Bio
Steve Runyon is a keyboard player from New Jersey, U.S.A. He first appeared on the New Jersey music scene in the early 80's, playing in R&B bands from the Newark / East Orange area such as Inner Force, Hot Sauce with Jersey Love, and Alias Force, and in other local bands such as The Local Band, Shiloh, and a few that he cannot remember. His stylistic influences include Rock, Blues, R&B, Grateful Dead, straight-ahead Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Swing, 1890's Barrelhouse, Polka, jingles, electronic music, sports-event organ, and cocktail piano. Here are some pictures.
Upcoming dates and projects
2023 projects include The Concert for George, Dark Side of the Rainbow, TommyWho and The Last Waltz.
When needed, playing with New Jersey bands including This Old Engine, By George!, and The Fabulous Flemtones.
When needed, playing with New Jersey bands including This Old Engine, By George!, and The Fabulous Flemtones.
Where Steve's been playing
- Playing local venues in New Jersey.
- Adding keyboard tracks to others' projects from the home studio via email.
- Doing the occasional studio session or surprise fill-in gig.
- And, last but not least, playing anywhere there is a piano and people needing some music.
Style
Steve plays 60's-80's pop, blues, Grateful Dead, straight-ahead R&B, funk, and other styles, sometimes simultaneously. Steve also sings lead (infrequently) and backing vocals (frequently). His current main keyboard is a Nord Stage 3 compact 73 (the one with the drawbars). His main sounds are Piano, Rhodes, Clavinet, and Hammond B3, with side trips into Mellotron, synth, Vox, and Farfisa.
Method
Steve plays to suit the listeners and the other musicians present. Steve's responsive playing can shadow or track a soloist or singer, which makes him an excellent accompanist and an easy addition to a band.
Specialties: Grooves, textures, feel, and lyrical soloing. Very comfortable with multiple styles, including most of the Grateful Dead and Beatles catalogs.
Some of Steve's big musical influences were: Herbie Hancock, Ian Anderson, Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, Yes, Jan Hammer, Jeff Beck, Cat Stevens, Traffic, Pink Floyd, J. S. Bach, Weather Report, Miles Davis et. al., Mahavishnu Orchestra, 70's and 80's R&B, Motown, Stevie Wonder, Loudon Wainright III, The Rolling Stones, Christine McVie, The Doors, The Beatles, The Who, The Grateful Dead, Cameo, James Taylor, Carole King, Gentle Giant, countless unknowns and one-hit wonders, and most especially the people he has played music with.
Steve doesn't always pick a favorite, but when he does, his favorite rock album is Quadrophenia by The Who.
Specialties: Grooves, textures, feel, and lyrical soloing. Very comfortable with multiple styles, including most of the Grateful Dead and Beatles catalogs.
Some of Steve's big musical influences were: Herbie Hancock, Ian Anderson, Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, Yes, Jan Hammer, Jeff Beck, Cat Stevens, Traffic, Pink Floyd, J. S. Bach, Weather Report, Miles Davis et. al., Mahavishnu Orchestra, 70's and 80's R&B, Motown, Stevie Wonder, Loudon Wainright III, The Rolling Stones, Christine McVie, The Doors, The Beatles, The Who, The Grateful Dead, Cameo, James Taylor, Carole King, Gentle Giant, countless unknowns and one-hit wonders, and most especially the people he has played music with.
Steve doesn't always pick a favorite, but when he does, his favorite rock album is Quadrophenia by The Who.
Ideals
- Entertain the audience: respond and give. A musician plays an instrument, but a performer plays an audience.
- Support what the other musicians in the band are doing, take the lead as necessary, communicate using the music, and stay in the moment.
