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Steven Van ZandtAmerican musician, composer, arranger, sound producer, actor and radio DJ
Date of Birth: 22.11.1950
Country:  USA |
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Biography of Steven Van Zandt
Steven Van Zandt, also known as Little Steven and Miami Steve, is an American musician, composer, arranger, sound producer, actor, and radio DJ. He is best known as a member of the E Street Band, with whom he frequently collaborated with Bruce Springsteen. In the band, Van Zandt plays guitar and mandolin.
Early Life and Career
Steven Van Zandt was born on November 22, 1950, in Winthrop, Massachusetts, USA. His mother, Mary Lento, an Italian-American actress, remarried when he was young, so Van Zandt took the surname of his stepfather, William Van Zandt. When he was seven years old, his family moved from Massachusetts to Middletown Township, New Jersey. Billy Van Zandt, a well-known actor, playwright, and producer, is his half-brother.
Growing up in Jersey Shore's music scene, Van Zandt became a talented musician in the early 1970s. He worked with the American group "The Dovells" and later became one of the founding members of the band "Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes." He also collaborated with Bruce Springsteen, with whom he became friends. Eventually, Van Zandt became the composer and producer of "Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes" in the late 1970s. He co-wrote several songs with Springsteen and produced one of their most famous compositions, "Hearts of Stone." Thanks to his contributions, the sound of Jersey Shore became associated with his name.
As a producer, he played a significant role in Bruce Springsteen's classic albums such as "Darkness on the Edge of Town," "The River," and "Born in the U.S.A." He also worked on various other records, including "Have A Good Time (But Get Out Alive)" by the rock group "Iron City Houserockers." However, his involvement in the recording of the second album of the country-rock group "Lone Justice" called "Shelter" was less successful.
Thanks to Van Zandt's contributions, the debut album of the punk-rock group "Demolition 23" was released in 1994. He co-wrote six tracks with Michael Monroe and Jude Wilder for this release. In 1995, he assisted rock singer Meat Loaf with the song "Amnesty Is Granted" on his album "Welcome to the Neighborhood." In 2004, Van Zandt contributed to the birth of Nancy Sinatra's song "Baby Please Don't Go."
Solo Career
Van Zandt officially left the E Street Band in 1984 and began collaborating with other musicians and focusing on his solo projects. He worked with various renowned artists, ranging from soul musicians to hard rock performers. Van Zandt released four albums in the 1980s and another one in 1999. His 1982 release, "Men Without Women," received praise, and it was named one of the top ten albums of the year by critic Jay Cox from Time magazine. The 1984 album, "Voice of America," was the most successful in terms of chart entries and had a clear political tone. However, from a commercial standpoint, Van Zandt's work was not as popular as expected.
In 1985, Van Zandt created the musical activist protest group "Artists United Against Apartheid" to actively oppose the apartheid system in South Africa. In 1987, he released the album "Freedom - No Compromise," continuing to touch on political themes but in a more explicit way. After a series of successful concerts in Europe and supporting U2, he released the album "Revolution" in 1989, which unfortunately received little attention. His last release, "Born Again Savage," came out in 1999, and a new collaboration with the band "Lost Boys" called "Nobody Loves and Leaves Alive" was never released.
Van Zandt briefly returned to the E Street Band in 1995 and became a permanent member again in 1999. However, the lead guitarist position in the band is now held by Nils Lofgren. Van Zandt's vocals and playing stand out in songs such as "Glory Days," "Two Hearts," "Long Walk Home," "Murder Incorporated," and "Ramrod."
In 2009, during the Super Bowl halftime show, Van Zandt and Springsteen played a guitar solo in the final set, occupying prominent positions among the other band members.
Acting Career
As an actor, Van Zandt is most recognized for his role as Silvio Dante, the owner of a strip club, in the television series "The Sopranos." He has a distinctive style of dressing, always favoring gypsy clothing and a bandana when performing on stage. In the series, he can be seen wearing a pompadour wig, which he uses to conceal hair loss resulting from a car accident where he hit his head on the windshield.
Van Zandt has been married to actress Maureen Van Zandt (previously Maureen Santoro) since December 31, 1982. She also appeared in "The Sopranos" as Gabriella Dante, his character's wife.
