Over the past 40+ years, Steve Nathan has worked with some of the biggest and best in the music industry (here’s the full list). In this first of two parts (Part 2 is here) we delve into Steve’s incredible career, how he got into music and his thoughts on some of the many artists he’s worked with and the state of cotemporary music more broadly.

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Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):

Steve’s musical upbringing, first Wurlitzer piano and first band (The Off Beats)

Cannonball Adderley 

Stan and the Ravens (The Rivals) – Hollin’ For My Darlin’

Stan Szelest – Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On

Meeting Bob Dylan and a lesson in selling seats

Teenage Steve gets an unexpected lesson from Joe Zawinul

Old upright pianos as backlined gear

Gary Baker

Getting the gig at Muscle Shoals (here’s a great short history of Muscle Shoals)

Leblanc and Carr – Falling

Working with Percy Sledge

Percy Sledge’s insistence on singing in original key

Steve playing with Huey Lewis: Oh! Darling

Come Together: America Salutes The Beatles

Great George Harrison anecdote involving the brilliant Steve Gibson

Working with Levon Helm

Steve plays ‘The Weight’ with The Staples Singers

Steve playing – Since I Fell For You – Natalie Cole and Reba McEntire

Rhythm, Country and Blues – The Album

Steve playing – Rainy Night in Georgia – Conway Twitty and Sam Moore

Four doomed tracks with Taylor Swift

Working extensively with Tim McGraw

On being a good musician vs being the best keyboard player

Discussion on current mainstream music and music production

The challenge of making it today as a musician

Thanks to our supporters for this episode: Brother Paul Brown , Musicplayer.com forums, Tammy Katchur’s Musical Stew and Radio Grande

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Check out our podcast guest playlist on Spotify to get a taste of each guest’s creations.