Steve Stern is from Fairmont, WV and began playing in bands, and doing solo performances, in his middle teens. He attended WVU and played in coffee houses and small clubs in the early 1970’s, then moved to Pittsburgh to attend Pitt, and continued public performances there. His band, The New Anthem Band, started in 1986 and was featured at Harley-Davidson rallies, since he wrote “The Harley Anthem” (later changed to “The Bikers Anthem” - long story….), and many regional fairs, festivals, and bars as the popularity of his music spread.
Teaming with Laurie Cackowoski, he played with an ensemble of musicians beginning in 1990 called “Guns & Garters”, providing over 200 performances every year in W. Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. Featured by the city of Pittsburgh in many neighborhood fairs and festivals over the years, Steve’s original songs became popular, and he was recognized as one of the city’s premier songwriters. Steve wrote “The Steel City Blues” in 1975 and that was a standard for many blues bands in Western PA, relating to the changes going on during Pittsburgh’s “Renaissance II” period when the steel mills were leveled and/or modernized and entire neighborhoods and families were effected - not always in a positive way.
Steve also played with friends Wally Hoffmann (bass) from Wheeling, WV and Mark Snyder (banjo, fiddle, guitar) from Cherry Valley, PA and other musicians in formal and informal gatherings, for many years. Wally is also from Fairmont and one of Steve’s oldest friends, going back to elementary school days.
Steve’s has opened for some great artists: Merle Haggard, John Hartford, Jerry Jeff Walker, and David Bromberg.
Hickory, PA’s Apple Festival featured Steve and bandmates for many years before he moved to Nashville.
In 1993, Steve moved to Nashville to build a career, especially as a songwriter. In June, 1997, at the age of 43, he had open heart quintuple by-pass surgery. After a lengthy recovery, he continued writing and performing. His plans for a new CD came together in 2004 and he was able to put together “Steam Powered Stern” with friends Jack Irwin and Mike McAdam, along with a stellar group of pickers.
Steve is the co-founder and President of the Mobile Electronics Competition Association, or MECA, the largest car audio sports organization in the USA, with club chapters in the UK, Ecuador, Mexico, Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Thailand, & China. He oversees 150+ events each year and promotes the enjoyment of music in mobile environments and judges car show events when possible.
Steve lives in Goodlettsville, TN about 15 miles north of Nashville with his wife Susan and their 3 kids: Callan 19, Ethan 11, and Rachel Beth 6. He spends a lot of time on the road. He doesn’t really have any spare time, but he likes to ride his 1984 H-D Electra-Glide whenever possible.
Steve has recruited some great musicians for ”The New Anthem Band” v.19.0, and is working on presenting shows starting in the the Spring of 2008. The members of the band are based in and around Nashville:
Rebecca Baumbach - Fiddle
Rick Otts - Banjo
Rob Haines - Mandolin
Caleb Mundy - Bass
Ferrell Stowe - Dobro
Lisa Aguilar, who did a great job singing with Steve on “Steam Powered Stern”, will also be available for some gigs.
The CD was released on March 6, 2007.
Bill Wence Promotions is handling the radio distribution and promo.
Good Stuff PR, lead by Shari Lacy, will be handling the public relations for Steve and the band.
Steve’s working on new songs; mostly co-writing with other Nashville based songwriters. He’s a member of the AFM, local #257.
Steve and The New Anthem Band are proud members of the International Bluegrass Music Association, Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America, and the Americana Music Association, and the International Bluegrass Museum in Owensboro, KY.
Please use these links to get a free download for either MP3 or wma copy of "The Bikers Anthem" - the 2007 unabridged version.
http://www.stevesternmusic.com/music/Biker%20Anthem.mp3
http://www.stevesternmusic.com/music/Biker%20Anthem.wma
Steam Powered Stern Reviews
4.5 Stars ... Entertaining & full of fresh, interesting original material.
Reviewer: Joseph Ross "Joe Ross" (Roseburg, OR USA) Bluegrass Now
March 11, 2007
Steve Stern/I Know How To Love
This jaunty, acoustic, airy performance features a prominent guest vocal by Lisa Aguilar. You'll find it on a listenable, folk-country CD titled Steam Powered Stern.
Robert K. Oermann, Music Row Magazine, Nashville
March 23, 2007
3 Stars ... A gentile, unassuming album enhanced greatly by an amazing array of musicians.
Maverick Magazine, UK
June, 2007
"I Know How To Love" was listed as "Up & Coming" on the June 15th and 22nd New Music Weekly Country Chart. The song also just hit The Independent Music Network's Country Countdown chart as "Next Up" on July 10th.
Bluegrass Unlimited, August 2007
Steve Stern is a Nashville-based singer and guitarist who has opened for many legendary musicians ranging from Merle Haggard to John Hartford. His latest project features 11 original tunes that straddle the line between bluegrass and country music. He is supported by such pickers are Charlie Cushman (banjo) and Ronnie McCoury (mandolin), with some tracks featuring drums and pedal steel guitar. No matter how you categorize it, the music of Steve Stern oozes with excitement and “Steam Powered Stern” contains something that will please just about any musical palate.
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