Early years

Steve grew up in Scarsdale, N.Y. where he started writing and playing guitar at the age of 12. He immediately began recording his songs (soon to be available on the music page). Assembling his brothers and friends in the basement, he recorded his first "album" (the best cassette tape technology available) in 1978. Each year thereafter through high school he recorded an album.

He had the good fortune to grow up in a musical town, playing with everyone and anyone, including Chris Brokaw—who now has a solo career after being in such notable bands as Come and Consonant. After high school he attended Berklee in Boston, where his roommate was Michael Koppelman, a shy kid from Grand Forks, North Dakota. When Michael moved away and began working for Prince as his engineer he drew Steve out to...

Minneapolis

In Minneapolis Steve joined forces with Michael Koppelman to form the band Raintribe. He also continued writing and recording his home albums. Raintribe released one album ("Ancient Spacemen" on Bitstream Underground Records) and Steve got a job as a receptionist at Prince's studio, Paisley Park. (Steve likes to tell people he's the "former employee for the artist formerly known as Prince"). After 4 years, he felt it was time for a change and decided to move back to...

Boston

Returning to the Bay State, he formed Hummer with his old friend Dan Cantor (presently holding the drum seat for Jim's Big Ego) which played for 4 years around Boston and New York City. They released one album ("Premium" on Accurate Records).

After Hummer, Steve began work on what was to become his first official solo album, "Bedroom Rockstar". He also connected with a new circle of New England musicians: he formed the bluegrass outfit The Benders with Bow Thayer and Jabe Beyer and the rock band Sticky with Mike Press, Jeremy Curtis, and Jonas Kahn.

He also became a man-in-demand as a sideguy: he toured for a year with Kris Delmhorst playing Guitar and Mandolin, playing behind Jimmy Ryan, Clare Burson, Jason Hatfield, David Johnston, Levon Helm, and Dave Mattacks.

In recent years Steve has lent his production skills to several artists: he helped Soltero create half of his second album "Defrocked and Kicking the Habit" (Handsome Records) and all of his third album "The Tounges You Have Tied" (Three Ring Circus Records). He also contributed his production skills to 2 tribute albums: Mark McKays' track for an Uncle Tupelo tribute album and Kris Delmhorst's cover of a traditional song for a roots tribute album entitled "Ain't No Grave".

After playing and recording with so many talented artists, in 2003 Steve finally focused his energies into his first solo album, Bedroom Rockstar. In many ways it is a culmination of his various interests and talents yet it is also just the beginning; Steve Mayone has only begun to "dig deeper in the well."

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