Difference between revisions of "Craig "Twister" Steward"

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FZ: "...he sounds like Coltrane on the harmonica,  and I mean fast like you won't believe.  This guy is like the [[Al DiMeola]] of the harmonica."
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[[File:Craig Steward posing with book.jpg|350px|thumb|right|Craig Steward posing with [[Andrew Greenaway]]'s ''[[Frank Talk: The Inside Stories of Zappa's Other People]]''.]]
  
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'''Craig "Twister" Steward''' (October 3, 1949, Marshalltown, Iowa) is a US harmonica player.
  
Born: Marshalltown, Iowa 3rd October 1949
 
  
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==Craig Steward and Frank Zappa==
  
FZ first saw harmonica player [[Craig "Twister" Steward]] in 1972 after a "Petit Wazoo" performance at the [[72/12/01 Wichita KS US Century II|Century II Convention Center]] in Wichita, KS. He was playing with the band "Bliss" at a bar called Caesar's Palace.  
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Zappa first saw harmonica player Craig "Twister" Steward in 1972 after a [[Tours/1972|Petit Wazoo]] performance at the [[72/12/01 Wichita KS US Century II|Century II Convention Center]] in Wichita, Kansas. He was playing with the band "Bliss" at a bar called Caesar's Palace. After playing a "slow Blues in A", Zappa told Steward he would be flying him out to LA to audition. Steward tried out with the band for the '73 tour. After three days of auditioning, Zappa asked him what he thought. Steward replied: ''"Frank, I think I should go back home"''. FZ graceously smiled and said, ''"I think you are right!"''. Interviewed by Jedd Beaudoin on KMUW, Wichita, Kansas, Steward remembered that Zappa added: ''"Don't think of this as a failure. You go home and practice and when I say, "Play this here, play that there, you'll have your ear developed to where you can do that."''<ref>https://www.kmuw.org/music/2016-10-14/blow-your-harmonica-son-craig-twister-steward-remembers-time-with-frank-zappa</ref>
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Steward went home, practiced five years, called Zappa back, and he flew him out to record on [[Joe's Garage]].''
  
After playing a "slow Blues in A", FZ told [[Craig "Twister" Steward|Steward]] he would be flying him out to LA to audition. [[Craig "Twister" Steward|Steward]] tried out with the band for the '73 tour.  
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When Zappa played at [[80/04/11 Wichita KS US Henry Levitt Arena, Wichita State University|Henry Levitt Arena]], Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas in 1980, he invited Steward on stage with [[The Mothers]] to solo on ''[[A Pound For A Brown On The Bus]]''.  
  
After 3 days of auditioning FZ asked him what he thought. [[Craig "Twister" Steward|Steward]] replied 'Frank, I think I should go back home'. FZ graceously smiled and said, 'I think you are right!'  I went home, practiced five years, called him back, and he flew me out to record on Joe's Garage."
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Steward returned to his home town of Wichita and works as the City Arborist. Active musically in Wichita performing, writing and recording his own compositions. In 2006, Steward was planning the publication of his music and two books.  
  
When FZ played [[80/04/11 Wichita KS US Henry Levitt Arena, Wichita State University|Henry Lovitt Arena]], Wichita State University, Wichita, KS in 1980, he invited [[Craig "Twister" Steward|Steward]] on stage with [[The Mothers]] to solo on "Pound For A Brown'.
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Craig "Twister" Steward played harmonica on:<br>
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*''[[Joe's Garage Act I]]''<br>
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*''[[Joe's Garage Acts II & III]]''<br>
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*''[[You Are What You Is]]''<br>
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*''[[The Man From Utopia]]''<br>
  
[[Craig "Twister" Steward|Steward]] returned to his home town of Wichita and works as  the City Arborist. Active musically in Wichita performing, writing and recording his own compositions. In 2006 [[Craig "Twister" Steward|Steward]] was planning the publication of his music and two books he was working on.
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==Frank Zappa about Craig Steward==
  
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<blockquote>[[Biography|FZ]]: ''"He sounds like [[John Coltrane|Coltrane]] on the harmonica, and I mean fast like you won't believe. This guy is like the [[Al Di Meola]] of the harmonica."''</blockquote>
  
[[Craig "Twister" Steward]] provided harmonica for:
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==References==
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<references/>
  
[[Joe's Garage Act I]]
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==External links==
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*[https://www.discogs.com/artist/584300-Craig-Steward Discogs]
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*[http://www.myspace.com/craigtwistersteward MySpace Page]
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*[https://www.kmuw.org/music/2016-10-14/blow-your-harmonica-son-craig-twister-steward-remembers-time-with-frank-zappa Interview with Craig Steward about Frank Zappa.]
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* [https://www.united-mutations.com/s/craig_steward.htm United Mutations page.]
  
[[Joe's Garage Acts II & III]]
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[[Category:Bandmembers|Steward]]
 
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[[Category:Harmonica players|Steward]]
[[You Are What You Is]]
 
 
 
[[The Man From Utopia]]
 
 
 
 
 
[http://www.geocities.com/craig_steward/index.html Website]
 
 
 
 
 
[[Category:Bandmembers|Steward, Craig "Twister"]]
 
[[Category:Musicians|Steward, Craig "Twister"]]
 

Latest revision as of 11:32, 3 May 2026

Craig "Twister" Steward (October 3, 1949, Marshalltown, Iowa) is a US harmonica player.


Craig Steward and Frank Zappa

Zappa first saw harmonica player Craig "Twister" Steward in 1972 after a Petit Wazoo performance at the Century II Convention Center in Wichita, Kansas. He was playing with the band "Bliss" at a bar called Caesar's Palace. After playing a "slow Blues in A", Zappa told Steward he would be flying him out to LA to audition. Steward tried out with the band for the '73 tour. After three days of auditioning, Zappa asked him what he thought. Steward replied: "Frank, I think I should go back home". FZ graceously smiled and said, "I think you are right!". Interviewed by Jedd Beaudoin on KMUW, Wichita, Kansas, Steward remembered that Zappa added: "Don't think of this as a failure. You go home and practice and when I say, "Play this here, play that there, you'll have your ear developed to where you can do that."[1] Steward went home, practiced five years, called Zappa back, and he flew him out to record on Joe's Garage.

When Zappa played at Henry Levitt Arena, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas in 1980, he invited Steward on stage with The Mothers to solo on A Pound For A Brown On The Bus.

Steward returned to his home town of Wichita and works as the City Arborist. Active musically in Wichita performing, writing and recording his own compositions. In 2006, Steward was planning the publication of his music and two books.

Craig "Twister" Steward played harmonica on:

Frank Zappa about Craig Steward

FZ: "He sounds like Coltrane on the harmonica, and I mean fast like you won't believe. This guy is like the Al Di Meola of the harmonica."

References

External links