Trumpeter Steve Madaio
Remembering Steve on his birthday
July 18, 1948 – January 15, 2019
For some Woodstock performers I am often surprised how little information I can find. On the other hand, some have so much, it is difficult to limit what I intended to be a short essay about them.
Steve Madaio falls into the latter category.
Trumpeter Steve Madaio
Facebook basics
His Facebook page says that he attended Lynbrook High School, Lynbrook, NY and then the Mannes School of Music in NYC. He later lived in Palm Desert, CA.
Steve played trumpet with Paul Butterfield at Woodstock on Day 3 of that famed festival. He had first joined the band in 1969 on their Keep On Movin’ album. He stayed with the band for their next album, Sometimes I Just Feel Like Smilin'”.
Trumpeter Steve Madaio
Credits
That was not the end of his musician’ s path. Not by a long shot!
The Rate Your Music site listed 153 credits for Steve. In addition to the obvious example of Paul Butterfield, a few of the other names listed are: James Cotton Blues Band, B.B. King, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Rolling Stones, Dave Mason, Etta James, Carly Simon, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Martha Reeves, The Temptations, Boz Scaggs, Dionne Warwick, Ace, Bobby Bland, Paul Anka, Richie Furay, Janis Ian, Bonnie Raitt, Freddie Hubbard, Rita Coolidge, Four Tops, Joe Cocker, Eric Clapton, and many more.
Trumpeter Steve Madaio
Steve Wonder
National Association of Music Merchants video w Steve speaking about his time playing with Stevie Wonder. He played trumpet on most of Stevie Wonder’s recordings during the innovative and creative period between 1971 and 1976. Stevie was experimenting with electric keyboards and synthesizers, which Steve witnessed and took part in, including working on the classic album Songs in the Key of Life.
Ah, those horns on “Sir Duke” !
Madaio died January 15, 2019 in Palm Desert, Calif. The musician was said to have suffered a heart attack in his home. [cochellavally obit] [an extensive Desert Valley obit]