Began playing professionally at age 16. Recorded first record with Martha & Vandella's (Motown) at age 17, working in the Apollo Theatre house band, under the direction of Quincy Jones.
Worked his way through college (Aldelphi University- Garden City, New York) playing jazz six nights a week. Graduated 1965. B.A. Degree.
Went to Africa for three years--performing with various African bands (e.g. Guy Warren, Fela Ransome Kuti, Alpha Jazz Band, Leone Starrs, Black Star Tour) for the governments of several African nations including Nigeria, Liberia, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Congo, Morocco and Egypt.
First jazz musician to receive first of several grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, under the chairmanship of Nancy Hanks. Documented in the appendix to “This Business of Music” published by Billboard.
Began working with various artists. Worked in various productions (The wiz) on and off Broadway, (Don’t Bother Me I Can't Cope, The Connection).Began travelling extensively in Europe (tour for Swedish government, French government, Israel) playing in Belgium, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, Holland, Norway, Denmark, as well as Greenland Canada.
In the 1970's owned and managed Mustervic Sound Records, an independent jazz label. Served as Co-director of Musicians of Brooklyn Initiative (MOBI). Served as musical director of Sounds in Motion, a dance troups.
Steve Reid's style is heavily influenced by African rhythms and modal harmonics of twelve tone explorations of John Coltrane.
Steve Reid is a member of Broadcast Music Inc.(BMI), the American Federation of Musicians Local 802 of the AFL-CIO, card OR4488, since 1965,Blacck Music Association, and the Jazz Foundation.
Steve Reaid has played with: Freddie Hubbard, Jackie McLean, Martha Raye, Dionne Warwick, T-Bone Walker, Archie Shepp, Chief Bey, *Olatungi, Arthur Blythe, Lester Bowie, Walter Davis, Charles MacPherson, Dexxter Gordon,Gary Bartz, Curtis Fuller, James Brown, Martha Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Les Walker, David Murray, Sam Rivers, Peggy Lee, Leon Thomas, Guy Warren, Fela, Randy Weston, Mal Waldron, Marion Macparland, Chaka Chan, Cbo Didley, Fats Domino, Henry Threadgill, Miles Davis, Warren Smith, SUN RA, Loonie Smith Horace Silver, Barnum & Bailey Circus, Sound, In Motion Dance Troupe, amongst others.
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