Steve Conte started out the way many rock solid guitar players do – as a drummer. He began studying the backbeat of Ringo & Charlie Watts at the tender age of 7 but once he started making up songs on his brother John’s guitar he decided to not be stuck singing behind a drum kit. Steve took so naturally to the guitar that his brother switched to bass and the rest as they say, is history.

Influenced by The Stones, Beatles, Dylan, bubble gum pop and Chuck Berry, Steve wrote and recorded his first “album” in the family living room at age 11, the same year he performed onstage for the first time. By the time he was 14, Steve was backing his jazz vocalist mom (Rosemary Conte) at local venues in the NY/NJ area.

After he finished school, Conte spent a few years getting his live chops together with artists like Prince & The Revolution singer Jill Jones and Jersey rocker Glen Burtnik, but his days as a sideman would be numbered. Shortly after moving into Manhattan he and his brother were signed to a deal by Mercury records and in 1990, released the eponymous debut album by their rootsy, hard rocking band Company Of Wolves. Praised by publications like Rolling Stone, Kerrang! and Guitar Magazine who called Steve “A guitar god in waiting”, the Wolves hit the road hard as both a support and headline act. But after recording two albums for the label the Conte brothers dissolved the band to form the more subtle and soulful Crown Jewels, touring in the US and UK to support two releases; Spitshine and Linoleum on their own Thunderdog label. The Jewels enjoyed much critical acclaim (“Songwriting Greatness…Four Stars!” – Classic Rock Magazine) and global airplay before Steve & John shifted gears once again; opting to record under their own name, The Contes and releasing their last album, Bleed Together.

Once he decided to take a break from original bands, Steve happily found himself being called upon to play on albums by artists like Billy Squier (Tell The Truth/Capitol), J. Geils front-man Peter Wolf (Fool’s Parade/Mercury), James Brown’s saxophone sidekick Maceo Parker (Funk Overload/W.A.R.) and 70’s glam rocker Suzi Quatro. Steve joined Squier on the road in 2001 and in 2003 toured Europe with one of his idols, the late, great Willy DeVille. All of this was to prepare him for the call of a lifetime…from David Johansen.

In 2004 Steve Conte became lead guitarist and backing vocalist with the legendary New York Dolls, filling the void left by Johnny Thunders. Since becoming a Doll, Conte has recorded 4 albums with the band; Morrissey Presents: The Return Of The New York Dolls, Live At Royal Festival Hall (the late Arthur ”Killer” Kane’s last show, preserved on DVD/CD by Attack/Sanctuary 2005), One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This (Roadrunner 2006), Live At The Fillmore East (Sony/BMG 2007) and ‘Cause I Sez So (Atco/Rhino 2009). In addition to his guitar skills Conte’s songwriting talents have also been employed on the Dolls albums. Co-creating songs with Johansen, Sylvain and Yaffa; “Gotta Get Away From Tommy”, “Rainbow Store“,“Punishing World“,“Take A Good Look At My Good Looks“,“Better Than You“,“This Is Ridiculous“,“Nobody Got No Bizness“ and “Temptation To Exist“ all bear his signature blues and melodic sensibilities. Steve also appears in the 2005 documentary film about Arthur Kane’s life and death, New York Doll.

Over his 25 year career Conte has also worked with Eric Burdon & The Animals, Chuck Berry, David Johansen & The Harry Smiths, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, John Waite, Willie Nile, Tiny Tim and Japanese anime composer Yoko Kanno (Cowboy Bebop, Ghost In The Shell, Wolf’s Rain).

Adding to a long list of film & TV credits Steve has recently written all the original songs for the Spike Lee produced film, The Perfect Age Of Rock & Roll, featuring blues legends Hubert Sumlin, Pinetop Perkins and Sugar Blue. In November of 2009 the NYC based producer/musician released his first album of new material in six years on the Varese Vintage label – Steve Conte & The Crazy Truth. He now happily resides in that band, as well as in New York Dolls and – the new and improved Michael Monroe band.