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| Greg, October 2009 |
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The Band: Greg is the lead singer of the ever-mysterious, Steam, that had the Number 1 and mega-selling
hit song "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye (Leka/DeCarlo/Frashuer)" at the end of the fateful year of 1969 on the Fontana label.
It has been featured in the popular TV show, "Greys Anatomy" and in a number of other TV programs and films like "Raising
Helen" and "Remember the Titans". In the beginning, Steam was not a real group at all, but it was a group of studio musicians
produced by the incredibly talented Paul Leka (1943-2011), a remarkable musical genius that Greg calls the "American George
Martin" who had previously co-written and produced "Green Tambourine (Leka/Pinz)" for the Lemon Pipers and later
went on to produce other famous rock/pop artists like Harry Chapin, Gloria Gaynor, Leslie Gore, and REO Speedwagon. After
the Na Na record was released under the imaginary group name of "Steam," it fast became a surprise chart-topping hit, and
a separate touring band of musicians was quickly organized and sent out on the road in early 1970 to capitalize on the success
of Leka's studio creation. The touring band and song did not last long, but thanks to baseball the song itself was given
new life by the Chicago White Sox in the mid-1970s as the melody was played every time a pitcher or other player from the
opposing team was removed from the field. The crowds started to sing the na na goodbye chant by the tens of thousands, and
today it is used in all types of competitive events in the same manner.
Greg's History: Greg started out playing music semi-professionally while still in junior high school at dances and in clubs
around New York and New Jersey with a number of local musicians and bands. Starting out as barely a teen, he performed under
the show business name of Gary Scott (also Gary Allen), a name given to him by his handlers to make him appear to be more
British while performing many popular tunes from the most popular UK groups of the day like the Beatles. During this period
he frequented some of the cafes of Greenwich Village (sometimes cutting classes at school) where he met and worked alongside
some very talented musicians, some of which would later become members of Steam. Others were or would later become Pop Icons
and household names. Over the years Steam has experienced a number of personnel changes and breakups, and was reformed in
1996 by Greg and other past members of the band mainly as a salute to the work of Leka! Two years later, he was also successful
in reforming the former members of the legendary Vanilla Fudge at the request of his good friend and Fudge guitarist, Vince
Martell, and served as their manager for a short period of time.
Today Steam performs some of the greatest songs of all time that are part of the history of Rock and Roll, and Greg performs
mostly as a solo artist to standing ovations around the US and world. Come out sometime/stay in touch for musical experiences
that you will enjoy and not soon forget!
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| Steam, early 1970s |
Today we miss the passing of Band members Tommy Scott and John Faster.
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