The Jimi Hendrix Experience, which he discovered at the age of eleven, influenced him a lot. When Steve was in sixth grade he started taking lessons at a local music store and played in minor bands throughout highschool. Around 1970 he played in his first band, 3-Dog Breath.

In 1975 he started taking lessons with jazz player Kurtis Robinson, who dramatically changed his technique. Three years later he moved to California with the ambition of becoming a studio musician. He mainly played jazz, rhythm & blues and funk, and although he didn’t manage to catch the attention of recording companies, he did play with guys from Stevie Wonder’s and George Benson’s bands.

A member of Kiss saw him playing in a club one night and got interested in Steve. Kiss’s lead guitarist, Ace Frehley, had just left the band and the other members were looking for someone to replace him for their upcoming Creatures of the Night album. Steve auditioned for Kiss, but it never quite went down.

In 1979, Steve got a gig with Eddie Money, who he played and toured with for the next three years. It was a great opportunity to make some money and it was fun to play straight-ahead rock n’ roll.

In 1982 Steve joined Mr. Mister along with Richard Page, Steve George and Pat Mastelotto. He left the band in 1988 over differences in direction and returned to the session scene.

He performed on Eros Ramazzotti’s Tutti Storie and on Celine Dion’s megaseller Falling Into You. In 1996 he contributed to former band mate Richard Page’s solo album as well as Edgar Winter’s Real Deal.

In 1997 he toured with Whitesnake and then returned to his hometown of Fremont. He contributed to the Nicolette Larson benefit tribute concert in February 1998. He also toured with Gary Wright and took some time off to pursue some other interests. Steve is still very much into painting, a gift from his late mother who was known throughout the Midwest as a famous watercolor artist.