Steve Wade (singer)

Steve Wade
Birth nameStephen Wade
BornLiverpool, England
GenresPop
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
LabelsSwade
Formerly of
Websitestevewade.com

Stephen Wade is an English-born Australian-based singer, songwriter and musician. He won the Australian Songwriter of the Year in 1989 and 1990. Wade was a member of the Graham Goble Encounter (1993–95), which recorded two albums and toured Germany. During 1994 he provided guitar and vocals for another group, Tempted, on their self-titled album. From 1996, for four years, Wade was a lead vocalist for the soft rock group, Little River Band. In 2001 he issued his debut self-titled album and during 2006 he was a member of the trio Pealing Wade & Young, with Mick Pealing (ex-Stars) and Gary Young (from Scarecrow), which issued an eponymous album. In April 2013 he auditioned for series two of The Voice, but was not selected.

Biography

Steve Wade was born in Liverpool, England in the early 1960s and moved to Australia at a young age.[1] He developed an interest in music and began performing at venues around Melbourne.[1] He impressed jingle writer Mike Brady who employed him as a session singer.[1][2] Wade was a member of various groups including Dolphin Street and Big Push.[3][4]

In 1993 Wade was recruited by ex-Little River Band singer-guitarist, Graham Goble to front his new band, the Graham Goble Encounter.[5] Wade sang lead vocals on their first album, Nautilus (1993), which was produced by Goble.[4][5][6] The band toured Germany to promote that album.[7] One of its tracks, "I've Been Broken", was co-written by Wade and Goble.[8] Wade also sang on their second album, Stop (1996).[9] In between the two albums, Wade on lead vocals and guitar formed a short-lived trio, Tempted, in 1994, alongside George Servanis on drums, percussion and backing vocals, and Anthony Tosti-Guerra on keyboarding, programming and backing vocals.[4] They issued a self-titled album in that year produced by the band members and then they disbanded.[4]

Wade joined Little River Band as lead singer in 1996, replacing Glenn Shorrock.[3][4][10] During the next four years he appeared in more than 500 performances with the band.[2] He was replaced, in turn, by Greg Hind in early 2000.[3][4] Wade has been a member of ten different bands during his career.[11] He has won three awards from the Australian Songwriters Association: Songwriter of the Year in 1989 and 1990[12] and Best Folk/World Song for "Lonely Balladeer" in 2001.[13]

He has written, recorded or arranged jingles and theme songs for radio and television. He arranged the 2002 version of the theme for TV soap opera, Neighbours, which was sung by Janine Maunder.[14][15] He was a member of Pealing Wade & Young alongside Mick Pealing (ex-Stars) on vocals and guitar, and Gary Young (from Scarecrow) on vocals, guitar and harmonica.[16] They issued a self-titled album in that year which was recorded, mixed and mastered by Tosti-Guerra.[16]

In 2008 Wade provided guitar and vocals as a member of the in-house band for the History of Rock display at the Arts Centre aimed at school students from years 4 to 12.[17] During 2009 he performed at the Crown Casino.[18]

In April 2013 Wade auditioned for a place on TV talent quest, The Voice.[19] He sang Don Henley's "The Boys of Summer" although his powerful voice was not evident and he was not selected by any of the four judges.[19] Elle Halliwell of The Daily Telegraph felt "[it was] downright embarrassing to watch Wade, whose songwriting talent has earned him two Australian Songwriters Association Songwriter of the Year awards, being given tips from Goodrem on how to improve his performances... There should be a point at which a contestant is too successful to audition for The Voice. To me, that point is when they have more experience than the show's coaches."[20]

Discography

Solo
  • Steve Wade (2001)[21]
The Graham Goble Encounter
  • Nautilus (1993) [22]
    • The New Nautilus (1999) [23]
  • Stop (1996) [24]
Tempted
Pealing Wade & Young
  • Pealing Wade & Young (2006)[26]

Videography

References

  1. ^ a b c Burgess, Dennis; Gilmour, Alan; Murphy, Marie (May 2013). "ASA History: Steve Wade, the First Winner of The Rudy Brandsma Award in 1985" (PDF). The Australian Songwriter. No. 95. Australian Songwriters Association. pp. 7–11. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 March 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b "History/Biography". stevewade.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2009. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
  3. ^ a b c McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Little River Band'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 15 June 2004. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Steve Wade related entries at Australian Rock Database:
    • Little River Band (1996–2000): Holmgren, Magnus; Reboulet, Scott; Warnqvist, Stefan; Birtles, Beeb; Sciuto, Tony. "Little River Band". hem2.passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
    • Graeham Goble/Graham Goble (1993–1996): Holmgren, Magnus; Reboulet, Scott; Warnqvist, Stefan; McCarthy, Ken. "Graham Goble". hem2.passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
    • Tempted (1994): Holmgren, Magnus; Warnqvist, Stefan. "Tempted". hem2.passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  5. ^ a b Nautilus (liner notes). The Graham Goble Experience (performer). Castle Communications. 1993. CSC 7100.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ "Nautilus". graehamgoble.com. Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  7. ^ "Live Shows – The Graham Goble Encounter". graehamgoble.com. Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  8. ^ "'I've Been Broken' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2017. Note: User may have to click "Search again" and provide details at "Enter a title:" e.g. I've Been Broken
  9. ^ "Stop". graehamgoble.com. Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  10. ^ "Band History". Little River Band. Archived from the original on 30 June 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  11. ^ "Bands". stevewade.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2009. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
  12. ^ "'Some People Never Learn' :: Steve Wade". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 9 April 2008. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  13. ^ "2001 ASA Awards Results". asai.org.au. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  14. ^ Cook, Rhys. "You've Changed Your Tune!". Neighbours: The Perfect Blend. Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  15. ^ "Works". stevewade.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  16. ^ a b "Pealing, Wade & Young CD (2006)". Mick Pealing Official Website. Archived from the original on 21 August 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  17. ^ Migdalek, Jack. "History of Rock" (PDF). the Arts Centre. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 October 2008. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  18. ^ "Entertainment News". entertainmentdepot.com.au. 24 August 2009. Archived from the original on 19 September 2009. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
  19. ^ a b Vincent, Peter (16 April 2013). "The Voice of hard knocks". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 17 April 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  20. ^ Halliwell, Elle (24 April 2013). "Red faces at The Voice as recycled talent fails to make grade". Daily Telegraph. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 7 December 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  21. ^ "Steve Wade". lrb.net. 2001. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
  22. ^ "Nautilus". lrb.net. 1993. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
  23. ^ "The New Nautilus". lrb.net. 1999. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
  24. ^ "Stop". lrb.net. 1995. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
  25. ^ "Tempted". lrb.net. 1994. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
  26. ^ "Pealing Wade & Young". mickpealing.com.au. 2006. Archived from the original on 1 August 2008. Retrieved 6 September 2009.