Biography
Born on 26 January 1937 in Sunderland, County Durham, England, and passing away on 8 August 2002 in Dundee, Scotland, Stephenson took up the drums in his early teens. He soon performed with his pianist brothers Bill and Bob, first gaining professional experience across the north-east of England and the Midlands. A lengthy tour alongside singer Lita Roza brought him wider notice, after which military service in the mid-1950s interrupted his work. Resuming his career, he performed in multiple English regions as well as Scotland, appearing alongside keyboardist Mike Carr; Birdland Records later issued several little-known recordings from this period. His profile rose further in London through a 1960 engagement with John Dankworth that lasted more than two years.
He next joined Stan Tracey’s house band at Ronnie Scott’s club, accompanying Tubby Hayes and an array of visiting artists such as Victor Feldman, Benny Golson, Wes Montgomery and Sonny Stitt, with numerous performances preserved on record. Subsequent work included a television stint in Jack Parnell’s band and another extended tour, this time with Tom Jones. During that tour Stephenson remained in Germany, where he collaborated with Kurt Edelhagen, Rolf Kühn, Francy Boland, the Nord Deutsche Rundfunk orchestra and additional ensembles, while also accepting a teaching position at Berlin University. He returned to the UK for occasional engagements, including a reunion with Carr in the early 1990s.
A skilful, tasteful and highly supportive drummer, Stephenson’s extended residence in Germany kept his reputation limited among listeners in the UK and USA, an outcome his considerable talent did not merit.
He next joined Stan Tracey’s house band at Ronnie Scott’s club, accompanying Tubby Hayes and an array of visiting artists such as Victor Feldman, Benny Golson, Wes Montgomery and Sonny Stitt, with numerous performances preserved on record. Subsequent work included a television stint in Jack Parnell’s band and another extended tour, this time with Tom Jones. During that tour Stephenson remained in Germany, where he collaborated with Kurt Edelhagen, Rolf Kühn, Francy Boland, the Nord Deutsche Rundfunk orchestra and additional ensembles, while also accepting a teaching position at Berlin University. He returned to the UK for occasional engagements, including a reunion with Carr in the early 1990s.
A skilful, tasteful and highly supportive drummer, Stephenson’s extended residence in Germany kept his reputation limited among listeners in the UK and USA, an outcome his considerable talent did not merit.