stephen christopher

Stephen Christopher was born on September 9, 1964 in McKeesport, PA, right outside the city limits of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Son of the local legendary pianist Carl T. Geruschat, Stephen has been a creative writer since childhood, beginning with the formal study of bass clef (low-toned brass instruments to include trombone and baritone) music beginning at age 12 and guitar seriously since age 11. As a child Stephen wrote intelligent poetry and sat studying the hands of his uncle as he played his guitar, along with family friends and his Grandfather as the family gathered to sing Holiday songs or just to share time together on a weekend. Stephen grew up among stringed instruments, piano and guitar, always accompanied by more than adequate vocalists. This was a profound influence, as a young Stephen idolized his namesake (“Uncle Steve”) hoping himself to someday sing and play the guitar.In the 9th grade, Stephen was the youngest ever feature guitar player in the high school Stage Band, and was involved in school music programs from the age of 12 through graduation, dedicated to competition Marching Band and various ensembles.Stephen’s earliest memories in life are musical, with a locally-famous father who was a classically-trained and Carnegie-Mellon-educated musician known for his ability to read music on sight nearly perfectly without ever having seen the score in advance. Stephen’s father Carl was also the entertainment critic for the Daily News in McKeesport, PA and was assigned a weekend of interviews with the Beatles when they came to America and played the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh in 1964. Stephen’s father was also closely associated with the “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood Television show”, and cast members sometimes frequented the family home. Also, cast members from the Broadway Smash “Hair” even visited from time to time.Stephen began to seriously write songs as a pre-teen, his first song of memory entitled "Moolight is Creepin' Through the Window" and performed his first feature concert appearance at age 14, performing for a nearly full auditorium during a High School chorus presentation. Upon taking the stage, he knew immediately this was where he felt most comfortable, and does to this day. Since the age of 14, Stephen has semi-regularly performed live, written songs and recorded in multiple recording studios in Pittsburgh, PA and Columbia, South Carolina, ever honing his skills.Later in life the stage called him in a different way, when at age 17 he created his own characters and dialogue to compete for one of five full scholarships that were being offered at a small Liberal Arts College known for it’s exceptional theatre program, Davis & Elkins College. The auditions were held over an entire weekend, with 500 applicants in attendance that were pre-screened and pre-auditioned, and narrowed to the final 50 to perform for a free audience which was attended with standing-room-only in the college theatre. Stephen was selected and was awarded a full scholarship to attend college. Upon arriving at school and between the demands of the theatre (also being the youngest student selected for a lead role up to that point) Stephen immediately formed a small acoustic trio called “Stairwell”, which wrote acoustic songs and rehearsed in a dormitory stairwell for the maximum natural reverb it provided. “Stairwell” played at coffee shops and parties around campus, and what survives today are extremely grainy, but audible cassette tapes which contain the trio’s most well known song, “Tiny’s Bar and Grill”.To date Stephen has penned the lyrics and melodies and music for over 200 complete songs. His songs have been recorded by local Pittsburgh artists to include The Businessmen’s John Vento, and newcomer Alex Studnicki, and have been shown interest by both New York and Nashville, and performed locally by the Nied’s Hotel Band.Stephen has played more recently at medium to large Pittsburgh venues to include Red Star Tavern, Zanders, Market Square Outdoor stage and multiple bars, lounges and nightclubs and has shared the stage with popular bands to include Bill Deasy and the Gathering Field.Stephen’s material conveys raw emotion and sincerity, reflecting a certain truth having been created by an individual who has lived many lives within one. Stephen has achieved success in both business and music, and continues deliver reality-based songs of joy, pain, love and loss with consistency and maturity.In August 2007, Stephen Christopher released his first full length CD, “Long Story Short”, which features 12 original compositions, produced by the Pittsburgh-based legendary veteran Buddy Hall, who’s musical pedigree and experience is too broad to detail here. Stephen Christopher and Buddy Hall have since written compelling material and continue to perform as a live acoustic duo in support of the CD. Buddy Hall provides the perfect compliment to Stephen’s writing style and has the incredible ability to reveal the true strength and depth of Stephen’s material.At present Stephen has the foundations recorded on seven songs, a mixture of old and new material for his second full length release, set for the fall of 2008, to be titled, “Gravitas”, also produced by the multi-talented Buddy Hall to again feature an assortment of incredibly talented musicians.Stephen plans to continue with regular live appearances, regularly opening for The Businessmen, and Nied’s Hotel Band, and also plays rhythm acoustic and electric guitar with John Vento and the Nied’s Hotel Band, with 2 discs to their credit. Watch for dates on myspace, and Stephen may be contacted directly at: [email protected], or by phone at: 412-498-8216.