Steve Norman
Encyclopedia
Steve Norman is an English
musician
who plays saxophone
, guitar
, percussion, and other instruments
, for Spandau Ballet
.
(Steve Anthony Norman)
. By the third Spandau Ballet album Norman not only brought percussion to the mix, but also introduced the saxophone which has since become his signature instrument. Together with Spandau Ballet, Norman toured the globe and continued to have hits throughout the 1980s. In 1985 Norman appeared with Spandau Ballet at Live Aid
at Wembley Stadium, where he was also to perform at the "Free Nelson Mandela" concert some years later along with Tony Hadley
. He has also performed at various concerts in aid of The Prince's Trust
charity.
and took some time out from performing.
During his time on the island, Norman collaborated with numerous musicians and producers who resided on Ibiza, including Lenny Krarup, Nacho Sotomayor, Stefan Zauner and DJ Pippi. Norman also worked with Rafa Peletey on various projects, including Funky Jack's "Saxomatic" percussion mix. Norman also sourced and compiled the music for the Made In Ibiza Chills n´ Thrills compilation album
and co-compiled A Journey Through Savannah with Peletey for their record label
, Island Pulse Records.
Norman continues to play live at house music
events throughout the UK and on the international club scene, performing with his saxophone, or occasionally percussion alongside such musicians as Byron Stingily
of Ten City
, Frankie Knuckles
, Angie Brown
, Steve Edwards
, Alison Limerick
, Jeremy Healy
and Brandon Block
. More recently Norman formed a partnership with Hed Kandi
, DJ John Jones and Martin Ikin from Soul Purpose called 'The Collective'. Their first production was a re-working of Joe Smooth
's "Promised Land" featuring Peyton on lead vocals and Shelley Preston
on backing vocals.
Norman also writes a regular column reviewing CDs for the magazine
, Ibiza Now.
(formerly of Bucks Fizz
) to provide the vocals. As a result, Cloudfish became a band with Norman, Preston and Peletey writing and producing their own songs. Peletey left in 2003 to front his own band, joining up with Norman and Preston from time to time.
Cloudfish continue to write, produce and perform and were featured artists on the eponymous CD of the Italian quintet, Quintessenza. Cloudfish sold out a number of concerts including the one at Ronnie Scott
's nightclub
. Their song "So High" was included on the CD compilation, Dome Ibiza: The Chillout Session Vol. 2.
, announced their reunion at a press conference on board HMS Belfast. The newly reformed band announced their 'Reformation Tour' starting in October 2009.
Steve Norman is credited with co-writing "Once More", the first new Spandau Ballet single in 20 years.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
who plays saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, percussion, and other instruments
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
, for Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet are a British band formed in London in the late 1970s. Initially inspired by, and an integral part of, the New Romantic fashion, their music has featured a mixture of funk, jazz, soul and synthpop. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s, achieving ten Top Ten singles...
.
(Steve Anthony Norman)
Early career
Steve Norman was initially a guitarist in the group with Gary KempGary Kemp
Gary Kemp is an English pop musician and actor who is the guitar player and chief songwriter for the 1980s Synthpop band Spandau Ballet. His brother, Martin Kemp, plays bass guitar in the band...
. By the third Spandau Ballet album Norman not only brought percussion to the mix, but also introduced the saxophone which has since become his signature instrument. Together with Spandau Ballet, Norman toured the globe and continued to have hits throughout the 1980s. In 1985 Norman appeared with Spandau Ballet at Live Aid
Live Aid
Live Aid was a dual-venue concert that was held on 13 July 1985. The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for relief of the ongoing Ethiopian famine. Billed as the "global jukebox", the event was held simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom ...
at Wembley Stadium, where he was also to perform at the "Free Nelson Mandela" concert some years later along with Tony Hadley
Tony Hadley
Tony Hadley is an English pop singer-songwriter, occasional stage actor and radio presenter who gained celebrity as the lead vocalist for the 1980s band Spandau Ballet.-Early life:...
. He has also performed at various concerts in aid of The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust is a charity in the United Kingdom founded in 1976 by Charles, Prince of Wales to help young people. They run a range of training programmes, provide mentoring support and offer financial grants to build the confidence and motivation of disadvantaged young people...
charity.
After Spandau Ballet
In the early 1990s after the band went their separate ways, Norman moved to IbizaIbiza
Ibiza or Eivissa is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea 79 km off the coast of the city of Valencia in Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands or Pityuses. Its largest cities are Ibiza...
and took some time out from performing.
During his time on the island, Norman collaborated with numerous musicians and producers who resided on Ibiza, including Lenny Krarup, Nacho Sotomayor, Stefan Zauner and DJ Pippi. Norman also worked with Rafa Peletey on various projects, including Funky Jack's "Saxomatic" percussion mix. Norman also sourced and compiled the music for the Made In Ibiza Chills n´ Thrills compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
and co-compiled A Journey Through Savannah with Peletey for their record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Island Pulse Records.
Norman continues to play live at house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
events throughout the UK and on the international club scene, performing with his saxophone, or occasionally percussion alongside such musicians as Byron Stingily
Byron Stingily
Byron Stingily is an African American R&B and house-music singer born in Chicago, Illinois, known for his falsetto voice. He is now a principal at a school in Chicago.-Career:...
of Ten City
Ten City
Ten City was a Chicago, Illinois-based R&B and house-music act that enjoyed a number of club hits and Urban radio hits in the late Eighties and early Nineties and was one of the first exponents of deep house...
, Frankie Knuckles
Frankie Knuckles
Frankie Knuckles is an American DJ, record producer and remix artist. He played an important role in developing house music as a Chicago DJ in the 1980s and he helped to popularize house music in the 1990s, with his work as a producer and remixer...
, Angie Brown
Angie Brown
Angie Brown born is a female singer/songwriter from Brixton, in South London.Brown, whose vocals have been featured on tracks of diverse acts ranging from Fatboy Slim to Lisa Stansfield & The Wah Brothers, is more famous as the featured vocalist on Bizarre Inc's two #1 Hot Dance Music/Club Play...
, Steve Edwards
Steve Edwards
Steve Edwards is the name of:*Steve Edwards , American football player for the Chicago Bears*Steve Edwards , host of Good Day LA on KTTV...
, Alison Limerick
Alison Limerick
Alison T. Limerick is a British singer.She began her music career as a backing vocalist in the mid 1980s, after attending the London Contemporary School of Dance. Her work appeared on The Style Council's 1985 album, Our Favourite Shop. In 1989 she made a brief appearance as an African sorceress in...
, Jeremy Healy
Jeremy Healy
Jeremy Healy is an English DJ and singer. He is a former member of the 1980s pop group, Haysi Fantayzee.-Career:...
and Brandon Block
Brandon Block
Brandon Block is a British club DJ. He was born in 1967 in the East End of London. At the age of 4, he moved to Wembley along with his mum, who still lives there today. His career started out in 1985 at the John Lyon pub in Harrow, West London...
. More recently Norman formed a partnership with Hed Kandi
Hed Kandi
Hed Kandi is an UK-based record label and a music brand which was established in 1999 by Mark Doyle, specialising in funky, soulful house music. Hed Kandi's catalogue includes both artist albums and various genres of club compilations. As well as producing music albums and compilations, Hed Kandi...
, DJ John Jones and Martin Ikin from Soul Purpose called 'The Collective'. Their first production was a re-working of Joe Smooth
Joe smooth
Joe Smooth is an American producer and DJ of house music, notably during the late 1980s and early 1990s.-Early life:Smooth was a self-taught musician, and started creating original music at the age of 12...
's "Promised Land" featuring Peyton on lead vocals and Shelley Preston
Shelley Preston
Shelley Preston , is a singer who is most famous for being the new girl when she joined pop group Bucks Fizz in June 1985.- Career :...
on backing vocals.
Norman also writes a regular column reviewing CDs for the magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
, Ibiza Now.
Cloudfish
In 2001, Norman and Peletey formed a production team called Cloudfish. They invited Shelley PrestonShelley Preston
Shelley Preston , is a singer who is most famous for being the new girl when she joined pop group Bucks Fizz in June 1985.- Career :...
(formerly of Bucks Fizz
Bucks Fizz (band)
Bucks Fizz are an English pop group who achieved success in the 1980s, most notably for winning the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Making Your Mind Up". The group was formed in January 1981 specifically for the contest and comprised four vocalists: Bobby G, Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and...
) to provide the vocals. As a result, Cloudfish became a band with Norman, Preston and Peletey writing and producing their own songs. Peletey left in 2003 to front his own band, joining up with Norman and Preston from time to time.
Cloudfish continue to write, produce and perform and were featured artists on the eponymous CD of the Italian quintet, Quintessenza. Cloudfish sold out a number of concerts including the one at Ronnie Scott
Ronnie Scott
Ronnie Scott was an English jazz tenor saxophonist and jazz club owner.-Life and career:Ronnie Scott was born in Aldgate, east London, into a family of Russian Jewish descent on his father's side, and Portuguese antecedents on his mother's. Scott began playing in small jazz clubs at the age of...
's nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
. Their song "So High" was included on the CD compilation, Dome Ibiza: The Chillout Session Vol. 2.
Spandau Ballet reunion
On 25 March 2009, Norman, Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp, Tony Hadley and John KeebleJohn Keeble
John Keeble is a British pop musician, who is the drummer with the 1980s band, Spandau Ballet.Spandau Ballet disbanded in 1990, after their final studio album, Heart Like a Sky, failed to live up to the critical and commercial success of their earlier albums, such as True and Parade.In 1999, John...
, announced their reunion at a press conference on board HMS Belfast. The newly reformed band announced their 'Reformation Tour' starting in October 2009.
Steve Norman is credited with co-writing "Once More", the first new Spandau Ballet single in 20 years.