Steve Luongo
{{short description|American drummer}}
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{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Steve Luongo
| image = SLfixVinesFront72.jpg
| caption = Luongo in 2016
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Stephen L Luongo
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|9|21}}
| birth_place = Westchester, New York
| origin =
| genre = {{hlist|Rock|pop rock}}
| associated_acts = The John Entwistle Band, Ann Wilson, Billy Squier, Ritchie Blackmore, Joe Walsh, Alan Parsons, the Robin Zander Band, Torque, Rat Race Choir
| occupation = {{hlist|Musician|producer|songwriter|film maker}}
| instrument = {{hlist|Drums|vocals}}
| years_active = 1958–present
| label =
| website = {{URL|steveluongo.com}}
}}
Steve Luongo (born September 21, 1952) is an American drummer, singer, songwriter and record producer who hails from Westchester, New York.
Early career
Luongo was one of the founding members of the New York-based rock group Rat Race Choir in 1968. He was a pioneer of electronic percussion in the early 1970s. Luongo performed extended drum solos on a massive kit including a prototype of the Moog Synthesizer Drum. His trademark move was drumming with one hand and both feet while playing in time along with a mechanical toy monkey held up in front of a microphone with his free hand. Rat Race Choir would dominate the NY tri-state music scene in the 70s and 80s. They are considered to be “musician’s musicians” by many successful music artists including New Orleans rockers Zebra Band, Steve Stevens and Steve Vai among others.
==Later Career==
Luongo{{Cite news|title=Steve Luongo}}{{Cite web|url=https://api.discogs.com/artists/3104596|title=Steve Luongo|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=2019-09-30}} has produced, performed and recorded with several well-known artists including Leslie West of Mountain, Cream bassist Jack Bruce, Eddie Money,{{Cite web|url=https://www.naplesnews.com/story/entertainment/people/2019/09/13/eddie-money-loved-fort-myers-and-had-family-here/2310982001/|title=Eddie Money loved and visited Fort Myers, Naples, where he often performed|website=Naples Daily News|language=en|access-date=2019-09-30}} Alan Parsons, Todd Rundgren, Heart's Ann Wilson, Ritchie Blackmore, Mark Farner, Joe Walsh, Billy Squier. The most prolific and significant of all was his work with John Entwistle best known as the iconic bass guitarist for The Who. The two musicians became the best of friends. Luongo produced, performed, co-wrote and toured with The John Entwistle Band until Entwistle's death in 2002. Their last live performance together was in Japan during the A Walk Down Abbey Road tour. Later that year he was invited by The Who and Entwistle's family to write and read the eulogy at Entwistle's memorial service in London.{{Cite web|url=http://www.daddario.com/pmArtistDetail.Page?ActiveID=3900&ArtistId=45325&sid=4eb02568-74f7-4bcc-a79d-b45b8f7dbb1c|title=Promark Drumsticks : Artist Details {{!}} Steve Luongo {{!}} Artist Details|website=www.daddario.com|access-date=2019-09-30}}
Late in 2002 Luongo and Rat Race Choir{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/04/nyregion/power-chords-of-the-past-popular-70-s-band-returns.html|title=Power Chords of the Past: Popular 70's Band Returns|last=Max|first=Josh|date=2004-04-04|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-09-30|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} guitarist Mark Hitt formed the progressive rock band TorQue.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cdbaby.com|title=TorQue}} The two musicians co-wrote 11 songs for the debut album titled TorQue 103103.{{Cite web|url=https://cdbaby.com/|title=CD Baby|website=CD Baby|language=en|access-date=2019-09-30}} Luongo served as producer, lead vocalist and drummer. Luongo has said that 103103 is among his proudest musical achievements.
In 2007, Luongo served as producer and composer for a studio band he created with AC/DC bassist Cliff Williams.{{Cite web|url=https://fortmyers.org/acdcs-cliff-williams-hints-retirement-recent-interview-gulfshore-life-magazine/|title=AC/DC's CLIFF WILLIAMS HINTS AT RETIREMENT IN RECENT INTERVIEW WITH GULFSHORE LIFE MAGAZINE|date=2016-07-08|website=Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-30}} Williams recruited frontman Brian Johnson as the vocalist and Luongo brought in his Rat Race Choir bandmate Mark Hitt on guitar. The project later known as Forklift gave birth to 7 tracks.{{Cite web|url=http://www.reverbnation.com/thedrumcrusher|title=Steve Luongo {{!}} Rock from Fort Myers, FL|last=eMinor|website=ReverbNation|language=en|access-date=2019-09-30}} "Chain Gang on the Road" was the only track offered by the quartet.{{Cite web|url=http://steveluongo.blogspot.com/2012/05/steve-luongo-rolling-stone-interview.html|title=Steve Luongo's Blog: Steve Luongo Rolling Stone Interview|last=Luongo|first=Steve|date=2012-05-26|website=Steve Luongo's Blog|access-date=2019-09-30}} The song was briefly available for a free download during a run of US tour dates in (2007).
Later career: in 2012 Luongo began a musical partnership with Cheap Trick vocalist Robin Zander by forming The Robin Zander Band.{{Cite web|url=http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-at-night/2014/12/interview-robin-zander-cheap-trick-steve-luongo-robin-zander-band-arcada-theatre-st-charles-4082/|title=Q&A Interview With Robin Zander and Steve Luongo - A Robin Zander Band Concert Preview (Saturday, December 20 and Sunday, December 21, 2014 at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles)|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-30}} Zander and Luongo have been friends and musical allies for many years. Zander was among the first to be asked to appear in Luongo's documentary film An Ox's Tale - The John Entwistle Story about the late John Entwistle.{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0526863/|title=Steve Luongo|website=IMDb|access-date=2019-09-30}} The band toured nationally for 3 years.
Visual Artist
Luongo began creating works of visual art at 4 or 5. He went on to study art in school and never lost his love of color and form. In 2008 he joined the Naples art association at the von Liebig{{Cite web|url=https://www.artswfl.com/art-stops/fifth-avenue-naples/the-naples-art-association-at-the-von-liebig-art-center/the-von-liebig-art-center|title=The von Liebig Art Center {{!}} ArtSWFL.com|website=www.artswfl.com|access-date=2019-09-30}} in Naples, FL. In 2008-2010 Luongo was invited to display his art at galleries, exhibitions and art showings. It was during that time he decided to put his original art on fine fabric that would be made into men's shirts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc-7.com/story/39042423/this-fort-myers-drummer-is-rocking-the-stage-and-fashion-design|title=This Fort Myers drummer is rocking the stage - and fashion design|website=www.abc-7.com|language=en|access-date=2019-09-30}} It was not until 2016 that he formed Steve Luongo Designs{{Cite web|url=http://www.steveluongo.com/|title=men's shirts|website=www.steveluongo.com|access-date=2019-09-30}} and began creating limited edition wearable art shirts. These shirts are based on his original ink and acrylic canvases. Each shirt is named, numbered and signed turning them into wearable limited edition art prints.{{Cite web|url=http://www.steveluongo.com/|title=Mens shirts|website=www.steveluongo.com|access-date=2019-09-30}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sarasotapost.com/music/2099-drummer-steve-luongo-keeps-an-artistic-beat-with-his-designer-threads-a-sarasota-post-interview|title=Drummer Steve Luongo Keeps an Artistic Beat With His Designer Threads - A Sarasota Post Interview|last=Sullivan|first=Vicky|website=www.sarasotapost.com|date=September 8, 2018 |language=en-gb|access-date=2019-09-30}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.steveluongo.com Official Website]
- [http://www.ddrum.com Ddrum Official Website]
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Category:American rock drummers
Category:People from Westchester County, New York
Category:Drummers from New York (state)
Category:20th-century American drummers