Steve Mann

Dear Friends and Mann Fanns:

This is a sad notification that Steven David Mann passed away on Sept. 9, 2009 at a nursing home in San Pablo, California. He had suffered serious brain damage from a series of falls after a surgery in 2008, and declined steadily over the next year. He was beloved and admired both as a gentle soul and as a world class musician.

We were hoping Steve would be around to see the reissue on CD of his album “Straight Life,” but this was not to be. It will come out in October.

Comments can be sent on Steve’s face book page, Steve Mann Gtr
and more information about him is available on his web site, stevemanngtr.com.

Thank you for your friendship and support of Steve during his time in this world. We hope he enjoyed the memorial party on Sept. 20th at Bella Roma Music from wherever he is now. He will be greatly missed.

A lengthy tribute/obituary, by Ross Altman, is posted here.

Janet Smith
Bella Roma Music

STEVE MANN STRAIGHT LIFE (BRM CD-112) Steve Mann’s only studio recorded album from 1967 is now on CD. Shipment due the first week of Nov., 2009. All new sixteen page booklet included with info about tape recovery, restoration, and photos of participants in the original recording session, plus two bonus tracks and comments. Available in the store now. Also see an excellent review of Straight Life by Ross Altman here.
STEVE MANN LIVE AT THE ASH GROVE (BRM CD-111) the whole thing now on Compact disk! You've been trying to get your old album back from your ex-girlfriend, who wouldn't part with it.You've seen it for sale on EBay for $400. YOU WERE THERE the night he recorded this incredible performance at the Ash Grove Music Club in Los Angeles in 1967, by gum! Well Weep no more! you can have it in living digital color with all the old graphics and liner notes plus a beautiful reminiscence about Steve Mann by the original producer, Rick Smith. OBOY! Go to the STORE. Get several and surprise your buddies. Get even with your ex... (Maybe she's already got two copies? Hurry!)

STEVE MANN ALIVE AND PICKIN' (BRM CD-110) New listeners will be amazed to hear Steve for the first time. This is a long-awaited collection of tracks, some never before released, some issued previously without live performance comments, some of Janis Joplin singing in a private rehearsal session with Steve. If you like good blues guitar, terrific vocals, 12 string guitar pyrotechnics, and much more, listen to samples from "STEVE MANN: Alive and Pickin' " album on the SONGS page.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT STEVE To learn more about Steve and where he is today, check out the ABOUT link at the top of the page! Then cruise over to the photo gallery to view pictures from Steve's life. Just click on PHOTOS above. The Steve Mann story is told in more detail in the booklet enclosed in his CD. His is an amazing account of talent, tragedy, and survival, on many levels.
STORIES ABOUT STEVE'S SONGS on "Alive and Pickin" To find out about Steve's songs and read the stories behind them, go to the SONGS link at the top of the page! More info coming in the future about the rest of the titles on his CD.
ABOUT BLUES LYRICS IN THESE SONGS For answers to questions about some of the blues terminology in these songs, try the BLUES FAQ page. Blues terms in "Winin' Boy Blues," the wonderful singing of Janis Joplin, a train called "Katy," and other information about blues is discussed here.
COMMENTS FROM FRIENDS Read comments from Steve's friends and admirers all over the world. Click on the CONTACT link above. Any photographs of Steve are especially welcome, along with anecdotes and other information. Posting is at our discretion. Personal answers will not be practical for all letters, but FAQ's may have answers posted.