{{Infobox musical artist | name = Steve Sexton | image = | alt = | caption = | image_size = | birth_name = Stephen Michael Sexton | alias = | birth_place = Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada | birth_date = | origin = | instrument = Keyboards | genre = Film music | occupation = Film composer | years_active = {{Start date|1982}}–present | label = Mesa Bluemoon Records (Los Angeles) | website = [http://www.stevesexton.com Stevesexton.com] }}
'''Steve Sexton''' is a Canadian composer, arranger, musical director, producer <ref name="IMDBSS" /> and keyboardist.<ref>Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, ''Who's Who in Canadian Film and Television'', 2002, p. 238</ref> He served as Canadian singer Anne Murray's Musical Director for 25 years with responsibilities as her pianist, conductor, arranger, and on occasion her producer.
==Early career== Sexton was born in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. He graduated from Richmond Hill High School and received a music degree from The University of Western Ontario and a performance degree from the Western Ontario Conservatory of Music. He was a member of the Canadian rock band, Red Rider, from 1982 to 1984<ref>''The Canadian Encyclopedia'', [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/tom-cochrane-red-rider-emc/ "Tom Cochrane & Red Rider"]</ref> and appears as keyboardist on their albums ''Breaking Curfew'' and ''Neruda''. He was one half (with Gerald O'Brien) of the jazz/new-age ensemble, Exchange,<ref>''The Canadian Encyclopedia'', [https://web.archive.org/web/20050310211210/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0002554 "New age music"]</ref><ref>Birosik, Patti Jean, ''The New Age Music Guide: Profiles and recordings of 500 top New Age musicians'', Collier Books, 1989, p. 55. {{ISBN|0-02-041640-7}}</ref> whose recordings include ''Between Places'', ''Into the Night'', ''Exchange'', and ''Beyond Words''.<ref>Starpulse.com, [http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Exchange-P6479/ Exchange]</ref> ''Between Places'' reached number 9 in the Billboard New Age chart for June 30, 1990.<ref>Billboard.com [http://www.billboard.com/charts/1990-06-30/new-age-albums New Age Chart, week of June 30, 1990]</ref> He also appears as keyboardist on the Strange Advance album, ''2WO'', Platinum Blonde's album, ''Standing in the Dark'', Shirley Eikhard's comeback album, ''Taking Charge'',<ref>Jam! [https://web.archive.org/web/20150529070728/http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/E/Eikhard_Shirley.html "Eikhard, Shirley"], ''The Canadian Pop Encyclopedia''</ref> and the Jim Carrey film, ''Copper Mountain''.<ref name="IMDBSS">{{IMDb name|0786690|Steve Sexton}}</ref> His ensemble, Exchange, was nominated for a 1993 Juno Award for Best Instrumental Artist or Ensemble of the year and they have released seven albums.
==Work with Anne Murray== Steve's extensive career has had him working alongside such artists as Celine Dion, Bryan Adams, Michael Bublé, Anne Murray, and top orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops Philharmonic orchestra and worked with John Williams.<ref name="stevesexton.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.stevesexton.com/ |title=Home |website=stevesexton.com}}</ref>
He served as Anne Murray's Musical Director for 25 years with responsibilities as her pianist, conductor, arranger, and on occasion her producer.<ref>Rockingham, Graham, [http://www.thespec.com/article/372908 "Murray's all class... One Last Time"], ''The Hamilton Spectator'', May 22, 2008</ref> He was the Music Director for many of her television shows, including ''Friends & Legends'' (2008), ''The Music of My Life'' (2005), ''Intimate Evening with Anne Murray'' (1998), ''The Sounds of London'' (1985), ''Anne Murray's Winter Carnival in Quebec'' (1984), and ''A Special Anne Murray Christmas'' (1981).<ref name="IMDBSS" /> He also produced ''Anne Murray's Christmas Album'' (2008), ''An Intimate Evening With Anne Murray'' (1998), ''Anne Murray's Classic Christmas'' (1995), and ''Anne Murray'' (1991).<ref name="IMDBSS" />
==Notable television and film scores== His music scores for television shows include ''The Legend of Prince Valiant'',<ref name="Erickson">Erickson, Hal, ''Television Cartoon Shows: An illustrated encyclopedia'', McFarland, 1995, pp. 302 and 612. {{ISBN|0-7864-0029-3}}</ref> and ''The Phantom 2040''.<ref name="Erickson" /> As a songwriter, his compositions include "Her Body Makes Vows" which appears on the soundtrack for the Antonio Banderas and Rebecca DeMornay film ''Never Talk to Strangers''<ref>{{IMDb title|0113965|Never Talk to Strangers}}</ref> and Tú's single "Stay With Me", the band's biggest hit.<ref>Jam! [https://web.archive.org/web/20160310021505/http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/T/Tu.html "Tu"], ''The Canadian Pop Encyclopedia''</ref> According to his official website, his compositions have also been heard on several sporting events and broadcasts including the Olympics, the Super Bowl, the Tour de France, the Masters Tournament, Baseball World Series, ''ABC's Wide World of Sports'' and the Ryder Cup.<ref name="stevesexton.com"/>
== See also == * Gerald O'Brien
==References== {{Reflist}}
;Additional sources *Murray, Anne and Posner, Michael, ''All of Me'', Alfred A. Knopf, 2009, p. 290 and ''passim''. {{ISBN|0-307-39844-7}} *[http://www.pugachov.ru/eem/ea.html Encyclopedia of Electronic Music - E] *[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0786690/filmogenre Sort by Popularity - Most Popular Movies and TV Shows With Steve Sexton]
==External links== *[http://www.stevesexton.com Steve Sexton - Official website] *[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0786690/filmotype Steve Sexton - IMDb] *[http://themusicofexchange.com/?members=steve-sexton Steve Sexton - Photograph] *[http://www.stevesexton.com Photograph of Steve Sexton with Anne Murray and other members of her band] (on Anne Murray's official website)
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sexton, Steve}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Canadian male composers Category:Canadian rock keyboardists Category:Canadian record producers Category:Musicians from the Regional Municipality of York Category:People from Richmond Hill, Ontario Category:University of Western Ontario alumni Category:Red Rider members Category:20th-century Canadian composers Category:20th-century Canadian male composers Category:21st-century Canadian male musicians