onomuse + Musician in Fresno, CA

SEEKING

ABOUT

STEVE ONO is a guitarist with extensive Jazz, Folk, Rock, Blues and World music influences and experience. He is also a talented Singer/Songwriter, arranger and producer. His self produced CD, "Voice of a Friend", and his collaboration with Harmonica Master Eddie Gordon, “Smokin’”, are available at CDBaby.

Steve is currently offering Classes in a variety of guitar techniques for all levels, even kids as young as 6, at the California Arts Academy at 4750 N Blackstone. The website is .calartsacademy. The phone number is 559-222-6539 to get info or look for the flyer in the Tower.

Steve Ono has also been playing rhythm guitar lately with local rock violin virtuoso Patrick Contreras, including recent house record setting SRO shows at Arts Americas on June 22nd and at the Crossroads on Mar 31st.

More bio stuff follows
Steve began singing at 10 years old in "The Candlelighters," a children's choir in Fresno California. While learning to sing he started playing the bongos which led to drums and guitar at age 14. His early repertoire consisted of Folk, Folk-Rock and Rock tunes of the 60's & 70's, as well as early originals.
His first solo public performance was at the 1971 McLane High School Talent Show. The first paid performance was in 1972 in a coffeehouse in Steenwijk, the Netherlands.
Steve attended Fresno City and State Colleges and played in the progressive rock band Folly’s Pool.
Steve went solo in 1976 and met Frank Hicks, a swing era guitarist. His exposure to Frank and his vast chord knowledge sparked a flurry of study on Steve's part. This study resulted in his 1980 graduation from the Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood.
After playing all over Southern California and doing some session work, Steve moved back to Fresno in 1985. He has since worked with a variety of great musicians including Kool and the Gang member Larry Gittens, the late Paul Shagoian, Mike Dana, Gene Doi and his partner of more than a decade, Harmonica Master Eddie Gordon.
Steve returned to LA in November 1991 with Eddie Gordon and played with Lee Oskar of "War" at the legendary "The Baked Potato." Steve and Eddie have also played: Victoria, BC; St. Louis, MO; the Yellow Pine Harmonica Festival in Idaho and the Fresno Trade Club Business Conference in 1994 featuring former US Presidents Ford and Bush.

By 1994 Steve had become one of the busiest guitar teachers in the Fresno/Clovis area.

Songwriting took on new importance in November 1993, with the release of "The Maximus Sessions," a compilation CD of Fresno area songwriters and artists. Steve's song: "Serious Man," was mentioned as a standout by critic Don Mayhew of the Fresno Bee. It also received airplay on KKDJ-FM.
In 1995-96, Steve appeared three times on the CSUF Television Production, "Works in Progress", with Thomas Witt-Ellis for broadcast on Fresno's Valley Public Television (KVPT-18).
His first all original CD, "Voice of a Friend," was released in December 1996.
In 1998 Steve co-produced a self-titled CD for the Flamenco-Jazz trio Cerro Negro, which received much airplay on KEZL 96.7 Smooth Jazz Radio.
In 2004 Steve and Eddie appeared on the KVPT Live broadcast
Steve and various musical friends have been performing for private and public events at such venues as: William Saroyan Theatre, the Bonner auditorium at the Fresno Art Center, The Fresno Metropolitan Museum, Ducey’s “Jazz on the Lake”, Wild Water Adventures, The Visalia Fox Theatre, The Tower District Cigar Festival, the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite, the Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp and many local hotels.
Steve’s client list includes: CASA, CSUF, BSK and Associates, DPS Telecom, Grunfos Pumps, The Fresno Library Council, Pearson Realty, and the Central California Rehabilitation Association.
Steve has also performed for the benefit of The Marjaree Mason Center, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), the Interfaith Youth Alliance and the Roosevelt School of the Arts.

Monday night workshop classes beginning at 6 PM in Blues/rock, Jazz/Pop and Folk/Country Guitar Styles at the Cal ARTS Academy (559-222-6539). Classes are only $12 bucks and last one hour. Learn from a Pro.

Screen name:

onomuse

Member since:

Jun 24 2007

Active over 1 month ago

Level of commitment:

Very Committed

Years playing music:

50

Gigs played:

Over 100

Tend to practice:

More than 3 times per week

Available to gig:

2-3 nights a week

Influences

Django Reinhart, Charlie Christian, Oscar Moore, Joe Pass, Chet Atkins, Frank Hicks, Cletus Clark, Mike Bloomfield, Albert King, B B King, Al Dimeola, John McLaughlin, Santana, Clapton, Page, Beck, Blackmore, Jethro Tull, Steve Vai, Frank Zappa, Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Debussey, Wagner, Chopihn, Liszt, Stravinsky, Bartok, Yo Yo Ma, Mark O'Connor,

Instrument experience:

Acoustic Guitar:

Expert

Lead Guitar:

Expert

Rhythm Guitar:

Expert

Background Singer:

Advanced

Bass Guitar:

Advanced

Vocalist - Baritone:

Advanced

Banjo:

Moderate

Mandolin:

Moderate

EQUIPMENT

Breedlove Acoustic electric Steel String Acoustic
Godin LGX-SA Electric Guitar
Godin 5th Avenue Guitar

MUSIC

CALENDAR

Past Events