Dallas
STEVE Ritter
Professional Musician
Drums
Vocals
Percussion
STEVE Ritter
Professional Musician
Drums
Vocals
Percussion
Steve Ritter Bio
Destined to DRUM
By the age of five, Steve was destined to become a musician. He grew up in a house full of music. His father, Jerald, is an award-winning songwriter who plays the violin and guitar and sings.
Steve began playing country music, singing while drumming with his dad and uncles' band, and rock music with friends as a young man in his small hometown of Vian, Oklahoma. By the time he was in the 6th grade, Steve was in the high school marching band, a concert band and stage band and loving every minute!
Education
Steve continued his music education at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where he was exposed to musicians from all over the country.
While earning a degree in chemistry, he played in multiple university bands along with a funk band and a jazz-rock fusion band while continuing to play
country music with his family.
Early career
Moving to Dallas, Texas, the day after college graduation, Steve Ritter began his career as a professional musician in 1978. His first gig was with a local cover band, Café, that stayed busy with a 6-night a week circuit. Soon after, Steve formed his own cover band, Triple Play, that recorded original music and worked recording at studios as well.
Custom Made was Steve's next band, which he formed in 1986. Designed as a corporate party band, this group travelled all over the world. It later morphed into The Wonders, where the travel continued, including a gig at a presidential inaugural ball.
Steve's bands had the honor of providing direct support by opening for many legendary bands;
The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Spinners, The Beach Boys, The Commodores, Three Dog Night, KC and The Sunshine Band, Willie Nelson, Little Big Town, The Pointer Sisters, Donna Summer, and Starship.
While in Custom Made and the Wonders, Steve continued to write songs with his writing partners Don Townsley and Mimi Balkey. They formed the bands Isle Of Lucy and Snag as outlets for their original music.
career highlights & collaborations
Steve is in high demand and regularly performs on drums, vocals, and records with many Dallas-area artists including Diamond West, Michael Hix, Chaz Marie Hope, Brad Davis, Bennie Wheels (Walkin' The Line), Suzy & the Sissies, Jerrod Medulla, Rachel Stacy, Vintage Yell and churches in the area.
He has performed on national tours with Kristy Lee Cook, Ty Herndon, Doug Stone, and Frankie Avalon.
Steve joined the Jon Christopher Davis band as the drummer and vocalist in 2018.
Jon and Stan Lynch (Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers) started writing songs together and formed The Speaker Wars.
Steve is excited to play percussion and sing along with Jon, Stan Lynch, Brian Patterson, Jay Ellis Brown and Jay Michael Smith as a member of The Speaker Wars https://www.thespeakerwars.com
The Speaker Wars will release their first album in May of 2025 with plans to tour extensively in the U.S. - hopefully in a town near you soon!
Accolades
Musician magazine named Steve Ritter one of the best 10 unsigned artists in America.
Winner of the ASCAP songwriting contest in 1991.
Steve was invited to work as a professional songwriter in Nashville but chose to keep his roots and career in Texas.
Photo Gallery
Steve Ritter, early 2000's
Band members:
Jay Ellis Brown, Stan Lynch, Jay Michael Smith, Jon Christopher Davis, Brian Patterson and Steve Ritter
Harmony brothers and longtime musical collaborators Steve Ritter and Brian Patterson - The Speaker Wars
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member Stan Lynch of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with Jon Christopher Davis and Steve Ritter
The Speaker Wars include a lot of great percussion instruments in their original music
The Speaker Wars band:
Jay Ellis Brown, keyboards; Stan Lynch, drums and vocals; Jay Michael Smith, guitar; Jon Christopher Davis, lead vocals and guitar; Brian Patterson, bass guitar and vocals; Steve Ritter, percussion and vocals