Local Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Musician Discovered

There is no gamble on local songwriter, and reluctant singer Steve DiSalvo, a lifelong resident of Chelmsford, Massachusetts. That is what might be thought by Dusty Fenders of "The Carl and Dusty Radio Boogie" on KGFN 89.1 FM in Goldfield, Nevada. The show can be heard Saturday nights at 10-Midnight at www.radiogoldfield.org.

As an Engineer working at Hanscom AFB at the Air Force Research Lab, this 40-something writer is a high tech guru by day and a songwriter and unassuming singer when he can be.

I had a chance to sit down with Steve, and even better had a chance to listen to his CD, The Backward Kings, Volume Three, a collection of his songwriting demos. If asked to describe his music in one word, it can't be done. Instead, two words can be used; "ear candy." On one song, "These Beers I Can Depend" Steve's voice can be compared honestly to that of The King Himself, Elvis Presley and even Mark Knopfler, the lead singer of Dire Straits, although Steve believes any such comparisons are "crazy".He is not a rocker or be-bop artist though. His music is Country and Folk. It flows very well and will make you want to sing along. It is not Karaoke type. This is real (should be a hit) music.

How does a Chelmsford native who is an engineer by trade, become a promising local songwriter? Well DiSalvo has been writing since he was about 10. As a kid, he had the same love for the Red Sox and The Beatles. He and his brother Rich formed the Backward Kings and played in their Grove St. basement. The Band was born. He has equal passion for both writing and singing although admittedly, "writing is more difficult." Recently, Steve has been recording his demos with Chelmsford musician Stephen Clements, a member of the band Serial Thrillers.

DiSalvo sings the lead vocals on his demos which he says may not be the best idea, but "it's a major part of the fun." He is in "Awe" of great songwriters, and uses the Beatles, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty as examples. He gets "a lot of satisfaction" from hearing someone sing his songs, and is credited for writing the graduation song that is still sung at The Central Co-op Nursery School in town.

As far as hearing himself on the radio, "It was pretty fun...I'm not sure how many people actually heard my songs...Goldfield, NV supports "The Carl and Dusty Radio Boogie", so even though the show only reaches about 20 miles in any direction to the 2,500 people in its range, I know someone is listening besides me." Steve is a regular call-in personality on the show and is known as "Steve From Boston." You don't have to wait until Saturday nights though to hear him. You can listen to a selection of his songs at www.myspace.com/thebackwardkings 24/7.

Steve DiSalvo has a true goal though. His ultimate dream would be to have one of the greats, such as Alan Jackson or Kenny Chesney to listen to even just one of his songs and record it. While he is not what he would call an accomplished songwriter, seven of his songs have been published by Texas Cherokee Music (BMI) in Hurst, TX who is hard at work trying to find an artist to record his songs.

Steve is married and has two sons, Paul, 12 and Steven, 15 who is a promising musician in "his own right", and has become Steve's official bass player. DiSalvo is an avid hiker and traveler and has played organized softball for almost 30 years.

While his roots are here in Chelmsford, this songwriter discovered in a ghost town in rural Nevada shall be invisible no more. Please give a listen to him and support those that already do.