My name is Steve Violetti, aka “VO” and I’m one of thousands of you who love to play and write original songs. All of us songwriting hopefuls have dreamed the same dream and have a story to tell similar to the one I’m writing here for Vision 4 Music. I was asked to document it anyway as a favor, so don’t hesitate to send V4M your experience as a musician or songwriter trying to get your song heard and hopefully published.

My story begins with the acquisition of my very first guitar. I actually borrowed – not purchased - an old Kay solid body guitar from a friend so that I could learn how to play some of the music I was really into. We jammed in the back of a Ford van for hours in our own mentally induced psychedelic haze and I believe this was the very first time we all got that “feeling” from the music we were creating. We were addicted to the “high” of playing music from that point forward.

Next came the local bar scene where we played for practically nothing because our bar tab exceeded our pay. You know what I’m talking about! Even with borrowed equipment, we had a knack for finding some place to set up and jam. Over the next couple of years, as our musical ability grew, we started a band named “Shade Tree” around 1976. Our friends followed us through bar gigs and free concerts or wherever someone would let us set up our equipment and play. Staying with the same free-form format like “The Dead” and the Allman Brothers, we added some players who contributed a lot to our repertoire. There was a small venue named “The Hobo Club” that was owned by a close and dear friend of mine. With his support, we had a standing gig about every two weeks and the crowds grew. There were many nights that there were so many people in the bar, they had to lock the door until there was more room. Unfortunately, Shade Tree fell apart with “girlfriend problems.” Why is it that musicians’ relationships are many times the cause of bands breaking up? True, bands play mostly on weekends which are prime date nights, so any significant other has to be supportive and not jealous of the time it takes to be a band member. Playing in bars until the wee hours of the morning goes with the territory and can also cause rifts. Believe me, I’ve seen it all!

The old adage held true for me, though. The door closed on Shade Tree and another door opened that led me to a very talented group of songwriters and musicians, Newport Exit, aptly named for the piece of I-95 ramp leading to our rehearsal location in Newport, Delaware. Newport Exit was unique! We were an “all original music” band. The members were songwriters and this is when I began composing songs. We were fortunate to be in high demand locally and opened for several large acts that came to the area. We had the normal band trials and tribulations and after six years of success, we sadly chose to dissolve our group. Luckily, I have remained close to several fellow band members through the years.

After Newport Exit, I continued to play with musicians like Bobby Griffen, who was a blues harmonica player in Muddy Waters’ entourage. A few of the Newport Exit players and I formed a new band named the Topeka Road Band and played covers as well as original songs. That’s when I bought my first 8-track Tascam recorder. The only previous recording equipment experience I had up to this point was plugging mics into a cassette deck. Topeka Road Band recorded some of the originals we were out playing .Rick Benson, lead singer and sax player from Newport Exit, wrote most of the songs. Once again, a shortage of venues to play in caused the band to fade away.

As fate would have it, in 2002 I was laid off from the railroad after 25 years of service in. This was a blessing in disguise because I reconnected with Jim Malatesta, drummer and songwriter, from Newport Exit. We began writing songs and Jim’s dream of Vision 4 Music was taking shape. On a 32-8 Mackie board and 24-track Alesis digital recorder, Jim and I began to write and record. Thus, the first rough CD was completed and named Saints or Sinners. These songs were never meant to be a pristine recording, but we felt the songs had a certain feeling. Most of the songs from that CD are on this website, so check them out. While Jim and I were enjoying our renewed energy for songwriting and recording, the railroad decided they couldn’t do without me and called me back to work in 2004. I figured that after 25 years of service, I should complete my final years to be vested for pension. I’m in my last year and then I can pick up where I left off and spend more time songwriting.

Jim and I continue to collaborate on songs and together, with our friends, we write new songs and plan to expand our music and writing in the near future. I have met some wonderful people through Jim and Vision 4 Music. He’s made some amazing contacts over the short time V4M has been up and running. I enjoy listening to upcoming, young, talented musicians on this site. Vision 4 Music helps give them the edge by having the worldwide internet community hear their music.

I want to hear about you and your music. I’ll try to post something new here soon about guitars or music or maybe even a good wine I’ve enjoyed recently. Please feel free to join the Vision 4 Music community. It’s free! Tell me what you think of our songs and send us some music or pictures to post on the site.

Peace!

Stephen “VO” Violetti