Stevens introduction to the Uke goes back to around 1970 when as a 10 year old his Dad used to play George Formby cassettes in the car.

Given that their holiday journeys were often from Durham in the north to Bournemouth in the south Steven heard a lot of George Formby songs and began to ask who it was as he liked it.

Anyway his Dad bought him a Uke, a John Grey Banjo Uke and he was determined to play just like Formby did!

Steven joined the Formby society in the early ‘70’s and was hugely influenced by players like Stephen Helme, Peter Moss, Lee Mannering, Etc.  With their tips and help he progressed and began playing in cabaret, working men’s clubs, concerts and restaurants etc.

In 1980 he became a Butlins’ redcoat and played the Uke in most of the shows they put on.  He also met a fellow professional Uke player Nicki Martyn, a great comedian who was booked at Butlins.
He then moved to Bournemouth with a couple of other Redcoats and they busked and tried to pick up Gigs around the area for a while.  He did a support act for comic Al Dean.

During the ‘80s the Uke started to take a back seat as he discovered the guitar and began writing contemporary songs.  In 1989 Steven decided to include three Uke tunes in his debut album called ‘Straight down the line’
Shortly afterwards he was asked to play a support slot for the ‘Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain’ at Ronnie Scotts’, London.  For Steven it was a fantastic evening, one he will not never forget.

In the ‘90s various albums and singles came out and he rediscovered the Ukulele (tending to prefer the wooden Uke as it felt was more open to developing unique patterns and solo techniques, as it were a miniature Spanish guitar).
At some stage he hopes to release a Uke Album.  Steven likes the Formby ‘Love’ Ballads which he tended to serenade using a wooden Uke; he also loves the classic songs from the ’20 & ‘30s.