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Steve Berlin Biography

steve-berlin
  • Born: in Philadelphia, PA
  • Member of: The Blasters
  • Genre: Rock & Alternative

A longtime mainstay of the Los Angeles music scene, saxophonist Steve Berlin enjoyed perhaps his greatest prominence as a member of Los Lobos, although he was also a sought-after producer and session player. Born September 14, 1955 in Philadephia, he first surfaced with the Blasters, and offically joined Los Lobos in 1984 after co-producing their 1983 EP ...And a Time to Dance with T-Bone Burnett. Berlin also continued playing on sessions for a variety of Southern California bands, including the Beat Farmers, Translator and the Flesh Eaters. In 1986, he appeared on Paul Simon's landmark Graceland, and a year later Los Lobos enjoyed their commercial breakthrough with the soundtrack to the film La Bamba. Concurrently, Berlin's reputation as a producer continued to grow, and he helmed sessions for acts ranging from Faith No More to Dave Alvin to the Tail Gators. In the years to follow, he remained an alternative rock fixture, forging on with Los Lobos and working as a freelancer with the likes of the Replacements, John Lee Hooker, Leo Kottke and Sheryl Crow. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

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