About
Steve Strongman
As a teenager, Steve Strongman would sneak up the fire escape at Kitchener’s renowned blues club Pop the Gator to listen to the music that moved his soul. And it was here that the young guitar protégé cut his teeth on the music that would become the keystone of everything to follow.Beginning his professional career at the age of 16, playing clubs all around Southern Ontario, it wasn’t long until Strongman caught the eye of Mississippi Blues legend Mel Brown. Under his tutelage, Steve met and played with many of the Blues legends of the time. In fact, it was after one blistering opening set that Chicago soulster Otis Clay exclaimed, “I’m gonna do what you do…”
Strongman branched out touring extensively with rock, country and blues bands in venues like Opryland, Renfro Valley in Kentucky and opening for Roy Clark at his theatre in Branson Missouri. After a taste of L.A., playing with Columbia recording artist Tal Bachman, Steve chose to concentrate on his own rock band, Plasticine. With irresistible stage presence and gritty hard-driving rock & roll, Plasticine developed a devoted legion of fans and quickly garnered a record deal with the Allen Gregg venture Song Corporation. After the demise of the ill-fated Song Corp., Steve reconsidered his own musical future. Plasticine went their separate ways and Steve was opted as lead guitar player for Epic/Sony recording artist Kazzer leading to more touring of the United States, Canada as well as extensive tours in Europe. In between, he jammed out his blues solo act in venues all around Southern Ontario. But the Blues were
calling louder and Strongman, drawn back to the style that first spoke to him, made a natural and resolute decision to answer.
With a rock-solid command of guitar technique and with innate artistry, Strongman generates a dynamic and powerful energy on stage and delivers stirring performances that captivate his audiences. He has shared the stage and bills with a range of
Steve Strongman Biography Continued…
musical who’s who from young rockers like Tal Bachman and
Kazzer to Kim Wilson, James Harmon, Luther Tucker, Duke Robillard, Ronnie Earl, Roy Clark, Otis Clay, Jeff Healey and Watermelon Slim just to name a few. Already capturing industry attention, the Toronto Blues Society lists “Honey” in the top blues selections for May 2007, and he took top honours in three categories of View Magazine’s “Best Music of 2007”, including “Best Local Male Artist”.
Steve's latest coup has him snagging a nomination for Best New Artist for the 11th Annual Maple Blues Awards to be held on January 21, 2008 in Toronto.
Nationally recognized, the Maple Blues Awards honours outstanding achievement in the field with nominees selected by a distinguished panel of blues DJs and journalists from across Canada.
Another recent thrill for Strongman has been garnering four nominations from the 2007 Hamilton Music Awards’ panel, including: Guitarist of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Blues album of the Year and Male vocalist of the Year. The awards celebrate everything great about music in “The Hammer”- and Strongman fits the definition like a glove.
Following a musical path has taken him down many roads. But twenty years after those licks first pulled at his heartstrings, Strongman is a man who has clearly found his way home - at home in the heart of the Blues.
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Kingston Grand Theatre