Douglas Alan Stegmeyer (December 23, 1951 – August 25, 1995) was an American musician who was best known as a bassist and back-up vocalist for

Billy Joel William Martin Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Piano Man" after his Signature song, signature 1973 song Piano Man (song), of the same name, Joel has ha ...

. Stegmeyer also performed as bassist for

Debbie Gibson Deborah Ann Gibson (born August 31, 1970) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She released her debut album ''Out of the Blue (Debbie Gibson album), Out of the Blue'' (1987) at age 16, writing and largely producing the material. The a ...

and

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Life and career

Stegmeyer was born on December 23, 1951, in

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. In high school, he met Russell Javors, who at age 15 was performing songs with childhood friend Liberty DeVitto. Along with Howard Emerson, the boys formed the band Topper, which performed songs by Javors and attracted Billy Joel's attention. Joel hired Stegmeyer to play bass in his backing band on the ''

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'' tour. At Stegmeyer's recommendation a year and a half later, Emerson, Javors, and DeVitto joined Joel in the studio for his '' Turnstiles'' album and for the accompanying tour. Stegmeyer became a core member of Billy Joel's band, playing bass on Joel's studio albums from ''Turnstiles'' through ''

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'' and on the live albums ''

Songs in the Attic ''Songs in the Attic'' is the first live album by Billy Joel, released in 1981. At the time of its release, it was the first widely available appearance of music from his first album, ''Cold Spring Harbor'', released in 1971. History In the lin ...

'' and '' КОНЦЕРТ''. Stegmeyer was dubbed "The Sergeant Of The Billy Joel Band". Stegmeyer (and Javors) left the band in 1989; according to DeVitto, he was forced out. Stegmeyer subsequently maintained a busy schedule recording and producing. On August 25, 1995, Stegmeyer died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his

Smithtown, New York Smithtown is a Administrative divisions of New York#Town, town in Suffolk County, New York, on the North Shore (Long Island), North Shore of Long Island. It is part of the New York metropolitan area. The population was 116,296 at the 2020 United ...

, home.

Legacy

On October 23, 2014, Stegmeyer was posthumously inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, along with Topper and Joel bandmates Richie Cannata, DeVitto, and Javors. The four were inducted primarily for their work with Joel.

Credits

With

*1976 '' Turnstiles'' *1977 '' The Stranger'' *1978 '' 52nd Street'' *1980 '' Glass Houses'' *1982 ''

The Nylon Curtain ''The Nylon Curtain'' is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released on September 23, 1982, and produced by Phil Ramone. ''The Nylon Curtain'' peaked at on the ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' Billboard charts ...

'' *1983 '' An Innocent Man'' *1986 ''

'' With

Phoebe Snow Phoebe Snow (born Phoebe Ann Laub; July 17, 1950 – April 26, 2011) was an American roots music singer-songwriter and guitarist, known for her hit 1974 and 1975 songs "Poetry Man" and "Harpo's Blues", and her credited guest vocals on Paul Simo ...

*1978 '' Against the Grain'' *1981 '' Rock Away'' With

Melanie Melanie is a feminine given name derived from the Greek language, Greek μελανία (melania), "blackness" and that from μέλας (melas), meaning "dark".Hall & Oates Daryl Hall & John Oates, commonly known as Hall & Oates, were an American Rock music, rock duo formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1970. Daryl Hall was generally the lead vocalist, while John Oates primarily supplied electric guitar and ba ...

*1990 '' Change of Season'' With

*1990 '' Anything Is Possible''

External links

* https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/DougStegmeyer?fref=ts (Official Facebook Page dedicated to Doug Stegmeyer)
Memorial page for Stegmeyer

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stegmeyer, Doug American session musicians 1951 births 1995 suicides 1995 deaths People from Long Island American rock bass guitarists American male bass guitarists Record producers from New York (state) Musicians from Queens, New York People from Flushing, Queens Suicides by firearm in New York (state) 20th-century American singers American rock singers Guitarists from New York City American male guitarists 20th-century American bass guitarists 20th-century American male singers Billy Joel Band members

Life and career

Legacy

See also

Credits

External links

References