The band Café Authors performing at Vivian McPeak's 50th Birthday Party, King Cat Theater, Seattle, Washington. Left to right: Steve Fossen (bass), Mike Curley (rhythm guitar), Fred Holzman (drums), Randy Hansen (lead), unidentified videographer. Fossen and Curley are the core members of the group.

Steve Fossen is an American bassist and a founding member of the band Heart.[1][2][3][4]

Early life

Fossen was born in Seattle, Washington, son of Fern and Norman Fossen. His mother was a nurse and his father served during World War II in the Signal Corps and then was a Merchant Marine stationed in Japan.[5] He attended Inglemoor High School, during which he began working as a musician in the Kenmore and Bothell area of Washington with his friend Roger Fisher. Fisher's older brother Mike was their manager and arranged for gigs and negotiated for gainful compensation.[6]

Career

Fossen began playing bass professionally in 1965.[7] In 1967, he and schoolmate Roger Fisher started the band that would become Heart. Ann Wilson joined the group in 1971 followed by her sister Nancy two years later.[6] After completing the band’s sixth album Private Audition in 1982, Fossen and Michael DeRosier left the group due to mismanagement and "creative differences".[5] Fossen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 18, 2013 as a member of Heart.[6][8]

Fossen and his current group Heart By Heart, with former Heart drummer Michael DeRosier continue to perform the songs that made the members of Heart famous.[6][7] He has also been a member of Café Authors.[9]

References

  1. ^ The Virgin Encyclopedia of 70s Music (2002), p. 172 ("Steven Fossen (b. 15 November 1949)
  2. ^ The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (2007) ("bass player Steve Fossen (b. 15 November 1949)")
  3. ^ Bartholomew, Penny Nelson (15 November 2001). Today In Music: A look back at pop music, UPI ("(Nov 15) Today's birthdays include ... former Heart bassist Steve Fossen in 1949 (age 52)"
  4. ^ (12 August 2022). A backstage pass to the creation of Heart, its evolution and the revival of its classic hits, Seattle Times ("Born in November 1949")
  5. ^ a b "A backstage pass to the creation of Heart, its evolution and the revival of its classic hits". Seattle Times. August 12, 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  6. ^ a b c d Phelps, Matt (March 19, 2013). "Heart's Roger Fisher and Steve Fossen to become official Rock Gods". Bothell-Kenmore Reporter. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  7. ^ a b Daly, Andrew (2021-06-09). "An Interview with Steve Fossen of Heart". vwmusicrocks.com. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
  8. ^ "Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame 2013: Induction Ceremony Photos". Billboard. 2013-04-19.
  9. ^ "4 & 20". Spotify. 2008-01-01. Retrieved 2022-11-18.

External links

Heart
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – Class of 2013
Authority control databases
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