Steve Balsamo
Steve Balsamo is a singer, songwriter, and performer who rose to prominence for his critically acclaimed portrayal of Jesus in the revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar in London’s West End.
In 1996, before his West End debut, Steve was invited to open The Prince's Trust Masters of Music Concert in Hyde Park, performing to an audience of 150,000. Despite having no prior West End experience, he was selected from thousands of auditionees to play the iconic role of Jesus, leading to the memorable headline: "The Son of God is Welsh." His powerful performance moved Andrew Lloyd Webber to tears during a televised appearance, a moment that also sold £160,000 worth of tickets in just 30 minutes. Steve’s portrayal earned him the prestigious Variety Club Award in 1997.
After his success in the West End, Steve signed with Columbia Records and embarked on a solo career. He traveled the world, wrote extensively, appeared on Top of the Pops, and released the album All I Am, which blended pop, rock, folk, and country influences.
Steve later co-founded the country rock band The Storys, whose sound drew inspiration from the West Coast scene. The band toured Europe for two consecutive summers with Elton John, who personally invited them after hearing their debut album. They also supported legendary artists such as Joe Cocker, Santana, Celine Dion, and Van Morrison.
Continuing his passion for collaboration, Steve recorded an Americana/Country album as one half of Balsamo Deighton. As part of Balsamo Collins Riley, he joined forces with fellow singer/songwriters, Pete Riley and Andy Collins to create a collection of lush three-part harmony songs with a first record released in 2022.
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In another collaboration, ChimpanA, Steve and Rob Reed blend progressive rock with ambient soundscapes, cinematic arrangements, and thought-provoking lyrics, pushing the boundaries of traditional genres. ChimpanA’s music has been praised for its ability to evoke powerful emotions and create immersive listening experiences. Their third album is currently in production and slated for release in 2025.
A prolific songwriter, Steve has written for a diverse range of artists, including Meat Loaf, Slash (Guns N' Roses), Cliff Richard, and Lee Mead. He has collaborated with notable figures like Jon Lord (Deep Purple) and Eric Woolfson (The Alan Parsons Project) and even gave Robert Plant a singing lesson.
Continuing on his work as a solo artist, Steve is creating a series of Americana-inspired EPs. The first two, Circle the Wagons and High on Sunset, sold out in limited releases, and the third is in progress.
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Beyond these projects, Steve is also a co-founder of Grand Ambition, a theatre collective based in Swansea dedicated to developing and producing new theatrical works.
Through his many creative endeavours, Steve continues to push artistic boundaries and inspire audiences around the world.