Listening to songs on the radio was another source of inspiration for his growing interest in country music. The Everly Brothers, Brenda Lee, Jim Reeves, Johnny Tillotson, Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette, Roy Orbison, were always on the radio. The song that would change his life was a country song without a single lyric. That song was Floyd Cramer's "The Last Date" the greatest country piano instrumental ever recorded. This song was a cross over hit and played on pop and country radio. After hearing this song, Steve decided it was the piano he wanted to play. It remains today one of his favorite county songs.
If Floyd Cramer is the reason Steve plays piano then John Denver is the artist responsible for him becoming a song writer. He attended a dozen of John Denver's live shows and bought every John Denver songbook published. It was listening to these wonderful lyrics and melodies that first influenced Steve to try to write songs that could also touch people and make a difference in someone's life. In 2003, a letter and demo to ASCAP's Connie Bradley asking for advice got him a slot in Chad Green's workshop. Steve spent eight Monday Nights in this ASCAP workshop with songwriter Bonnie Baker. He began traveling to Nashville for more writing workshops and song symposiums to continue in his quest for a staff writers job.
Stephen's friendship with Rhode Island songwriting
legend Jimmie Crane helped tremendously.
Jimmie's stories about the "business" and of his writing a
great catalog of songs had stephen focused on writing that one great song that can change a songwriters life.
Jimmie's tips and idea's about song structure
and melody were always right on target and used often
by Steve when ideas for songs come along.
Jimmies hits are classics "Everyday of my Life",Bobby Vinton
"If I Give My Heart To You" Doris Day,Nat King Cole.
and Jimmie's #1 hit "Hurt" TimiYuro, Elvis Presley and
then Juice Newton took the song all the way to top of the
country charts.
In 2003 Steve's amusing Christmas Song "Santa's Gonna Come Sometime Tonight" made the finals and voted Honorable Mention at Nashville Song Search. In 2005 his song "I Am Because Of You" was voted #1 country song for April in the VH-1 Song Of The Year Contest. In 2006 his song "I'm Not Laughing Anymore" was voted a top five song for April at the Songwriter Universe. In several major song writing contest his songs have been voted into the finals. three of these can be heard on The Radio Indy Network.
In February,2007, Billboard World Songwriting Contest named
"When He Comes Home To Her" the #1 country song for 2006.
The song was cowritten with Lisa Firestone and Charles Harn.
Everyone who has heard this song about a soldier longing to
return home from war say it is nothing short of brilliant.
a clip of this song can be heard on Steve's web site.
www.stevedesjardins.com
CD's are available for sale on the web site and at
www.cdbaby.com