Stage and studio musician Steve Meador was born in Slaton, Texas in 1952. Raised on a cotton farm in Lynn County, Steve became a percussionist in high school before attending the University of Texas where he majored in music theory and composition. While there, Steve co-founded seminal Austin jazz band Passenger who were awarded the Best Jazz performing band prize at the 1981-82 and 1982-83 Austin Music Awards. Steve continued his musical rise as he joined national and international tours, performing with musicians such as Leonard Cohen, Joe Ely, and Carole King. Performing was not just limited to tours, Steve also played many times on television on Austin City Limits, and on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He has graced the stage at some of the world’s most famous venues, including Carnegie Hall, New York, the Royal Albert Hall in London, UK, and the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia. Despite his success on the international stage, Steve continued to grow his strong connection with Lubbock and West Texas as the original drummer for the Lubbock Rhythm Machine, the first band of the Cactus Theatre, where he also went on to play J.I. Allison in a production of The Buddy Holly Story.
Steve Meador was inducted into the West Texas Walk of Fame in 2024.
