Steve Berlin

Steve Berlin, a saxophonist long embedded in the Los Angeles music community, attained his broadest visibility as part of Los Lobos while also maintaining steady demand as both a producer and session musician. Born in Philadelphia on September 14, 1955, he first gained notice with the Blasters and became an official Los Lobos member in 1984, shortly after co-producing the band’s 1983 EP ...And a Time to Dance alongside T-Bone Burnett. Berlin maintained an active schedule of session work with other Southern California groups, among them the Beat Farmers, Translator, and the Flesh Eaters. His contributions appeared on Paul Simon’s 1986 album Graceland, and Los Lobos achieved its commercial breakthrough the next year with music for the La Bamba film soundtrack. As a producer, Berlin’s profile rose further through projects with Faith No More, Dave Alvin, and the Tail Gators. He continued as a steady presence in alternative rock, sustaining his Los Lobos tenure while taking on independent work with the Replacements, John Lee Hooker, Leo Kottke, and Sheryl Crow.