Doug Stegmeyer
Doug Stegmeyer | |
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![]() Doug Stegmeyer in 1989 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Douglas Alan Stegmeyer |
Born | Flushing, Queens New York City, New York U.S. | December 23, 1951
Origin | New York City |
Died | August 25, 1995 Smithtown, New York | (aged 43)
Genres | Rock, pop |
Occupation(s) | Musician, producer |
Instrument(s) | Bass, Vocals |
Years active | 1966–1995 |
Labels | Columbia |
Douglas Alan Stegmeyer (December 23, 1951 – August 25, 1995) was an American musician who was best known as the bassist and back-up vocalist for Billy Joel. Stegmeyer also performed as bassist for Debbie Gibson and Hall & Oates.
Biography
Stegmeyer was born on December 23, 1951, in Flushing, Queens, New York City, New York. In high school, he met Russell Javors, who at age 15 was performing songs with childhood friend Liberty DeVitto. Along with Howard Emerson, the boys formed the band Topper, which performed songs by Javors and attracted Billy Joel's attention. Joel hired Stegmeyer to play bass in his backing band on the Streetlife Serenade tour. At Stegmeyer's recommendation a year and a half later, Emerson,[1] Javors, and DeVitto joined Joel in the studio for his Turnstiles album and for the accompanying tour. Stegmeyer became a core member of Billy Joel's band, playing bass on Joel's studio albums from Turnstiles through The Bridge and on the live albums Songs in the Attic and КОНЦЕРТ. Stegmeyer was dubbed "The Sergeant Of The Billy Joel Band."[2]
Stegmeyer (and Javors) left the band in 1989; according to DeVitto, he was forced out. Stegmeyer subsequently maintained a busy schedule recording and producing.
On August 25, 1995, Stegmeyer died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his Smithtown, New York, home.[3][4] In an interview with 30DaysOut, DeVitto said, "I can understand why Doug ended his life. It’s hard to see someone else playing your parts, especially when it wasn’t your decision to leave the band. You give your heart and soul to the music, and then someone says 'Hey, I don’t need you anymore, but I’m keeping everything that you did'.”
Legacy
On October 23, 2014, Stegmeyer was inducted, posthumously, into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, along with his Topper and Joel bandmates Richie Cannata, DeVitto, and Javors. The four were inducted primarily for their work with Joel.[5]
See also
Credits
All albums listed are Billy Joel releases.
- 1976 Turnstiles
- 1977 The Stranger
- 1978 52nd Street
- 1980 Glass Houses
- 1981 Songs in the Attic
- 1982 The Nylon Curtain
- 1983 An Innocent Man
- 1985 Greatest Hits Volume I & II
- 1986 The Bridge
- 1987 КОНЦЕРТ
External links
- https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/DougStegmeyer?fref=ts (Official Facebook Page dedicated to Doug Stegmeyer)
- Memorial page for Stegmeyer
References
- ^ piano-man.de - Archiv: "...but hey, you have to start somewhere, right?" (interview with Howie Emerson) @piano-man.de Archived March 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 8-22-2013.
- ^ Long Island Music Hall of Fame Archived May 30, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Ex-band Leader For Billy Joel Found Dead". Spokesman-Review. 27 August 1995. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
- ^ Baltimore Sun Obit
- ^ Gamboa, Glenn (October 23, 2014). "Billy Joel Band set to join Piano Man in Long Island Music Hall of Fame". New York Newsday. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
- American session musicians
- 1951 births
- 1995 deaths
- People from Long Island
- American rock bass guitarists
- American male bass guitarists
- Record producers from New York (state)
- People from Flushing, Queens
- Singers who committed suicide
- Suicides by firearm in New York (state)
- 20th-century American singers
- American male singers
- American rock singers
- Musicians from Queens, New York
- Male suicides
- Guitarists from New York City
- American male guitarists
- 20th-century American guitarists
- 20th-century bass guitarists
- Rock musicians who committed suicide
- 20th-century male singers
- American bass guitarist stubs