Music
Press
"No doubt about it, a future Grammy awaits The Steve Riley Band."
"Dramatic, introspective lyrics and mesmerizing sounds" - Lighthouse Publishing
"The lyrics create images in the listeners head. Well done."
"Anyone who loves the sensitivity of folk and the bite of 70's rock will understand the delicate swirls that transmit from this music." - Jeff Leisawitz
"Lets Make It Clear is a pleasant, acoustic folk song capably performed and produced".
"The Storm Will Be Silent is a strong, blues rock track. Excellent guitar playing throughout". - Dale Kawashima
Discography
“Miles From Nowhere” is the band’s first album, however, they are presently recording their second. A four-song promo was released to radio stations for airplay in early May, 2007. The "Riley-Wyman Factor" is scheduled for release around Christmas, 2008. Again, the finished product will contain a variety of genre’s and styles.
The new album/CD consists of 9 songs. It includes 6 new songs, 1 cover song (of course: Cat Stevens) and 2 songs from the first album, re-recorded and remixed, with a little "Factor Flair". The title of this album is appropriately named. Wyman Harrell is, in my opinion, one of the best guitarist playing today. Without the "Wyman", the "Riley" would be still looking for the "right" musician to come along. Wyman Harrell is certainly that individual. He brings his wizardry and musical genius to every song and makes it "shine". This album is very meaningful to singer-songwriter Steve Riley because it contains a song, entitled "After Sage", which was written about his two year old, first and only, granddaughter. After Sage is also included on the "four-song promo."
The band has experienced several successful Radio Air play promotions with their first album "Miles From Nowhere" The band reached number #1 on the indie charts during that time. Hopefully, the new EP (four-song promo) will create that "aire of anticipation" for the release of the full CD.
The band has also received many positive reviews from top professional music reviewers such as Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck and Nicky Rossiter from Rambles Cultural Arts Magazine.. They have also appeared in a full page ad for Skope Music Magazine and will appear in the September, October and November issues of Global Rhythm Magazine. Also, songs have been included in the "Best New Bands - 2006" and Best New Bands - Volume 2 - 2007, published and produced by Apache Rose Publishing. Another song from the soon to be released album has been included in the recently released "Acoustic Rainbow" compilation CD.
Photos
Bio
A rather traumatic event became the catalyst for what would become an event with a positive outcome. After the death of his father, while at the funeral, Steve Riley came in contact with someone he had not seen for many years. Wyman Harrell, the band’s lead guitarist, is a cousin of Steve Riley. It had been 10 years since they had any contact but both of them had been into the music scene for quite sometime. After some serious discussion, they decided to record an album of Steve’s songs. “Riley...Miles From Nowhere” is the result of that encounter.
Steve Riley has served in Viet-Nam, played semi-pro baseball, earned a BS in Psychology, a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology and is only a dissertation away from a Ph.D in Clinical Psychology. He is married and has two children. (two songs on the album are written about them ...”Lady of Gold” and “Born on a Holiday”) He has been a High School Counselor in Sacramento for 25 years and a College Professor for 21 years. Through all of this he never stopped doing the one thing that he loves most, which is Songwriting. Therefore, the death of his father resulted in this album becoming reality.
One of Steve’s primary influences was Cat Stevens. Others include Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Richie Havens, Eagles and Joe Cocker.
Steve's songs have been nominated for several songwriting contests and compilation CD's. Some of the results include being named Semi-Finalist in the UK Song of the Year contest and Honorable Mentions in both the American Song Contest and the Billboard World Song Contest. His songs have also been included in the Bullseye Records of Canada's "Unsigned, Sealed and Delivered - V2" Compilation CD entitled "A New Breed" In addition, the group has been represented on the recently released "Best New Bands - Volume 2", produced by Apache Rose Publishing, as well as, volume 29 of the "Acoustic Rainbow" radio sampler, which was released to radio stations worldwide in August, 2007. The group has also been reviewed in Global Rhythm Magazine, which has reviewed recording stars and up and coming musicians from 15 different countries. "After Sage", one of the songs from the soon to be released new album, was included in their Compilation CD.
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