Steve profile picture

Steve

About Me


In the words of the philosopher (Popeye the Sailor), "I yam what I yam..." I am a Christian; a Man, Husband, Father, Son, Friend; a Special Education Teacher and Special Olympics Coach; a Texan. I am an Artist.
I've been composing music and writing lyrics for over 30 years. During that time my musical journey has taken me from AOR Rock and Pop to Progressive Rock to Metal to Classical to Folk to Celtic to Latin to Mountain to New Age to Ambient... and back again! My compositions are eclectic, mingling elements of all these things, at times to the point of making me confused as to how to describe my music!
As a Painter takes varied techniques, influences, and media, blending them on canvas to produce a spellbinding visual image, so I think of what I do as using various inspirations and instrumentation to "paint" spiritual soundscapes, hopefully worthy of contemplation. Lyrically, I write of things that touch my heart. I often find myself led to use a Psalm or other Biblical passage as lyrics for one of my compositions. Once in awhile it strikes me to leave a piece as an instrumental.
Whatever the case, I seek to play what God puts on my heart, yet not the 'normal' Christian fare. I don't want to beat people over the head with the Bible, nor wax dogmatic in song. I just want to play songs my soul can sing; music my mind can find pleasure in. I write for me, and those songs that I cover by other artists are my own favorites (or I would not do them), yet I offer my works to God and to you. To God, trusting that He will be pleased with my offering; to you, in hopes that you can find something in these pieces to brighten your day; something that will resonate with your heartstrings, healing any brokenness within you, and inspire you along the pathways of Life, thus leading you Closer to the Heart.
Thanks for your support. May God richly bless you & yours.
Words & Music © SJSongs (ASCAP) Background photo © Thomas Williamson

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 1/30/2006
Band Website: www.sjsongs.com
Band Members: All Instruments (Electric and Classical Guitars, Bass, Guitar Synth, Mountain Dulcimer, Tinwhistles, Recorders, Mandolin, and if there be any other thing...) and Vocals composed and performed by Me, Myself, and I (Steve Johnson) (except the drum loops which are from Beta Monkey Music , with the following exceptions:

Violin on "The Tricycle Dream": Jesse 'Strap Domino' McGraw ; Lead Guitar after Verse 2 on "Gran'baby Blues": 'Guitar John' Bradshaw .

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At this point, I'm almost fatalistically resigned to the idea of having to perform as a solo-artist. I'm hoping to at least be able to get some guys/gals to record with me, even if, for whatever reason, they can't or won't play live... But I'm still really wanting to get a stable 'band' of compatible musicians who will not only record with me, but perform live as well...

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Other bands/projects I am (or have been) involved with:
Mystics and Madmen
Omega Thesis
HYD

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Influences: God, Family, Friends, Chess, Chinese food, Patchouli oil, Nag Champa incense, Walks in the woods, The color green...

MY WIFE who inspires me with her beauty, her heart for God, and occasionally even gives me lyrical ideas!

MY 4 CHILDREN, all of them grown, are all talented one way or the other musically, and not only in that, but in all things, they inspire me as well. I long to see their own music recorded and available for all to hear.

MY PARENTS influence cannot be overstated: they always sang to and with me, had music boxes and toys to explore around the home, always played music on the old RCA console record player.

MY GRANDMOTHER (the only Grandparent I ever knew), who paid for me to begin piano lessons at age six.

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Artists/bands that have been particularly inspirational to me include RUSH , David Gilmour , Pink Floyd, Dio-era Black Sabbath/Heaven and Hell/Tony Iommi/Geezer Butler, Rich Mullins, RUSH , Rodrigo y Gabriela, John Michael Talbot, John Doyle, RUSH , Johannes Linstead, Iron Maiden, Neal Morse , RUSH , Metallica, the music of the celebrated Irish harpist/composer Turlough OCarolan, a little known group called Sabbath Rest..., and did I mention RUSH ?

Musician friends who have undoubtedly had an influence on me: Jon Benson, Bruce Gibson , Doug Judah, John Bradshaw, Byron Hawk, Mike Smith, John Covington, Brad White, Steve Moseley, Jimi Moody, Joe Garcia III, Johnny Branam, Jaime Rincon
Sounds Like: I would say that my music will appeal to fans of: David Gilmour, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Rich Mullins, Neal Morse, Dougie MacLean, John Doyle, Daithi Sproule, Rush, Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee, Neil Peart, Jethro Tull, Ian Anderson, Martin Barre, Iron Maiden, Steve Harris, Bruce Dickinson, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, Janick Gers, Phil Keaggy, John Michael Talbot, John Spillane (NOMOS), Fernando Ortega, Bebo Norman, Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), Johannes Linstead, Iron & Wine, Willie Nelson, Enter the Worship Circle, Blackmores Night, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Michael Card, Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel, Nick Drake, Ottmar Liebert, Edens Bridge, Iona, Jose Gonzalez, Caedmons Call, Jars of Clay, Derek Webb, Big Tent Revival, Mana, Opeth (Damnation, clean stuff), Genesis, Johnny Cash, Steven Halpern, Lesiem, Incendio, Steve Hackett...
Type of Label: Major

My Blog

Desert Island CD List

Its always hard to define these kind of things, but I shall make the attempt. In so doing, I shall attempt also to define what I perceive to be the main influences in my music. (Kinda makes sense to m...
Posted by on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:33:00 GMT

My Musical Meandering

Edited 12/07/2007I spent a decade (1981-1991) in metal, as a bassist, composer, lyricist, and later (starting around 1987), vocalist, writing original epic metal songs in the vein of Iron Maiden, Rush...
Posted by on Sun, 25 Feb 2007 19:05:00 GMT

Don't Close Your Blinds (Want to know why we're at war?)

Thanks to my great friend and fellow Navy Veteran, Bruce Gibson for passing this poignant illustration to me._____The other day, my nine year old son wanted to know why we were at war. My husband look...
Posted by on Sun, 11 Feb 2007 11:30:00 GMT

Mystika

I gave my friend Doug Judah a kitten from a litter of ours back in 1987. Doug named him Mystika. He got big. I mean HUGE! Well, there came a time that Doug got married, and began to have kids, and nex...
Posted by on Fri, 02 Feb 2007 16:49:00 GMT

Trixie

I was influenced to put up some stories about my animals by my old friend John Covington who posted a story about his dog Oliver who recently passed. We've had Trixie since April 2001. It certainly s...
Posted by on Fri, 02 Feb 2007 06:13:00 GMT

Alphabetical Listing of Steve's Influences (Neverending, Ongoing)

I (Steve) began on my profile to list every group that I feel has influenced my music in some way, and as the list grew, and grew, and grew some more, I decided that I would put the comprehensive list...
Posted by on Sun, 31 Dec 2006 14:36:00 GMT

Steve's Equipment (to be updated periodically)

1990 Alvarez-Yairi CY-118 Classical guitar. I have installed B-Band's A6.2 XOM pickup/preamp system in it myself. Very nice! This is my primary guitar, as I much prefer the feel of nylon beneath my fi...
Posted by on Thu, 28 Dec 2006 10:01:00 GMT

My Inspirations: Rush

And the men who hold high places Must be the ones to start To mold a new reality Closer to the Heart Blacksmith and the Artist Reflect it in their art They forge their creativity Closer to the Heart...
Posted by on Thu, 28 Dec 2006 09:07:00 GMT