On today’s episode of Creative Space,  we have the pleasure of chatting with Steve Addabbo. He’s a music producer, songwriter, audio engineer and Grammy winner who’s helped launch the careers of artists like Suzanne Vega and Shawn Colvin. He’s also owned Shelter Island Sound in New York City for over 30 years, where he’s produced and engineered for artists like Bob Dylan, Bobby McFerrin, Jeff Buckley, Olivia Newton John and many, many more. 

His incredible musical journey is a testament to where creativity can take you when you “sit down and get it done.” All we have control over is following inspiration and doing the work. We never know where our creation will land, but sometimes, like in Steve’s case, it could resurface 45 years later in a major feature film or play a major role in the development of a technology that changes the world. 

Steve has a lot of new projects you can check out, including Jim & Sasha Allen’s debut EP, ‘16 Borders,’ which he produced.

He just finished producing ‘Tribute to a Songpoet,’ a 42-song tribute album to Eric Andersen featuring artists like Bob Dylan, Linda Ronstadt, and Steve himself covering Andersen’s songs. 

And to hear Steve’s own music, definitely check out his album, ‘Out of Nothing,’ which is  available anywhere you stream music. 

For more information on Steve Addabbo, you can visit: steveaddabbo.com and for more on his studio, Shelter Island Sound, visit: shelterislandsound.com.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00—Intro

1:09—How did we meet?

2:17—The magic of “Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)” for a 5 year old

3:44—Singing for the bus driver

4:45—The guitar player next door

6:02—Wanting to do music professionally

6:45—How music literally saved Steve’s life (The Vietnam Draft Lottery)

8:42—How do you define creativity?

13:40—The true artist sits down and gets it done

15:50—How do you know when a work is complete?

20:32—The beginnings of Arbuckle 

23:45—Opening for Bruce Springsteen in Philly

25:20—A major music placement 45 years in the making

30:10—Steve and Suzanne’s role in the birth of the mp3

35:00—The ”Tom’s Diner” remix

36:00—Writing “Left of Center” for the iconic film, ‘Pretty in Pink’

43:00—Working on Jim & Sasha Allen’s debut EP

50:00—Mixing Bob Dylan 

51:16—Working on a 42-song tribute record for Eric Andersen

53:00—What’s next for Steve