User:Jefstevens/steven springer

Steven Springer (born Steven Anthony Springer on September 23, 1951) is an American guitarist and songwriter known for his innovative smooth guitar style. Steven is best known for being a member of the Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band and for playing with Sir Lancelot Pinard, Arizona-based band Sanctuary, and his current band Tropicooljazz.

Background and Early Career
Steven Springer grew up in Port of Spain, Trinidad. He started a band while in high school, and quickly became a very popular and sought-after guitarist, and was a regular fixture at local dances and parties. He left Trinidad to attend college at the Mayfield College, Sussex, England.

Sanctuary
After graduation, Steven moved to Phoenix, Arizona and formed a band called Sanctuary, which rose to fame, winning local awards for “Band of The Year” for three consecutive years, as well as “Album of the Year,” during the 1980’s.

Sir Lancelot
Steven Springer and Brian Pinard performed as "The Knights of The Holy Trinity" to accompany Brian Pinard's uncle, famous calypso artist Sir Lancelot. They recorded one album, called "Pinaryhymns - Religious Calypso."

Trinidad Calypso Band
Touring worldwide, Springer was a featured artist at the 1988 World’s Fair in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, performing with the Trinidad Calypso Band.

Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band
Upon returning to the United States, Springer moved to Michigan and joined Hugh Borde’s world famous Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band, performing and recording with them for over ten years.

TROPICOOLJAZZ
Inspired by his visit to Trinidad, Steven Springer decided to write and record some new songs, featuring a new style of jazz he dubbed "Tropicooljazz," which was a melting pot of all of the music that has influenced him: calypso, soca, jazz, reggae, latin, blues, rock and R&B. He recorded the first Tropicooljazz CD by collaborating with musicians from all over the world via the internet.

Awards
Steven was chosen “Best Guitar Player,” every year from 1990 to 1993, at the annual Detroit Music Awards.

Influences
Growing up in Trinidad, Steven was inspired by the melodic lilting sound of soca and calypso, and he started playing guitar at a young age. Steven was intrigued by the fusion of many different cultures and beautiful natural features of Trinidad.

Cancer
In 2006 Steven was diagnosed and treated for cancer of the tonsils, and the cancer wnet in to remission. In 2008 cancer once again appeared, this time in his lungs. A trip to Trinidad, helped his cancer go in to remission, however he was then once again diagnosed with cancer in 2010. Steven is currently undergoing treatment. He often performs at fund raisers and benefits for cancer societies around the world.

Family
Steven is married to Denise Dooley, and was formerly married to Karen Bronski, who passed away due to cancer in 1992. He had three children with his first wife: Venissa, Sarah and Johnpaul

Guitars


Steven played a red Gibson SG Special with P-90 pickups from 1976 until 1978. From 1978 to 1982, his main guitar was a Yamaha SG 175B and sometimes a white Gibson SG Custom with 3 open coil pick-ups. In 1982 he started to use a custom made PRS guitar, which became his main instrument around 1988.

Amplifiers
The Steven Springer lead guitar tone is produced by a humbucker equipped guitar (Gibson/Yamaha/PRS) with no tone control, into a Line 6 amplifier

Effects
For his distinctive electric guitar sound, Steven does not use many effects pedals. He uses a slight reverb for some songs, as well as some delay for other songs.

Sanctuary
Sanctuary (1980)

Sir Lancelot
Pinardhymns - Religious Calypso (1980)

Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band
HOTLIKEFIRE (1990)

TROPICOOLJAZZ
Tropicooljazz Tropicooljazz 2 Three Came For Me Tropicool World

Solo
Caribbean Casino (Schoolkids Records) (1992)