'Americana' Sound: Northbrook Singer-Songwriter Releases 4th Album

NORTHBROOK, IL — While Steven Zane can play cover songs ranging from artists like The Beatles to Louis Armstrong and everything in-between, the local singer-songwriter is also adept at creating his own original music. The Northbrook resident and professional entertainer, who has been performing around the North Shore and Chicagoland for 30 years, recently released his fourth studio album, "American Boy."

"I feel 'American Boy' is, to date, my best album. It’s the most bluesy, but also has rock, folk and bluegrass songs," Zane, nicknamed "The Acoustic Jukebox," told Patch. "It has a very 'Americana' feel to it."

Just take one look at the gigs' list on his musician website, and you'll see how busy Zane is these days. Born on the Southside of Chicago into a musical family, he has now been a resident of Northbrook for a number of years and is a veteran of the local music scene.

"There are so many wonderful, talented artists on the North Shore. So many people I’ve worked with over the years, or even those who I’ve never worked with," Zane said. "[There are] many great venues as well, although, so many of them have closed over the years."

Zane said writing the songs for "American Boy" came quite naturally. The album was recorded at Northbrook's Dr. Caw Recording Studio at 2219 Farnsworth Lane. Styx, Dave Mason and Sugar Blue are just a few of the bigger names that have recorded albums at the studio, established in 1978.

Craig Williams served as sound engineer for the album, someone Zane describes as a "true professional" with an "amazing ear," making the recording process easy.

"The songs have all been written in the past few years, and actually, they come quite naturally to me," Zane said of creating "American Boy." "It seems the less effort I put into writing a song, the better it is. They just kind of write themselves, actually."

Check out some selected tracks and purchase Steven Zane's "American Boy" here.

Zane said the songs on the album progressed over time, so when the recording process happened, he was able to add more arrangements and bring in other people to play or sing on them with him.

"Rarely does a song sound the same from when I first write it to when I finish recording it," Zane said.

According to his bio, Zane taught himself how to play the guitar and wrote his first song at the age of 16. He has since released four full albums of all original music, starting with "I Close My Eyes" in 2006 followed that up with "Second Coming" in 2010. He then released, "Take Me Home" in 2017, before the latest album earlier this year.

Amazingly, Zane said he can play more than 1,000 covers. Some of the other artists he often plays include The Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Muddy Waters, Ray Charles, Elton John, Simon and Garfunkel, Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra, and everything in between.

Whether solo acoustic or with accompaniment, Zane likes to incorporate a vocal harmonizer and a looper to create a unique sound.

Zane plays publically in bars, restaurants, coffee shops, festivals, while also specializing in private parties, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, bar mitzvahs, memorials, backyard barbecues, corporate events, country clubs, charitable events, luncheons, dinners, senior centers and senior events, anywhere the gift of music can enhance your special occasion.

Zane said he is also currently working on a fifth solo album, as well as a collaboration with his bandmates in Electric Medicine.

To see Zane live, check out these upcoming shows:

• 8 p.m. Sept. 2, At 7 Bar and Grill, Metro Square, 1472 Market St., Des Plaines
• 8 p.m Sept. 16, Woodfire Tavern, 4868 Illinois Route 83 Corner of Gilmer and Rt 83, Long Grove
• 8 p.m. Sept. 23, Acorn Grill and Terrace, Heritage Oaks Golf Club, 3535 Dundee Road, Northbrook
• 7 p.m. Sept. 30, Good Grapes Wine Bar, 821 Chestnut Court, Winnetka