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The human jukebox of Tacoma

By John Larson

Tacoma Weekly
jlarson@tacomaweekly.com
Published on: June 26, 2008

With a repertoire of original material and cover tunes ranging from folk to blues, jazz to hard rock, Steve Stefanowicz offers something for everyone.

Stefanowicz grew up in Tacoma. His parents bought him a trumpet when he was a child, but he did not have much interest in that instrument. He began playing guitar in seventh grade.

Stefanowicz has been blind since birth. As a result, there were some activities many young boys are interested in that he could not participate in. Music, on the other hand, did not pose any limitations. “It gave me an outlet for being creative,” he recalled.

After graduating from high school he was off to Ellensburg to attend Central Washington University. He earned a bachelor’s degree with a major in psychology and social work and a minor in music.

Upon his return to Tacoma he found a job as a social worker. After one year he quit to focus on music.

He had played in bands off and on until 2002, when he decided to focus on his solo work. He released his debut album, “Time,” in 2004.

Stefanowicz was into Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Rush when he was young. He even made an Iron Maiden belt at blind camp as a youth.

He was a junior in high school when his father gave him a Dan Fogelberg album. Soon he was listening to other singer/songwriters such as James Taylor. He played such material on the coffee shop circuit in college.

His interest in blues and jazz was sparked by “At Newport,” a Muddy Waters album recorded live at the 1960 Newport Jazz Festival.  

“Then I realized I could do it all,” he remarked.

While he enjoys rock, he finds playing folk and blues more financially lucrative when marketing himself as a solo act. But that does not mean he will not break out an acoustic version of a heavy-metal anthem like Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs.”

He has been singing for the last several years with Rich Wetzel’s Groovin’ Higher Jazz Orchestra. Six months ago the group’s guitar player left and Stefanowicz took his place. Like many jazz groups, the musicians in Wetzel’s band utilize sheet music on stage. Stefanowicz had to memorize all the group’s material. “It has been a bit of an arduous task,” he said. “That has been a challenge.”

Stefanowicz supplements his income teaching guitar lessons in his home.

While he takes in beginners, he prefers teaching students at the intermediate and advanced levels. “I find it more of a challenge,” he said. “It helps me learn. If I quit learning, I should hang it up.”

His latest album, “Mid-life Christmas,” was released last November.

He began recording it last September. He remembers playing “In The Bleak Midwinter” when it was 95 degrees outside. “I could not really get into the feeling of the song,” he recalled with a chuckle.

The album title came from some changes and milestones in Stefanowicz’s life. He quit drinking a year ago and recently turned 40.

The album cover depicts the epitome of a man having a mid-life crisis – Stefanowicz in a shiny red sports car, an attractive brunette woman in a skimpy Santa outfit sitting on his lap. He did not care for the album cover at first, but enough people around him liked it and he ended up approving the cover.

One of the standout tracks is his version of “Christmas In The Trenches,” a touching account of an incident that occurred in December 1914. World War I had recently started. German and British troops holed up in trenches along the Western Front engaged in an impromptu, temporary truce in which they exchanged gifts and played soccer games.

Stefanowicz was inspired to record a version for the album because his girlfriend has a son in the military who was serving in Iraq.

But do not expect to hear any politically charged original tunes from Stefanowicz.

“I avoid politics and religion,” he said. “People come to my shows to forget their troubles. I figure if I spout off political rhetoric I will lose half the audience.”

Stefanowicz keeps busy playing gigs. There are several venues he plays once a month – Engine House #9, Ale House, the Harmon and the Hub. “I am impressed that they are doing their part to keep music alive around here,” he remarked.

Stefanowicz is one of those rare musicians who take requests from the audience. Some call him “the human jukebox” as he knows more than 1,000 cover tunes. One that has stumped him is “Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald” by Gordon Lightfoot. He said he will sit down and learn it one of these days.

Stefanowicz has a recording studio in his home. He is planning his next album, “One Man Jesus.” For more information, go to www.stevetunes.com.

Steve Stefanowicz plays the Harmon in Tacoma at 8 p.m. June 28.

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