiful Baby" Ride (w/Rivets)
**18" A Armand Thin Crash
**18" A Custom Rezo Crash
**9" K Custom Hybrid Splash

elected Discography

*Lin Biviano - "L.A. Expression (single)" (1975)
*Journey - "Evolution" (1979)
*Journey - "Departure" (1980)
*Journey - "Captured" (1980)
*Journey - "Dream After Dream" (1980)
*Tom Coster - "T. C." (1981)
*Vital Information - "Vital Information" (1983)
*Bryan Adams - "Reckless (Heaven)" (1984)
*Tony MacAlpine - "Edge Of Insanity" (1988)
*Dweezil Zappa - "My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama" (1988)
*Frank Gambale - "Note Worker" (1991)
*Journey - "The Ballade" (1991)
*Vital Information - "Vitalive!" (1991)
*Mariah Carey - "Emotions" (1991)
*Jeff Watson - "Lone Ranger" (1992)
*Buddy Rich Big Band - "Burning For Buddy Vol. 1" (1994)
*Montreal Drum Festival - "Interdependance" (1995)
*Francesco De Gregori - "Prende E Lasciare" (1996)
*Buddy Rich Big Band - "Burning For Buddy Vol. 2" (1997)
*Journey - "Greatest Hits Live" (1998)
*Larry Coryell - "Cause and Effect" (1998) with Tom Coster, Victor Wooten
*Vital Information - "Global Beat (5.1 DTS remix)" (1998)
*Scott Henderson/Steve Smith/Victor Wooten - "Vital Tech Tones" (1998)
*Frank Gambale/Stu Hamm/Steve Smith - "Show Me What You Can Do" (1998)
*Stu Hamm - "Merry Axemas (Sleigh Ride)" (1998)
*Tina Arena - "In Deep (No Shame)" (1998)
*Savage Garden - "Affirmation" (1999)
*Tony MacAlpine - "Chromaticity" (2000)
*Journey - "Essentials" (2000)
*Journey - "Charlie's Angels Full Throttle Soundtrack" (2003)
*Steve Smith & Buddy's Buddies - "Very Live at Ronnie Scott's, Set One" (2003)
*Steve Smith & Buddy's Buddies - "Very Live at Ronnie Scott's, Set Two" (2003)
*Journey - "Live in Houston, 1981 (DVD/CD)" (2005)

External links

* [http://www.vitalinformation.com Steve Smith & Vital Information Web Sites]
* [http://www.drummersdigest.com/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=212&Itemid=25 Online video interview with Steve]