Christ Agony Elysium CD

At age 15, Steve formed his first band, a rock n roll group called The Rhythm Kings which was the first rock band in the city. As such, they weren't even allowed to play in their own high school because they played "the devil's music" ... but they were a smash hit everywhere else in town.

The Rhythm Kings once traveled to Memphis to record a demo at the request of Sam Phillips, owner of Sun Records, home to Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and even Elvis. The label didn't pick up the band, but they later recorded two singles on regional Cuca Records in Wisconsin. Their songs received strong local air play and one tune, "Maj", actually got a "bullet" from Billboard Magazine and reached the Top Ten in local record sales.

After high school and a stint in the US Navy, Steve formed another group in Rockford called The Daze & Knights. That band traveled for the William Morris Talent Agency out of their Chicago offices, baking up many hit makers of the time such as The Four Tops, The Chiffons, Bobby Goldsboro, The Crystals, Jimmy Clanton, Len Barry, Dick & Dee Dee, The Vogues and many others. After three years on the road and newly married in 1968, Steve left the road to play with a local legendary band called The Exceptions. His daytime gig at the time was in radio sales at WROK radio in Rockford. After the birth of his first daughter, Holly, Steve hung up the sticks for good in 1970. In 1973, Steve and his wife, MJ, had a second daughter, Colleen.