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.

To listen / watch:

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

Key links: Buy a keyboard related merchandise

Drop us a line via the website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter , TikTok or LinkedIn .

Complete our listener survey to help us improve the show, it only takes 90 seconds.

Support us on Patreon and receive bonus content

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

The post Steve Nathan, Tim McGraw / Mark Knopfler / Lionel Richie (Part 1) appeared first on The Keyboard Chronicles.