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Read Band 101

Being a bass player is one thing. Being a bass player that fits in to any musical situation is another. To find that unique trait, look no further than Steve Cook. Steve has been called "a bass player's bass player" for his solid, uncompromising groove, taste, and energy.

Steve got his musical career off the ground at 8 years old, when he took up violin. After learning the saxophone and guitar, a schoolmate convinced him that the world didn't have enough bass players. At age 13, clenching $100, Steve went to the local pawn shop and purchased his first bass. He hasn't looked back since.

Steve's pursuit of music took him from his home in Virginia Beach, VA to college in Hattiesburg, MS. At the University of Southern Mississippi, Steve spent four years in the highly acclaimed 12 o'clock Jazz Lab. Armed with a new degree in Marketing, Steve headed to Nashville for almost two years of showcases and demo work. He was then called back to Hattiesburg by former classmates who had forged a decent name for themselves in a new band called King Konga.

King Konga was an acoustic-percussion based pop group with comparisons to Dave Matthews and Edwin McCain. The band was a four-piece with a percussionist rounding out the quartet. "I had to find my place quickly", remembers Steve "there was a lot going on musically, so I was the foundation, playing simple, yet melodic lines to compliment my mates". Steve performed with King Konga for seven years, logging over 1200 shows all over the U.S., including Woodstock '99, and countless opening slots for national acts. Never being able to capitalize on the success with a label deal, King Konga separated to pursue various projects.

"Being out of a band for the first time in seven years was a hard thing", Steve remembers, "and as a musician, not having to be somewhere at 10 PM on a Friday night is an odd feeling." Steve spent his newfound free time getting back in to a learning mode. "I pulled out the old jazz charts, and would just jam for hours." Steve also kept busy doing gigs and album work in and around Atlanta, GA.

Steve didn't have much down time though, joining the melodic rock band Course of Nature in November 2003. Course of Nature was a new musical direction for Steve, and a great opportunity to play a whole new genre of music. Steve muses, "I was raised on the Police, went to school for jazz, got paid for country demos, and made a name playing pop rock. Hard rock seemed like the next logical step. Look for me in a polka band 6 years from now".

In March of 2004, the band was dropped by their label, forcing yet another jump for Steve. This time, coming full circle and moving back to Nashville.

Steve remains on the road and in the studio, most recently performing with Patrick Davis and recording with various artists from demos to national releases. Steve tours with a WT-800 and a pair of 410XLT's. "An amp's job is to merely make your instrument heard, not obstruct the sound", explains Steve. "Eden amps are an extension of my basses, fingers, and musical expression". Steve also has a band of his own, Midajo, set to release a full-length record this winter, entitled "Evolvolution".

Steve has written a series of 'How-to-be-a-Band' columns for several syndicated publications and websites, with circulation reaching over 150,000 readers in four states. His experience and light-hearted approach make his columns appeal to musicians and non-musicians alike. Steve's columns are now available exclusively on our website.

Read Band 101