Steve Conte

Steve Conte
Steve Conte performing at the 2011 Ilosaarirock festival with Michael Monroe band.
Background information
Born	(1960-09-23) September 23, 1960 (age 56)
Origin	New York City, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Guitarist, Musician, Music producer, Singer, Songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, vocals
Labels	Mercury, Ryf, Thunderdog, Varèse Sarabande
Associated acts	Company Of Wolves Crown Jewels The Contes New York Dolls Billy Squier Seatbelts (band), Yoko Kanno, Shanti Snyder Steve Conte & The Crazy Truth The Michael Monroe Band

Steve Conte (born 23 September 1960) is an American musician, songwriter, guitarist, music producer, and lead singer of the band Steve Conte NYC. He has worked with Japanese composer Yoko Kanno on a variety of anime soundtracks including Wolf's Rain, Cowboy Bebop, RahXephon and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG. His 2008 song "Seven Rings In Hand", which was originally the theme for Sonic and the Secret Rings, is also on the video game Guitar Hero. He was the former lead guitarist of the New York Dolls.

Conte was born on September 23, 1960, in New York City to a Calabrian musical family (mother Rosemary Conte is a renowned New Jersey jazz singer). Conte followed his passion for music early at seven years old when he began playing drums. At ten years old, he picked up his brother John Conte's guitar and started making up songs. One year later, the Conte brothers recorded their first "album" in the family living room with Steve singing, playing guitar and drums, writing the songs, and "producing". He also played backup with his mother in many Jersey Shore venues. To pursue his musical talents further, he earned a full scholarship to attend Rutgers University and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in music with a focus on jazz guitar performance. At Rutgers, his classmates included fellow musicians Terrence Blanchard, Ralph Peterson, Jr., and Frank Lacy and studied under the tutelage of Ted Dunbar, Kenny Barron, Paul Jeffrey, and Larry Ridley. Upon graduation, he moved back to New York City and took his first road gig with legendary jazz-rock group Blood, Sweat & Tears.