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"STEVE WIGGINS CAN MAKE A PIANO CRY, THE BLUES." - Bill Buskell
Steve won the award for the best original lyrics on the 2006 Legendary Rythym & Blues Cruise. - Blues Cruise
For a man who has never had a formal piano lesson, Steven Alan Wiggins is becoming quite the entertainer.
“He plays music people like,” said Mike Ross, Wiggins’ good friend and manager. “People feel good after they’ve listened to Steve’s music.”
Wiggins feels pretty good about his latest project, one that combines his love for music with a strong desire for civic duty. This week, the Panama City resident released his second CD — Spirit of the Momsen — an 11-track effort tied to the upcoming commissioning of the Momsen.
Momsen, the Navy’s newest Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer, will become the USS Momsen in a ceremony at Port Panama City on Saturday.
“There’s a sense of pride when you’re doing something for the military,” said Wiggins. “I’ve always been supportive of our armed services and anything I can do to give them moral support I’ll do.”
Wiggins is donating 50 percent of the album’s profits to the Momsen’s Welfare/Morale/Recreation fund.
“We’re hoping to donate between $8,000 to $12,000 to the fund,” Ross said.
In a departure from his first album — 2003’s Serenity By The Sea — Wiggins has added input from local musicians Jim Ward (guitar), Neal Gray (bass) and J.J. Crews (drums).
Overall, the feel is much stronger than the soft sounds of Serenity By The Sea.
“We’ve kicked it up a notch,” said Wiggins. “There’s a few new twists on some of the songs.”
The change from massage-mood melodies to high-energy numbers reflects Wiggins’ range as a musician, said Ross.
“His work is gaining more dimension all the time,” said Ross. “Nobody works harder.”
Wiggins, 45, has been playing the keyboards for more than 30 years without any structured training, but he only recently decided to chart a professional course in music.
“I write new songs all the time,” Wiggins said. “I like all kinds of music, but I want to do something blues or boogie for my next CD.”
- Panama City News Herald; By John McDonald
Discography
Serenity By The Sea, Spirit of the Momsen,Mesa Verde Moments. I have had several original tunes used for TV ads, commercials, etc.
Photos
Bio
A native of Panama City, Florida, Steve has been a music lover all of his life. His passion began when he was a young boy watching his father play boogie-woogie on an old upright piano. His mother, as well as his grandmother also inspired his playing.
Steve's own musical career began by teaching himself to play the piano and joining the school band playing the trumpet. At the age of sixteen, Steve joined the touring band "Foolstar" and he began living out his musical ambition. After the band dissolved, Steve moved back to Panama City and played with several local bands and performed in many successful solo engagements. Steve released his first solo CD, "Serenity by the Sea," in Novemeber 2003, followed by "Spirit of the Momsen" in August 2004. Just released "Mesa Verde Moments" Dec. 2007
In the winter of 2005 Steve formed the Steve Wiggins Blues Band.
Steve will soon be in the studio recording his debut BLUES CD.
We are a piano/hammond lead instrument based blues band, with original songs written by Steve.
Copy material consists of John Lee Hooker, SRV, Howlin Wolf, T Bone Walker, among others.
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