T. M. Stevens
Encyclopedia
TM Stevens is an American
bass guitarist born in the 1950s. He lives in the USA.
Along with his work as both songwriter and producer, Stevens works with other artists. Scheduling at least two Europe
an Shocka Zooloo tours each year, he also toured in 2004 with Jean Paul Bourelly and drummer John Blackwell
(Prince
). In Autumn 2005 he completed an Asian tour with Neil Zaza going directly into a lengthy European tour with Shocka Zooloo. Stevens finished 2005 with a collaboration with Carl Palmer
and Andrea Braido in Italy
and Russia
which was followed by a European ELP tour in February 2006. As of 2007, he is also the current touring bassist for The Headhunters
. In March 2008 while on his solo tour his bus was attacked by fireworks thrown by a young fan, the young fan who could only be called JO due to legal reasons was charged with vandalism and given community work. In summer 2011 he joined the Bootsy Collins Funk Unity Tour.
Steven's vocals came about through James Brown
's insistence that he not only play bass but sing on "Living in America
" and on Brown's album, Gravity.
Stevens has recorded with many artists including: Stevie Salas
, Steve Vai
, Neil Zaza
, Cindy Lauper, Little Steven, Tina Turner
, Dan Hartman
and Billy Joel
. A former member of The Pretenders
, Stevens recorded on the platinum album Get Close. He produced and arranged the album Tribute to Deep Purple
According to New York on which included: Vinnie Moore
, members of Living Colour
and Bernie Worrell
of Parliament-Funkadelic
. Stevens performed on Joe Cocker
's album, Unchain My Heart
. Together with Narada Michael Walden
he penned the Billboard
hit
"I Should Have Loved Ya".
His early jazz years brought him to play with Miles Davis
.
basses, most notably 4-string neck-through Streamers. He has his own signature model, the Zooloo Warrior, which features images of African motifs on a bright colored background. His signature model also sports African styled "Mask" abalone inlays and a painted wenge neck.
Morley pedals has also given him a signatue bass Wah Wah pedal with a painted picture of himself playing a bass and a text saying "fonk wah".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
bass guitarist born in the 1950s. He lives in the USA.
Life
Stevens records with his band Shocka Zooloo, a power trio that features Michael Barnes "Master Blaster" on guitar and Garry "G-Man" Sullivan on drums. To Date the band has released seven albums, the most recent being Africans In the Snow for the SPV Steamhammer label.Along with his work as both songwriter and producer, Stevens works with other artists. Scheduling at least two Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an Shocka Zooloo tours each year, he also toured in 2004 with Jean Paul Bourelly and drummer John Blackwell
John Blackwell
John Blackwell may refer to:* John Blackwell , Welsh poet* John Blackwell , drummer in the New Power Generation* John Blackwell , deputy governor of Colonial Pennsylvania...
(Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
). In Autumn 2005 he completed an Asian tour with Neil Zaza going directly into a lengthy European tour with Shocka Zooloo. Stevens finished 2005 with a collaboration with Carl Palmer
Carl Palmer
Carl Frederick Kendall Palmer is an English drummer and percussionist. He is credited as one of the most respected rock drummers to emerge from the 1960s...
and Andrea Braido in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
which was followed by a European ELP tour in February 2006. As of 2007, he is also the current touring bassist for The Headhunters
The Headhunters
The Headhunters are an American jazz-funk fusion band, best known for their albums they recorded as a backing band of jazz keyboard player Herbie Hancock during the 1970s. Hancock's debut album with the group, Head Hunters, is one of the best-selling jazz/fusion records of all time.-History:Herbie...
. In March 2008 while on his solo tour his bus was attacked by fireworks thrown by a young fan, the young fan who could only be called JO due to legal reasons was charged with vandalism and given community work. In summer 2011 he joined the Bootsy Collins Funk Unity Tour.
Steven's vocals came about through James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
's insistence that he not only play bass but sing on "Living in America
Living in America (song)
"Living in America" is a 1985 song composed by Dan Hartman and Charlie Midnight, and performed by James Brown. It was released as a single in 1985 and reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart...
" and on Brown's album, Gravity.
Stevens has recorded with many artists including: Stevie Salas
Stevie Salas
Stevie Salas is a guitarist known for his work on George Clinton's albums, his collaborations with Koshi Inaba of B'z, and Hardware. He was in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, providing the fingerwork for George Carlin's guitar solo....
, Steve Vai
Steve Vai
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
, Neil Zaza
Neil Zaza
Neil Zaza is a melodic instrumental guitarist who has become well known for his technical accuracy and adaptation of classical works by Bach and Mozart into his own blend of neo-classical, melodic, guitar instrumentals.-Biography:...
, Cindy Lauper, Little Steven, Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
, Dan Hartman
Dan Hartman
Daniel Earl "Dan" Hartman was an American singer, songwriter and record producer, best known for such songs as: "Free Ride", "I Can Dream About You", "Instant Replay", "Love Sensation", and "Relight My Fire", all of which had world-wide success.-Career:Born in Pennsylvania's capital, Harrisburg,...
and Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
. A former member of The Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
, Stevens recorded on the platinum album Get Close. He produced and arranged the album Tribute to Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
According to New York on which included: Vinnie Moore
Vinnie Moore
Vinnie Moore is a guitarist and a member of the English hard rock band UFO. Along with Yngwie Malmsteen, Tony MacAlpine, and others, Moore is known as one of the most influential guitarists to emerge out of the shredder boom in the mid 1980s.-Biography:Moore was born in New Castle, Delaware...
, members of Living Colour
Living Colour
Living Colour is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 1984. Stylistically, the band's music is a creative fusion influenced by free jazz, funk, neo-psychedelia, hard rock, and heavy metal...
and Bernie Worrell
Bernie Worrell
George Bernard "Bernie" Worrell, Jr. is an American keyboardist and composer best known as a founding member of Parliament-Funkadelic and for his work with Talking Heads. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic...
of Parliament-Funkadelic
Parliament-Funkadelic
Parliament-Funkadelic is a funk, soul and rock music collective headed by George Clinton. Their style has been dubbed P-Funk. Collectively the group has existed under various names since the 1960s and has been known for top-notch musicianship, politically charged lyrics, outlandish concept albums...
. Stevens performed on Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
's album, Unchain My Heart
Unchain My Heart (album)
Unchain My Heart is the eleventh studio album by Joe Cocker, released in 1987.Miller Lite used Joe Cocker's "Unchain My Heart" for their Dalmatian campaign as the dog jumps from the Budweiser Clydesdale horse-drawn carriage to the Miller Lite truck....
. Together with Narada Michael Walden
Narada Michael Walden
Narada Michael Walden is an American producer, drummer, singer, and songwriter. He was given the name Narada by guru Sri Chinmoy in the early 1970s and his musical career spans three decades, in which he was awarded several gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards...
he penned the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
hit
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
"I Should Have Loved Ya".
His early jazz years brought him to play with Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
.
Equipment
Stevens is often seen with WarwickWarwick
Warwick is the county town of Warwickshire, England. The town lies upon the River Avon, south of Coventry and just west of Leamington Spa and Whitnash with which it is conjoined. As of the 2001 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 23,350...
basses, most notably 4-string neck-through Streamers. He has his own signature model, the Zooloo Warrior, which features images of African motifs on a bright colored background. His signature model also sports African styled "Mask" abalone inlays and a painted wenge neck.
Morley pedals has also given him a signatue bass Wah Wah pedal with a painted picture of himself playing a bass and a text saying "fonk wah".
Discography
- TBA (2011)
- Africans In The Snow (2007)
- Shocka Zooloo (2002)
- Limousine Drive (2000)
- Radioactive (1999)
- Black Night- Deep Purple Tribute According to New York (1997)
- Ground Zero Maxi Single (1996)
- Only You Maxi Single (1996)
- Sticky Wicked (1996)
- Boom (1995)
Recordings with other artists
- 2008 - Temple Of Soul - Brothers in Arms
- 2008 - Swans In Flight - "Swans In Flight"
- 2005 - Travers & Appice - Live at the House of Blues
- 2004 - Travers & Appice - It takes a lot of balls
- 2004 - Victor Wooten - Soul CircusSoul CircusSoul Circus is the fifth album by Victor Wooten, released in 2005. Wooten claims he took inspiration from what played in radio stations in the 70s, so most songs have lyrics to them.-Track listing:#"Intro: Adam" – 0:09...
- 2004 - Aina - Days of Rising Doom: The Metal Opera
- 2004 - Mindi AbairMindi AbairMindi Abair is an American smooth jazz saxophonist with a strong Top-40 pop music background. Mindi has toured and/or recorded with the Backstreet Boys, Duran Duran, Mandy Moore, Josh Groban, Adam Sandler, Keb' Mo', Lalah Hathaway, Lee Ritenour, Teena Marie, John Tesh, Bobby Lyle, Jonathan Butler,...
- Come as you are
- 2002 - 03 - 03
- 2002 - Jeff Pitchell and Texas Flood - Heavy Hitter
- 2001 - Syleena JohnsonSyleena JohnsonSyleena Johnson is a Grammy award-nominated American R&B and soul singer-songwriter and actress.-Biography:...
- Chapter 1: Love, Pain & Forgiveness - 2000 - Steve VaiSteve VaiSteven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
- The 7th Song: Enchanting Guitar Melodies - Archive - 2000 - 2Pac - The Rose That Grew from Concrete
- 2000 - James BrownJames BrownJames Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
- Best of - 1999 - Illegal AliensArtemis GounakiArtemis Gounaki , born April 7, 1967 in Munich is a Greek-German singer, vocal coach, songwriter, composer and arranger. Gounaki's father was born in the Greek island of Crete....
- International Telephone - 1999 - Bernie Worrell - Da Bomb
- 1999 - Nona HendryxNona HendryxNona Hendryx is an American vocalist, producer, songwriter, musician, author, and actress.Hendryx is known for her work as a solo artist as well as for being one-third of the trio Labelle, who had a hit with "Lady Marmalade." Her music has ranged from soul, funk, dance, and R&B to hard rock, art...
- Transformation: The Best of Nona Hendrix
- 1999 - Mark Whitfield - Take the Ride
- 1998 - Angelique Kidjo - Oremi + We Are One
- 1998 - JK - What's the Word
- 1998 - Stacy Lattisaw - Very Best of Stacy Lattisaw
- 1997 - Nicklebag - Mas Feedback
- 1997 - Billy JoelBilly JoelWilliam Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
- Complete Hits Collection 1974-1997 - 1997 - Cissy HoustonCissy HoustonEmily "Cissy" Houston is a Grammy Award–winning American soul and gospel singer. She led a very successful career as a backup singer for such artists as Elvis Presley, Mahalia Jackson, Wishbone Ash and Aretha Franklin, and is now primarily a solo artist...
- He Leadeth Me
- 1996 - Mick TaylorMick TaylorMichael Kevin "Mick" Taylor is an English musician, best known as a former member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and The Rolling Stones...
- Shadow man - 1996 - Nicklebag - 12 Hits & A Bump
- 1996 - Narada Michael WaldenNarada Michael WaldenNarada Michael Walden is an American producer, drummer, singer, and songwriter. He was given the name Narada by guru Sri Chinmoy in the early 1970s and his musical career spans three decades, in which he was awarded several gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards...
- Ecstasy's Dance:The Best of Narada - 1996 - Billy Squier - Reach for the Sky, the Anthology
- 1995 - Jean-Paul BourellyJean-Paul BourellyJean-Paul Bourelly is an American jazz fusion and blues rock guitarist.Bourelly was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States, his mother American and his father an immigrant from Haiti. Bourelly sang at the Lyric Opera when he was ten years old and learned piano and drums, picking up guitar by age...
- Tribute to Jimi - 1995 - Curtis StigersCurtis StigersCurtis Stigers is an American jazz vocalist, saxophonist, guitarist, and songwriter.-Early life and career:Stigers was born in Boise, Idaho, and started his music career as a teenager, playing in jazz, rock and blues groups, as well as receiving formal training in clarinet and saxophone at high...
- Time Was - 1995 - Gabrielle Roth - Tongues
- 1995 - American Babylon
- 1995 - Stevie Salas Colorcode - All that ... and born to mack - live in Japan (Japan release)
- 1994 - Stevie Salas Colorcode - Back from the living
- 1994 - Uptown Horns - Uptown Horns Revue
- 1994 - Gabrielle Roth - Luna
- 1994 - Big Bang - In the Beginning Was a Dr
- 1994 - hideHide (musician), better known by his stage name hide , was a popular Japanese musician. He was primarily known for his work as lead guitarist of the heavy metal band X Japan from 1987 to 1997...
- Hide Your FaceHide Your FaceHide Your Face is the debut album by hide, released on February 23, 1994. The cover art features a mask designed by H. R. Giger. The song "Frozen Bug '93 " is a remixed version of "Frozen Bug", a song that hide wrote and performed with Luna Sea members J and Inoran, under the band name M*A*S*S, on...
- 1993 - Massimo Riva - Matti come tutti
- 1993 - Stevie SalasStevie SalasStevie Salas is a guitarist known for his work on George Clinton's albums, his collaborations with Koshi Inaba of B'z, and Hardware. He was in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, providing the fingerwork for George Carlin's guitar solo....
- presents the electric Pow Wow (Japan release) - 1993 - John Andrew Parks
- 1993 - Steve VaiSteve VaiSteven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
- Sex & Religion
- 1993 - Taylor Dayne - Send Me a Lover
- 1993 - Billy JoelBilly JoelWilliam Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
- River of Dreams - 1993 - Gabrielle RothGabrielle RothGabrielle Roth is a musician, author, music director, dancer, philosopher and recording artist in the world music and trance dance genres, with a special interest in shamanism. Known as the "urban shaman", she is music director of the theatre company The Mirrors and has been a member of the...
- Trance - 1993 - Joe CockerJoe CockerJohn Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
- Best of Joe Cocker
- 1992 - Taylor Dayne - Soul Dancing
- 1992 - Joe Cocker - Night Calls
- 1991 - Two Rooms - Celebrating the Songs of
- 1991 - Tina TurnerTina TurnerTina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
- Simply the Best - 1991 - Curtis StigersCurtis StigersCurtis Stigers is an American jazz vocalist, saxophonist, guitarist, and songwriter.-Early life and career:Stigers was born in Boise, Idaho, and started his music career as a teenager, playing in jazz, rock and blues groups, as well as receiving formal training in clarinet and saxophone at high...
- Curtis Stigers - 1990 - Joe Cocker - Live!
- 1990 - Darlene Love - Paint Another Picture
- 1989 - Very Special Christmas - Very Special Christmas
- 1989 - Tina Turner - Foreign Affair
- 1989 - Cyndi LauperCyndi LauperCynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper is an American singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT rights activist. She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the album She's So Unusual and became the first female singer to have four top-five singles released from one album...
- Night to Remember - 1989 - Taylor DayneTaylor DayneTaylor Dayne was born Leslie Wunderman on March 7, 1962 before later adopting her current stage name. She is an American pop vocalist, songwriter, and dance artist. Overall, she has had eighteen individual hit songs reach the top ten in Billboard magazine...
- Can't Fight Fate - 1989 - Joe Cocker - One Night of Sin
- 1987 - Little Steven and the Disciples of soul - Freedom - no compromise
- 1987 - Joe Cocker - Unchain My Heart
- 1987 - Nona HendryxNona HendryxNona Hendryx is an American vocalist, producer, songwriter, musician, author, and actress.Hendryx is known for her work as a solo artist as well as for being one-third of the trio Labelle, who had a hit with "Lady Marmalade." Her music has ranged from soul, funk, dance, and R&B to hard rock, art...
- Female Trouble (Co wrote "Funky Land" B-side single)
- 1986 - Pretenders - Get Close
- 1986 - James BrownJames BrownJames Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
- Gravity - 1986 - Gregory AbbottGregory AbbottGregory Abbott is an American soul musician , singer, composer and producer. He currently lives in both New York and the San Francisco Bay Area.- Biography :...
- Shake You Down - 1986 - Billy Squier - Enough Is Enough
- 1986 - Lovebug Starski - House Rocker
- 1983 - Tramaine - Search Is Over
- 1983 - Gary Private - Secret Love
- 1982 - Yoshiaki MASUO - Mellow Focus
- 1980 - David Sancious - Just As I Thought
- 1980 - Yoshiaki MASUO - Masuo Live
- 1980 - Yoshiaki MASUO - Song is You and Me
- 1979 - Narada Michael WaldenNarada Michael WaldenNarada Michael Walden is an American producer, drummer, singer, and songwriter. He was given the name Narada by guru Sri Chinmoy in the early 1970s and his musical career spans three decades, in which he was awarded several gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards...
- Dance of Life (co-wrote the hit single "I shoulda loved ya") - 1979 - Yoshiaki MASUO - Good Morning
- 1979 - Yoshiaki MASUO - Sunshine Avenue
- 1978 - Yoshiaki MASUO - Sailing Wonder
External links
- Photos: TMS tevens live in Salzburg / Austria
- Bass Guitar Magazine Interview with TM in Issue 3 - UK's No.1 bass magazine
- TM Stevens interview at Allaboutjazz.com
- Pretenders 977 Radio