Rick Steffen

Daytona and Key West veteran singer/songwriter Rick Steffen is a producer and artist of a unique blend of island, blues, country, and pop sounds spanning a musical career of almost four decades.

Rick, aka Rick Stephen Felisko, was born in Bridgeport, CT, and by age four became a Daytona local in the 60’s. He took up guitar and vocals imitating the entertainers in his dad’s night club and later carried that sound to Seabreeze High School, where his band The Idols performed at City Island and Seabreeze recreational centers, following the styles of the Ventures, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Ten Years After, Rod Stewart, Everly Brothers, Ricky Nelson, and the Animals.

Gregg Allman, a Seabreeze High School classmate (’62), was an occasional performer with the band in 1965.

Rick was the bass player with Floyd Miles in the Floyd & Tootie band performing at the Daytona Beach Pier Casino Ballroom (1964–65), and with December’s Children at the original Wreck Bar in Daytona. He also backed many touring celebrities passing through, including Sam & Dave and Lou Christie.

Through the late 60’s and 70’s Rick played show venues across Florida, Georgia, and New Jersey—including Tom Cellie’s group VIRGO at the Oasis Club in Wildwood, NJ.

1970–1980: Based in Ft. Lauderdale, he played bass with the Big Mamma Blue band at the Wooden Spoon, with Click (formerly Sweet Seasons) at Yesterdays Restaurant/Disco, and served as a seasonal bass player for national touring acts the Shirelles and Billy Vera at the 7 Seas Lounge/Newport Beach Motel in Miami Beach.

In 1975 he started writing songs, honing guitar skills, and singing demos at Criterion Recording Studios in Miami with lifelong friend Lee Hazen at the helm. By 1977 he launched his solo career with Resonance and Mind Body & Soul, scoring local success with the 45rpm “In Love With Love” / “Livin in the Middle” (1979 Silver Touch Productions).

Rick’s first album, Love & Escape (1985), recorded with Nashville producer Jack Grochmal and engineer Lee Hazen (Studio by the Pond), emerged as Trop-Rock was born alongside Jimmy Buffett’s rise. Hazen engineered Buffett’s A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean, and Rick’s songs quickly resonated with Parrotheads seeking sailing motifs and escapism.

Love & Escape Discography: Beggar’s Holiday, One More Chance, Island in the Sun, When Good Times Come Around, Offshore, She’ll Always Be Somebody’s Baby, I Wish You Had Me Here Tonight, It Only Hurts Til the Next Time, Missin You This Mornin’. The re-release added “If You Can’t Say Something Nice,” “Burned Out Broke and Disgusted,” and “So Much in Love.”

In 1986 Rick teamed with Steve Mello (Juilliard student and former Windjammer drummer) to create a guitar-marimba duo lasting 15 years in Key West. They perfected the “Island Sound” and recorded Tropical Nights and Another Island, celebrating Key West and Daytona lifestyles.

From 1986–1996 the duo anchored house-band residencies at Casa Marina, Schooner Wharf, and Pier House, plus Key West Seafood Festivals and Sloppy Joe’s.

Rick shared songwriting credits with Shel Silverstein on “Pinchin’ My Penny,” a song still rotating on airline entertainment systems and Sirius Satellite Radio, alongside his cover of “Wet Dream” from Kipp Addotta.

Tropical Nights Discography: Tropical Nights, Lighten Up, Wet Dream, Low Key in the Upper Keys, Driftwood, Jump, Seafood, Beggar’s Holiday, Given Half a Chance, Key West Calypso, Pelican Bay, Offshore.

Rick’s home base shifted back to Daytona Beach in 1997, inspiring the tidal estuary title track of his 2003 release Another Island.

Another Island Discography: Sloppy Joes, Palm Tree on de Island, Use Your Freedom, Cannonball, Sherry Girl, Caribbean Run, Out On the Ocean, Take de Bull, Hurricane, Pinchin My Penny, Coconut Rum, Wine Wine Wine.

In 2001 “Out On The Ocean” appeared on a Migration Music compilation CD and in Attitudes & Latitudes magazine. Rick headlined Christmas and New Year’s 2004 at Margaritaville, Universal Studios Orlando.

Mango Music (2004) leapt into Caribbean Blues—a blues-meets-Caribbean hybrid for Parrotheads with overworked livers—featuring Clarence Wares, Dennis Thomas, Bert Bailey, Bing Oliver, Mark Hodgson, and steel-drum pioneer Kelvin Hart.

Mango Music Discography: Caribbean Blues, Watering Hole, Good Luck, Where Have All the Flowers Gone, Weekends in de Islands, Votesong, Spend Some Time With You, One Wave At A Time, Wastin’ My Time, Great Divide, Internet Overload, Give Til It Hurts.

More Palm Trees (2011) delivered “West End Girl,” now in rotation on SiriusXM, Music Choice, Amazon, Apple Music, and Florida radio.

More Palm Trees Discography: More Palm Trees, Party Til My Ship Comes In, West End Girl, Cottage in Negril, Job Change, Tourist Town, Drinks for the Band, Iguana, Rusty Old Heart, Reggae Music Flowin.

Zany Key West Songs (2015) archived the “wild west” era of Key West.

Zany Key West Songs Discography: Pissin in the Pool, Chicken Salad–Chicken Shit, Parts and Labor, I’m Sleepin With Your Ex, Chasin Pussy, Dick, Fat Girl In My Pickup, It’s 420 Somewhere, Coke Oh No, Pirates, Back On The Sea, Thorium, You Can’t Afford It.

Black Coconuts introduced “Rogue Blues,” sidestepping traditional changes.

Black Coconuts Discography (2018): Black Coconuts, Dead Cellphone Blues, Good Man Going Down, Fishin and Drinkin, Rusty Old Heart, Hurricane, Caribbean Blues, Burned Out Broke and Disgusted, Given Half A Chance, Missin You This Morning, It Only Hurts Til the Next Time, The Only Constant Is Change, Give Til It Hurts.

Smilin Island, Rick’s current project (link), remixes and remasters favorites plus three new originals (17 songs total).

Rick’s island adaptations have filled stages from Daytona Beach Bandshell, Sloppy Joe’s (Daytona & Key West), Bahama Breeze, Woodstock Reunion, Bluebird Café (Nashville), Carnival Cruise Lines, and the Four Seasons Resort in Nevis. Florida highlights include Silver Springs, Margaritaville Key West, Margaritaville Orlando, and Cypress Gardens.

Now based in Daytona Beach, he headlines venues, house concerts, and festivals across Florida. His catalog streams on Apple Music, YouTube, SiriusXM (Margaritaville), and Trop-Rock radio stations worldwide.

In 2000 Ralph Nader used “Use Your Freedom” at presidential rallies, and in 2006 CBS’s Today show featured “Seafood” during a cooking segment. Southern Florida Magazine highlighted Rick as an up-and-coming Key West artist.