//Kids Music
//Sync MUSIC
//Reverend

MR. STEVE bio

Mr. Steve, Nashville’s premier kids’ performer, can be described as nothing less than a force of joy. For almost 20 years, Mr. Steve has written, recorded, and performed children’s music with high production value and musicality not typically found in the genre. Releasing two albums with producer Ian Fitchuk (Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town) that feature artists such as The Wood Brothers, Gabe Dixon, Mikky Ekko, Cadillac 3, and more, Mr. Steve has become a Nashville classic entertaining kids and parents alike with his catchy genre-bending songwriting, humor, and socially conscious messaging. It is both his talent and ability to resonate with all age groups that has garnered him many accolades throughout his career, including NPR’s Artist of the Day with “Responsibility Song,” and the opportunity to perform for children all over Nashville and beyond. Since moving to Music City from his home of Conway, Arkansas, Mr. Steve has performed over 350 schools, birthday parties, libraries, festivals, events, and concerts in Nashville including five times at Live on the Green, four times at Third Man Records, where he once opened for Jack White, and the Pilgrimage Festival.

Through his many creative and educational endeavors, Mr. Steve has become a musical staple and role model in the Nashville community. A first-generation Asian American, Mr. Steve has shared his positivity and talent with children in many ways, mastering both the small stage, such as the many classes he’s lead as a preschool music teacher since 2013, and the very large, as the creator and host of the morning drive-time kids’ radio show “The Early Birds with Mr. Steve” at Lightning 100, which ran from 2015 to 2019. 

From the professional success and personal connections Mr. Steve has grown over the years, he has had the opportunity to give back in many ways as well. Serving as a five-year volunteer for Musicians on Call, a program that delivers the healing power of music into hospital rooms all over Nashville, Mr. Steve has also contributed a song to the Read to Be Ready program in 2016, sponsored by the Governor and First Lady of Tennessee. This past year he has finished projects with Arkansas Department of Education, AR PBS and Tik Tok.

With two records under his belt, Mr. Steve isn’t finished yet. He’s currently wrapping production on a television pilot featuring his music, finishing up a third album of original songs for release in the fall, and pursuing opportunities to write and record commercial sync songs. Co-writing  “You’ve Got that Smile” with Daniel Ellsworth for a Holiday Inn campaign in 2017, Mr. Steve has the ability and experience to craft commercial sync songs that parallel the straightforward messaging and catchiness of the kids’ songs he’s written and performed for two decades.

 
Mr. Steve, you’re the Brené Brown of kids music.
— Sarah Asher, 34

Pictures

 

Third Man Records

Opening for Jack White at the Blue Room

I was paid in toys for this show. Anyone need 10lbs of Play-Doh?

Live on the Green

What up Erin Rae!

If all the kids here decided to rebel there would be nothing we could do.

“And that is called Bitcoin.”

Preschool teaching the future.

Extra Mr. Steve Facts

  • Songs placed in the Spotify Kid Playlists: Sing Along and Kindie

  • Part of the production team called GO-B-KIDS. Recording high quality, traditional (royalty free) kid songs. The team is made up of Ben Simonetti (Zac Brown Band), Peter Groenwald (Concord Music) and Court Clement (Johnny Lang)

  • “Arkansas Razorback Hog Call” song and video featured on ESPN, which went viral in the Arkansas Razorback community

  • The Early Birds with Mr. Steve radio show aired on Lightning 100 and was produced and created by Mr. Steve. The show played thousands of calls from kids and featured over 60 musical guests such as Kacey Musgraves, The Wood Brothers, a duet with Margo Price, Emily Kenney, Sinbad, Bela Fleck, Abigail Washburn, Daniel Ellsworth, Becca Mancari, Erin Rae and Devon Gillfillian

  • Attended a 10 day silent mediation retreat in 2018

  • Owns an Air Fryer, Herman Miller Chair and 2nd generation AirPods

  • Dubbed the “most famous kids Korean singer in Tennessee” by KoreAm Journal (Korean American Journal)

Kids music

 
 
Ruby says HI! And thinks “We Are Here For You” is MORE amazing than Beyoncé!
— Ruby, 8 years old
Can I at least sing background vocals on “Trees are the Hair of the Earth”?
— Aretha Franklin, 62
I smell throw up and something yummy. Can we hear that “Don’t Text and Drive” song again?
— Silas, 3.5 years old
Mr. Steve, “Cover That Cough” kicked my brain.
— Juniper, 4 years old
Can I pay you to play bass on your “Pizza Party” song?
— Paul McCartney, 45
Songs in the Key of Life? HA! I’d throw my whole catalog away for Mr. Steve’s new record.
— Stevie Wonder, 71
 
 
 

VIDEO

“B&D” AR PBS’ summer education series “Rise and Shine”. (2021)

KID SHOW PILOT “WHO IS MR.STEVE?” Directed/Co-written by Evan Brace

GO-B-KIDS is a production team of recording high quality, traditional (royalty free) kid songs. The team is made up of Ben Simonetti (Zac Brown Band), Peter Groenwald (Concord Music) and Court Clement (Johnny Lang).

The Early Birds with Mr. Steve was a weekly, kids call-in radio show during FM drive-time on Lightning 100 (Nashville, TN.) It was on from 2015 - 2019.

Music video for SMACtalk (Social Media Awareness Campaign) for the Arkansas Department of Education. (2021)

Partnered with the Governor Haslam and The First Lady of Tennessee for the reading campaign “Read to Be Ready.” Recorded with Zac Brown minus Zac Brown LOL!

 

SYNC

“Evolution of Sound” from Tik Tok’s Global Keynote

“You’ve Got That Smile” co-written and recorded by Daniel Ellsworth (Terrorbird Publishing)

REVEREND OF MARRIAGE

We do, choose Mr. Steve to be a part of your company.

On a serious note.

All jokes aside, if you made it to the end of this, please know that I really appreciate you taking the time to listen and learn about my whimsical life. I have been very blessed to be able to do what I do for my whole adult career and I do not take that for granted. I know I have been given a gift to communicate to children on a level that encourages them to be better people and, ultimately, find a love of music. It really is wild to see how music can transcend, taking the shyest kid and opening up something inside that allows them to express themselves. Whether, it’s dancing, singing, or just smiling, music truly brings people together and can even heal us if presented properly!

I hope to take all of this to the next level by spreading this message of joy and love, and maybe that’s with you! Regardless, I send you blessings and happiness!

Much love,

Mr. Steve