Steven Ybarra
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| Steven Ybarra | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | San Diego |
| Associated acts | Liquid Groove, 34Below |
Steven A. Ybarra (born September 4) is an American pop-contemporary and Christian singer, songwriter, and worship leader from San Diego, California, United States. Ybarra has released a total of seven CDs, five with his former band which began as Liquid Groove and then changed its name to 34Below. In 2009, he released his first CD (Love Love Love) as a solo artist, and released his second CD, Best Days, in 2011. In 2011, he signed with Universal Music Group.[1]
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[edit] Background
Born in Texas, Ybarra attended Catholic school through the eighth grade, which set the foundation for music and spirituality in his life today, and his current walk with Christ. He began playing music at the age of three, and sang in church growing up. During his high school years, he became the front man and co-writer for the band Liquid Groove, later known as 34Below. They toured nationally, sharing the stage with bands such as Vertical Horizon, Sugar Ray, Hootie and the Blowfish, Five For Fighting, The Pat McGee Band, Switchfoot, The Calling, and numerous other headliners. 34Below was the official band for marine artist Wyland, and performed at the Wyland Ocean Challenge Tour events nationwide. The band produced five CDs spawning national radio airplay and bookings at venues like House of Blues and Coors Amphitheater. Their successes came from capturing the essence and sentimentality of everything from 70s rock influences to 90s hard rock, and early rock ballads. The band won three San Diego Music Awards, and wrote the theme song, "It's All Right Here", for Sycuan Casino. Their music was also featured in MTV's Road Rules, MTV’s Undressed, ESPN's Surfer Magazine Live, and in the surf movies Beyond the Boundaries and Wanted.
The success of the band and an unexpected event provided Steven the launching pad for his current solo career. In August 2005, Steven experienced a life-altering incident, after the Wyland Ocean Challenge Tour performance in Mexico. A mosquito was likely the bearer of a near-fatal disease for Steven, as he contracted meningitis. In a fight for his life, and faced with the debilitating effects of an extended recovery, he felt it was best to step down as the front-man for his band 34Below, a group he had previously led for twelve years. He soon had new outlook and started to use his talents and gifts for the purposes of bringing a positive message to others through his music. The sudden and lengthy down time gave Ybarra an opportunity to write and record his own songs, and in 2007 released his first full length CD, Love Love Love, a compilation of pop, contemporary and Christian songs. Ybarra won the 2009 San Diego Music Award in the 'Best Acoustic' category. In March 2011, he released his second CD, Best Days, recorded at the Dream Center Studios in Los Angeles, CA. The Best Days playlist includes pop, contemporary and Christian songs. Ybarra has been nominated for a 2011 San Diego Music Award in the 'Best Local Recording' category.
[edit] Discography
- 2011-Best Days, LP
- 2008-Love Love Love, LP
- 2006 Steven Ybarra, EP
- 2005-Masses Collide, LP
- 2004-Live At Dublin Square, LP
- 2001-Is It You, LP
- 1998-Inside This Radio, LP
- 1994-Live At The Velvet Lounge, LP
[edit] Benefit and Charity Performances
- "Chaos for the Kids” Toy Drive - Orangewood Children’s Center, Huntington Beach, CA
- Hurricane Ivan Benefit Concert/ Block Party - Red Cross fundraiser, Rural Hall, NC
- Hurricane Katrina Benefit Concert/Block Party - Red Cross Fundraiser, San Diego, CA
- 2004 East Coast Wyland Ocean Challenge Tour -16 Cities, 15 East Coast cities
- 2005 West Coast Wyland Ocean Challenge Tour - 12 West Coast cities
- 3 Surfrider Foundation Benefit Concerts - San Diego, CA
- Choc Walk Children’s Hospital - Orange County, CA
- Team “Will 2 Live” - Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Benefit Concert, San Marcos, CA
- Mission Valley/Horton Plaza Malls - YMCA Fundraiser, San Diego, CA
- The San Diego 2005 Heart Walk, American Heart Association - San Diego, CA
- March of Dimes Benefit Concert - San Diego, CA
- Children’s Polinsky Center Benefit Concert - Emergency Shelter for Children, San Diego, CA
- Golf Fore Arthritis Fundraiser - Del Mar, CA
- Challenged Athletes Foundation Benefit Concert - San Diego, CA
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's “Team In Training” Program, Rock N Roll Marathon - San Diego, CA
- Back To School Rally and After School Enrichment Program - Pineville, NC
- Pacific Beach Jam Benefit (To provide musical instruments for schools) - San Diego, CA
- Wyland Wall Dedication Ceremony at the San Diego County Fair- San Diego, CA
- God’s Extended Hand Mission, San Diego, CA
- The ONEkind Foundation, Walkathon for the Homelessness - Vista, CA
[edit] Nominations and Awards
- 1995, Liquid Groove-Winner of San Diego Music Awards-Best Rock
- 1996, Liquid Groove-Winner of San Diego Music Awards-Best Alternative
- 1999, Liquid Groove-Winner of San Diego Music Awards-Best Adult Alternative
- 2001, 34Below-Nomination for San Diego Music Awards-Best Local Recording
- 2008, Platinum prize-winner, San Diego Songwriter’s Guild – For the song “Love Love Love”
- 2009, Steven Ybarra-Winner of San Diego Music Awards-Best Acoustic
- 2010, Steven Ybarra-Nomination for San Diego Music Awards-Best Acoustic
- 2011, Steven Ybarra-Nomination for San Diego Music Awards-Best Local Recording[2]
[edit] Veneues Played
- San Diego County Fair - Main Grandstand, Del Mar, CA
- PB Block Party - Pacific Beach, CA
- Coors Amphitheater - San Diego, CA
- House of Blues – San Diego, CA – Los Angeles, CA
- 52nd Annual PGA Merchandise Show – Orlando, FL
- Annual Wisteria Festival - Sierra Madre, CA
- Phoenix Film Festival - Phoenix, AZ
- The Whiskey - Los Angeles, CA
- The Roxy - West Hollywood, CA
- The Viper Room - Hollywood, CA
- National Anthem - Charlotte Bobcats NBA Team, Charlotte, NC
- National Anthem - Irwindale Raceway, Irwindale, CA
- West Coast Invitational Snow Boarding Event/Concert - Mammoth Lakes, CA
- National Association for Campus Activities Convention, East Coast
- National Association for Campus Activities Convention, West Coast
- Music on the Bay's “Starlight Concert Series”, Coos Bay, OR
- Humphreys by the Bay Concerts, San Diego, CA
- San Diego Street Scene, San Diego, CA
- Mammoth Lakes Festival, Mammoth Lakes, CA
[edit] Media Recognition
- Songs featured - MTV's Road Rules
- Songs Featured - MTV’s Undressed
- Songs featured - ESPN's Surfer Magazine Live
- Songs Featured – Soundtracks, Beyond the Boundaries (Surf film)
- Songs Featured - Wanted (film)
- Live appearance/interview, NBC Morning News Show - San Diego, CA
- Live appearance/interview, News Channel 3’s “Good Morning Arizona,” Phoenix, AZ
- Live appearance/interview, Channel 10 San Diego, CA (Featuring the Johnny Carson song & letter from Johnny Carson)
- Live appearance/interview, KUSI Channel 9 San Diego, CA
- Live Appearance Channel 8 San Diego, CA
- Live appearance/interview, 'Arizona Midday,' KPNX-TV (NBC)
- Live performance, KUSI TV, San Diego, CA
- Live Interview/Performance - KMMT Radio, Mammoth Lakes, CA
- Live Interview - KRUSH Radio, Santa Rosa, CA
- Live Interview – Power 107.3, Bemidgi, MN
- Live Interview- Power 103.7, Coos Bay, OR
- Live Interview – AM 600, Talk Show with Rodger Hedgecock, San Diego, CA
[edit] Opened for
- Gavin De Graw
- Marc Seal
- Jeremy Camp
- Lit
- Sugar Ray
- Vertical Horizon
- Five For Fighting
- Hootie and the Blowfish
- The Pat McGee Band
- Big Head Todd and the Monsters
- Colin Hay of Men at Work
- Switchfoot
- Dishwalla
- The Calling
- Jason Mraz
- Unwritten Law
- Gin Blossoms
- Relient K
- Alien Ant Farm
- Gilby Clarke
- Pete Best
- Kyle Cook
- A.J. Croce
- Dick Dale
- Dada
- Leah Andreone
- Deep Blue Something
- superdrag
- Gene Loves Jezebel
- Pato Banton
- Roger Clinton
- Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers
- Common Sense
- Comedian, “Carrot Top”
- Teddy Geiger
