RICK STEFFEN WikiBIO

Introduction

Daytona and Key West veteran singer/songwriter Rick Steffen is a producer and artist of a unique blend of island, blues, country, and pop sounds spanning a musical career of almost four decades.


Early Career

Rick, aka Rick Stephen Felisko, was born in Bridgeport, CT. At 4 years old, he became a Daytona local in the 60s, taking up guitar and vocals by imitating the entertainers in his dad’s nightclub. Later in Seabreeze High School, his band, the Idols, performed at the City Island and Seabreeze recreational centers, following the styles of the Ventures, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Ten Years After, Rod Stewart, the Everly Brothers, Ricky Nelson, and the Animals. Greg Allman, a Seabreeze High School classmate, was an occasional performer in this band (1965).

Rick was the bass player with Floyd Miles in the Floyd & Tootie band, who performed at the Daytona Beach Pier in its Casino Ballroom (1964-65), and with December's Children at the original Wreck Bar in Daytona. He also backed up many touring celebrities that passed through, including Sam & Dave and Lou Christie.

Rick spent the late 60s and 70s playing show venues in Florida, Georgia, and New Jersey, including Tom Cellie‘s group VIRGO at the Oasis Club in Wildwood, NJ.


1970-1980: Fort Lauderdale

Rick’s residence and home base in Ft. Lauderdale found him as Bass player with the Big Mamma Blue band at the Wooden Spoon, Click (formerly Sweet Seasons) at Yesterday's Restaurant/disco, and as a seasonal bass player for the national touring acts The Shirelles and Billy Vera at the 7 Seas Lounge/Newport Beach motel in Miami Beach.

His songwriting and guitar skills in 1975 resulted in singing demos at Criterion recording studios in Miami, with his lifelong friend Lee Hazen at the helm. In 1977, Rick started his own solo career with his bands Resonance and Mind Body & Soul, enjoying great local success with his first recording efforts in Ft. Lauderdale (45rpm “In Love With Love” & “Livin in the Middle” c1979 Silver Touch Productions).


Albums and Discography

Album: Love & Escape (1985)

Rick's first album, “Love & Escape,” was recorded in 1985 with famed Nashville producer Jack Grochmal and Engineer Lee Hazen, owner of “Studio by the Pond.” The genre Trop-Rock was born at this time with hits from another emerging Nashville artist, Jimmy Buffett. Lee Hazen was an engineer on Buffett’s “A White Sportcoat and Pink Crustacean” LP. Those songs found acclaim and acceptance with the emerging groups now called Parrotheads and later with Trop-Rock and Yacht rock circles that relished sailing and boating motifs and escape to simple island places.

Discography: Love & Escape

It was re-released with 3 additional songs:

11. If you can’t say something nice
12. Burned Out Broke and Disgusted
13. So Much in Love


The Key West Years and Island Sound

In 1986, Rick teamed up with Steve Mello, a Juilliard Student and former drummer for the band Windjammer. Steve’s major at school was Marimba, and they started a guitar-marimba duo that lasted 15 years in Key West. They perfected their “Island sound” and recorded Rick's next two albums, Tropical Nights and Another Island, with many songs in the spirit of the Key West and Daytona leisure lifestyle.

In Key West, the duo held down the house band at Casa Marina, Schooner Wharf, and Pier House from 1986-1996, with more performances at the Key West Seafood Festivals and Sloppy Joe’s. Steffen also shared some songwriting credits with Shel Silverstein with his song, “Pinchin’ My Penny,” which is still in rotation on Sirius Satellite radio, and with his cover of “Wet Dream” from Kipp Addotta.

Discography: Tropical Nights


Album: Another Island (2003)

Steffen’s home base moved from Key West back to Daytona Beach in 1997, the beachside being a tidal estuary, hence the title of his 2003 CD release, “Another Island.”

Discography: Another Island


Album: Mango Music (2004) - Caribbean Blues

His 2004 CD release, “Mango Music,” took a musical style leap into a new sub-genre worthy of the moniker, Caribbean Blues, for Parrotheads with overworked livers.

The circle of musicians on the next two albums includes:

Discography: Mango Music


Album: More Palm Trees (2011)

Rick’s CD, More Palm Trees, was released in 2011 with the original song “West End Girl” in regular rotation on Sirius satellite radio, Music Choice, Amazon.com, Apple iTunes, and many local Florida radio stations.

Discography: More Palm Trees


Album: Zany Key West Songs (2015)

The release of Zany Key West Songs CD in 2015 archived crazy lifestyles in Key West during the “wild west years.”

Discography: Zany Key West Songs


Album: Black Coconuts (2019)

Rick’s blues CD, “Black Coconuts,” labeled “Rogue Blues,” portends to avoid the standard blues chord changes for a new, less worn-out blend of chords. Refreshing and entertaining music and songwriting make this effort an equally honest project.

Discography: Black Coconuts


Current Work and Notable Achievements


Latest Project: SMILIN ISLAND

Rick's current and last project, SMILIN ISLAND, is a remixed and remastered collection of the above songs and THREE new originals. 17 SONGS IN ALL!


Notable Performances

Rick’s Island music offerings have been performed at the Daytona Beach Bandshell, Sloppy Joe’s Daytona, Bahama Breeze Daytona, the 21st Woodstock Reunion, the famed Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Carnival Cruise Ship Lines, the Four Seasons Resort in Nevis BWI, Silver Springs, Margaritaville Key West, Margaritaville at Universal Studios Orlando, Cypress Gardens, Pier House, Casa Marina beach, and Schooner Wharf.

He is currently based out of Daytona Beach, handling his own merchandising and distribution.


Career Highlights & Recognition

In 2000, Ralph Nader used Rick's song "Use Your Freedom" at his presidential rallies. In 2006, the CBS Today show featured his song "Seafood," and he was featured in Southern Florida magazine as one of the up-and-coming artists from Key West. Rick remains politically active as well, so we can enjoy our Margaritas in peace.