About
About Me
Born in Bristol, Steve cut his musical teeth on the brass band circuit and by the age of 12 was representing his home county on numerous Youth Music tours to Europe as well as contesting successfully at Championship level.
In 1979 Steve moved to live and work in Berkshire and was invited to play trumpet with a local big band. Having had an interest in Jazz as a youngster (inspired by a primary school music teacher who had worked as a musician on the cruise ship Queen Elizabeth I) Steve soon found that playing the trumpet gave him far more satisfaction than playing the cornet ever did and soon after this quit the brass band scene to explore the world of jazz and dance bands.
Another move, this time to Gloucestershire saw Steve looking for new challenges musically and a following a chance meeting with saxophonist Patsy Gamble the pair formed their own section and made themselves available as a freelance horn section. This was the beginning of one of the longest established and hardest working horn sections in the UK – ‘The Little Big Horns’ – touring the UK, Europe and the Middle East extensively to this day.
Steve joined British mod heroes DC Fontana in early 2007. Hard working and massively popular both in the UK and abroad the next 4 years saw the release of four critically acclaimed albums and a number of cult videos as well as extensive UK and European tours. Steve also helped set up and became a director of an independent record label; DCTone Records.
In 2011 Steve and DC singer Karla Milton left the band to form The Karla Milton Collective with Steve and Karla emerging as highly talented songwriters.
In 2015 Steve recorded a live radio session for The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show with Stone Foundation featuring the wonderful Nolan Porter on vocals and provided all the jazz and section trumpet parts for the original John Broomhall compositions featured on the rebooted cult video game soundtrack for Transport Tycoon.
2015 also saw Steve featuring regularly with top function band 'Dancin' Easy' as well as recording, mixing and producing The Karla Milton Collective’s new album. Steve also completed writing, arranging and scoring the orchestral horn arrangements for a Prog Rock spectacular with the band IO Earth.

The next album, 'EVERYBODY, ANYONE' was released in 2018 with Steve credited for horn and string arrangements and features guest appearances from The Average White Band's Hamish Stuart and singer Kathryn Williams. The track 'CARRY THE NEWS' features Steve White on drums, Mick Talbot on keys and Paul Weller on backing vocals!
2019 saw the boys supporting the legendary Mavis Staples as well as Paul Weller on his Summer tour. Paul even borrowed the SF Horns for a few numbers in his own set too! The tour took in some great venues with highlights being Greenwich Naval College and Edinburgh Castle. Stone Foundations own tour followed, visiting new venues and making new friends along the way.
In the middle of all this Steve also found time to play with the FIRST LADY of IMMEDIATE, soul legend PP Arnold on her 'NEW ADVENTURES' tour in a band that also featured Steve Cradock on guitar and to arrange and record horns on Paul Wellers No 1 album 'On Sunset' and, most recently, 'Fat Pop (Volume 1)'.
Very much in demand both live and in the studio Steve’s credits include albums with Eddie Martin, Eugene ‘Hideaway’ Bridges, Andy Leek, The Firebirds, David Gibb, IO Earth, Mike D’Abo and Paul Weller and prestigious support slots with Zoot and the Roots, Dr Feelgood, John Mayall, Gloria Gaynor, Sister Sledge, The Lambrettas, Petula Clarke and the legendary Peter Green.
Steve is a regular touring member of ska legends Bad Manners and has also found time to work on a number of charity events appearing in bands with Steve Winwood, Ruby Turner, Jess Roden, Jim Capaldi and Robert Plant.
As well as theatre and show band work, Steve has worked in horn sections alongside Pee Wee Ellis and the late great Dick Heckstall-Smith and features on a number of recording projects including several sessions for Mick Jagger and a charity single under the banner ‘Mod Aid’ where Steve performed alongside Ronnie Wood, Art Wood, PP Arnold, Reg Presley, Steve Craddock and Chris Farlowe.

In 2016 Steve got a call to join Stone Foundation full time. The band was about to head into the studio to record a new album produced by and featuring Paul Weller, so of course he jumped at the chance.
The album - 'STREET RITUALS', released in 2017, reached number 26 in the UK charts and included a string of number 1 singles. The tour to promote the album kicked off supporting Paul Weller at the Royal Albert Hall and went on taking in Germany, Spain and Japan and Glastonbury Festival as well many UK dates. 2017 also saw the release of 'LIVE RITUALS', recorded in front of a sell out crowd at Islington Assembly Rooms and featuring guest appearances from Paul Weller and Dr Robert.
Steve also played on Paul Weller's release 'MOTHER ETHIOPIA Pt.1-3' for which he also wrote and arranged the horns.

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