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Steve Tallis first started playing music in 1962. Being Macedonian by birth, since his childhood Steve has been surrounded by and immersed in the music of his Macedonian ancestors and the ethnic music of Greece, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Turkey. As a small child, listening to live music at picnics and dances opened his mind and spirit to trancelike rhythms and chanting. Steve started listening to the sounds of the radio--The Animals, Rolling Stones, Manfred Mann, The Yardbirds, The Kinks and more. He searched back further to the roots of the music he loved--and then further still to the source--Africa.
Steve has become what one critic called an 'Australian Griot', another a 'Blues Shaman'. He has lived and performed in the USA, Europe and Asia-- supporting some of the biggest names in music. His influences include such notables as Leadbelly, John Coltrane, Tim Buckley, Captain Beefheart, Sun Ra, Van Morrison, Howling Wolf, Tom Waits and Bob Dylan. African, Indian, Haitian and Islamic music have all had a spiritual and rhythmic influence on his own work. His love of blues, gospel and a cappella shows both in his live shows and on his recordings.
One of Steve's lifelong ambitions came true when he toured India in 1997. Earlier that year he had met and became close friends with Toups Bebey, son of one of Africa's most respected and famous musicians Francis Bebey. His links with Africa and ethnic tribal music became even stronger as a result, and these strengthening ties show clearly in Steve's critically acclaimed albums 'Monkey Skulls and Thunderstones' and 'ZOZO'. Explorations into Vodou, Sufism, The Bible, Hinduism and Native American Indians have affected Steve's outlook deeply.
Steve is a regular at festivals around Australia and continues to be the recipient of numerous awards for his music, including 'Songwriter Of The Year', 'Most Original Work' and 'Album Of The Year'. He has been inducted into 'The Western Australia Music Industry Hall of Fame' in recognition of his lifelong efforts.
His music is well known for being tribal that includes attributes like zombies, vampires, voodoo and anything else you could think of.
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