Five appearances at Carnegie Hall and four appearances at the White House have helped jazz artist Steve Pemberton gain an international reputation as an incredibly versatile and sensitive musician. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from the prestigious Berklee College of Music, his career has taken him to most corners of the world, allowing him the opportunity to work with some of the most respected musical artists of our time, in some of the most prestigious concert halls including the Hollywood Bowl, Radio City Music Hall, Universal Amphitheatre, the Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap Farm Park and Lincoln Center/Avery Fisher Hall.
A partial list of jazz artists Steve has worked with includes Mel Tormé, Doc Severinsen, Grover Washington, Jr., John Pizzarelli, the New York Voices, Patti Austin, Peter Nero, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, the Count Basie, Quincy Jones, Tex Beneke and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras, Ken Peplowski, Don Menza, Pete Christlieb and Tom Scott, with too many more to mention.
It was his versatility that guided him to hold the position as the featured drumset artist and member of the Boston Pops Orchestra, under the direction of Keith Lockhart and film composer John Williams. This position was in addition to the more than 140 symphonies he has performed with around the world as a guest artist. It was an appearance with Patti Page and The Philly Pops Orchestra that led to Steve’s performance on Patti’s Grammy Award winning CD in 1998, “Patti Page – Live at Carnegie Hall”.
His love of many styles of music has led to numerous performances, recordings and/or tours with the likes of Johnny Mathis, Maureen McGovern, Melissa Manchester, Jeffrey Osborne, Peabo Bryson, Crystal Gayle, Amy Grant and Vince Gill, along with film and Broadway superstars John Williams, Marvin Hamlisch, Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne and Jerry Herman.
Continuing to tour the world the last few years, Steve most recently has been travelling the globe with Latin/pop vocalist Vikki Carr.
As a published composer of percussion music, Steve has had numerous pieces premiered at the Interlochen Arts Academy, New England Conservatory of Music, University of Miami and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC).
Additionally, Steve can be found in the studios, jazz clubs or concert halls of Los Angeles, in addition to presently teaching as a faculty member of the Los Angeles College of Music in Pasadena and the College of the Canyons in Valencia, CA.
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Music | Berklee College of Music
NOTABLE CREDITS:
- Percussion music published by HoneyRock Publishing
- Performance on Patti Page’s 1998 Grammy Award winning CD: “Patti Page – Live at Carnegie Hall”
