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PrintI am Tulsa - Steve Liddell
Local musician and a Tulsa young professional.
His music includes a little bit of everything — reggae, jazz, rock, folk and a mix of African and Latin rhythms. He writes his own songs and taught himself how to play the guitar while in college. In the last five years of performing his music, Steve Liddell has traveled the world, performing on the islands of Hawaii, in Europe, Brazil, New York and in the region surrounding Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma native brings his own brand of music, blending his rock and soul influences with culturally inspired tunes adapted from his visits to other countries.
“I will always play music,” says Liddell, who received the Spot Music Award for Best Singer-Songwriter in 2006.
Growing up, Liddell says his mother always had music playing during cleaning time. And in church, he enjoyed singing solos with his choir. Although he says no one else in his family is particularly musically inclined, Liddell has always been exposed to music since he grew up with it at church and listening to it home.
While Liddell is most often seen performing solo with an acoustic guitar, he also occasionally performs with a rhythm section. He says he had heard complaints from friends who were vocally talented but struggled to find guitar players who could regularly attend rehearsals. So Liddell decided to learn guitar for himself.
“I never wanted that to be me,” says Liddell of his friends’ experiences. Now, although he sounds like a pro, Liddell says he is still learning.
When not performing, Liddell has another musical interest — teaching members of middle school and high school bands with Tulsa Public Schools. He performs his own music for them, but he also shares advice to inspire the students, who are mostly 12 years old, to succeed.
“These are really talented kids,” Liddell says. “I tell them, ‘You can do whatever you want in life, and don’t let anybody else stop you or tell you that you can’t do something just because they can’t.’”
When Liddell is not visiting with the students, he is often traveling. He spends most his time in Tulsa and Brooklyn, N.Y., and performs at different music venues in both cities.
His reputation for playing good music and friendships with members involved in Tulsa’s Young Professionals (TYPros) encouraged Liddell to get active with the organization a year ago when he was asked to perform at an open house TYPros function.
“It was a good time; everyone in that group is very enthusiastic,” he says. “We’re all about Tulsa, we’re on the same page and everybody seems to be working toward the end goal: to make Tulsa a better place.”
Liddell says he has enjoyed networking with members and visiting his friends’ shows as part of the group. He is also impressed that TYPros members are dedicated to making a difference in Tulsa and remaining active in the community.
“TYPros is really helping move Tulsa forward, and it will attract more people to stay,” he says.
I am dedicated to Tulsa because Tulsa has been good to me as an artist. The people here are very receptive and supportive of the arts community as a whole. Tulsa boasts one of the most talented and creative music scenes, which I am proud to be recognized and a part of.
I am a member of Tulsa’s Young Professionals because TYPros is a great place for likeminded, forward-thinking individuals to be a part of a group dedicated to making Tulsa an exciting destination for future young professionals, as well as a continued home for our local talent.
I am passionate about my music and the ability to use my talents to help others. I have a musical partnership with various community organizations and Tulsa Public Schools. I am able to bring my guitar to classrooms and use it as a way to connect with the students. I listen to any issues they might be having and I share with them about my global travels and experiences. It’s designed to get them to think about their futures and to dream bigger than their present situations.
I am looking forward to more retail, restaurants and urban dwellings downtown, as well as in the untapped north Tulsa markets. The BOK Center and the new ONEOK baseball (stadium) have gotten the ball rolling.
I am proudest of my success as a full-time musician.
I am an asset to Tulsa because my music allows me to make travels across this great country and overseas. I always represent T-Town to the fullest and let everyone know how awesome it is to live here. I heart Tulsa!
