Stephen hails from the Motor City, where his early music influences were that of Motown soul, blues, and Detroit rock. After playing in an assortment of local bands, Stephen left Detroit in 1979 and moved to Florida where he was exposed to traditional folk music; he quickly traded his electric guitar in for his first Martin acoustic. He became best known for his work with The Last Chance String Band, a favorite at folk festivals and small clubs.  Stephen, as a solo artist and with the band, went on to open concerts for Doc Watson, Sonny Terry and Brownie Mcghee,  and Richie Havens with Gove Scrivenor. In 2009 Stephen released his first solo album of original songs, with co-writer Mike Ferguson, entitled This Side Of The Ground. Strong vocals along with his guitar, mandolin, and autoharp playing have earned Stephen a fond respect from his musical peers. He now resides in the Asheville, North Carolina area where, at 71 years of age, he continues to write and record original music.