CoOl InFo

Here are some bios on two of my teachers. Every McNally Smith professor is a professional in the music or entertainment business as well as a teacher. Thats the cool thing about this college. You can take a guitar class and then a couple hours later go see your teachers band play at a nightclub or venue. The two bios here, are from two of my music business teachers.

David Steffen

dsteffen@mcnallysmith.edu Chair, Music Business Faculty member since: 2004

Primary Department: Music BusinessFormal Education: MA New York University, BA Fairfield University (Summa cum Laude)

Other teaching experience: Fairfield University; New York UniversityAwards and Honors: Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Mu Gamma Memberships: Country Music Association; Gospel Music Association

Professional Experience: Music Business Chair David Steffen has spent more than 20 years in the music industry working in sales, marketing, distribution and international business at major labels including A&M Records in Hollywood and GRP Records. David was the Sr. Vice President and General Manager of BMG Video, an American division of BMG Records, where he coordinated video releases and developed new film projects. During the years that he worked for A&M, BMG, and GRP he was associated with the marketing of artists such as Herb Alpert, George Benson, the Carpenters, Amy Grant, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Diana Krall, The Police, Sting, Styx, and Supertramp. Prior to joining the McNally Smith faculty, David taught at Fairfield University and New York University while starting his own label, the Fox Run Group. Steffen’s first book, From Edison to Marconi: The First Thirty Years of Recorded Music, was recently published by McFarland & Company. www.davidjsteffen.com

And....


David Olson

David has spent more years than he’ll admit to and worked in more bands than he can remember as a nightclub guitarist and vocalist in and around the Twin Cities. His experiences and contacts have given him many unusual insights into this key aspect of the music business. He has also worked as a studio guitarist and vocalist in the Twin Cities and in Los Angeles. David has written music for such companies as U.S. West and has been a vocalist, guitarist, arranger, and writer on numerous live productions and television, video, and radio projects.