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| Stevie Salas | |
|---|---|
| Name | Stevie Salas |
| Background | non_vocal_instrumentalist |
| Birth date | 1964-10-22 |
| Birth place | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California |
| Genres | Rock, Funk rock, Blues rock, Hard rock |
| Occupations | Guitarist; Producer; Songwriter; Actor; Music director |
| Instruments | Guitar, Bass guitar |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Associated acts | Rod Stewart, Brian May, Annie Lennox, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bootsy Collins |
Stevie Salas is an American guitarist, producer, songwriter, and media personality notable for his work in rock, funk, and blues contexts. He rose to prominence through touring and recording with major artists and for his cross-cultural promotion of Native American identity in contemporary music. Salas's career spans performance, production, television, and advocacy, with collaborations across genres and international influence.
Born in Oklahoma City and raised partly in California, Salas is of Apache heritage and connected to Native American communities. His upbringing intersected with regional music scenes in Los Angeles, exposure to American rock, and influences from James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and Prince. He pursued guitar influenced by the Southern California circuit that included venues and institutions such as Sunset Strip, Whisky a Go Go, and Roxy Theatre. Early mentors and peers included figures from punk rock and funk rock movements who later became associates in touring and recording.
Salas's professional breakthrough came as a touring and session guitarist, engaging with recording sessions in studios linked to producers like Quincy Jones, Rick Rubin, and Mutt Lange. He built a reputation in the 1990s working with major acts and leading his project, the band Colorcode, which blended elements of Hard rock, Funk rock, and Blues rock. Salas has released solo and band albums distributed in markets such as the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom, showcasing guitar techniques informed by players such as Eddie Van Halen, Carlos Santana, and Jeff Beck. His recorded output spans studio albums, live releases, and compilation appearances alongside labels and distribution channels connected to entities like Capitol Records, Epic Records, and Sony Music affiliates.
Salas's collaborations include touring and recording stints with Rod Stewart, with whom he performed in arenas and on television; work with Brian May of Queen; studio and stage projects with Annie Lennox; and rhythm section or guest roles with Red Hot Chili Peppers members and Bootsy Collins. He has guested at festivals and tours alongside headliners such as Pink Floyd alumni, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Lenny Kravitz, and Guns N' Roses. Salas appeared in high-profile events connected to the Glastonbury Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and televised specials produced by networks like MTV, BBC Television, and NBC. He has also collaborated with artists from a range of genres, including Slash, Billy Idol, Public Enemy, Iggy Pop, George Clinton, and Steve Vai.
Beyond performance, Salas has worked as a producer and songwriter for artists across pop, rock, and R&B, collaborating with songwriters and producers such as Desmond Child, David Foster, and Terry Lewis. He contributed to recordings, arrangements, and production teams for projects connected to Epic Records, Island Records, and independent labels. Salas developed instructional media and authored material for guitar education that intersected with platforms like Guitar World and music technology companies. He has hosted and produced television and radio series about music history and culture in partnership with broadcasters including VH1, Fox, and NPR, and contributed to documentary projects profiling artists and Indigenous topics.
Salas has made acting cameos and on-screen appearances in scripted and non-scripted television. He has been featured on music-centered programs on MTV, performance shows on Late Show-format productions, and cultural documentaries broadcast by BBC Television and PBS. Salas served as a music director and on-screen expert for televised specials and curated concerts involving artists associated with David Bowie, Prince, Stevie Wonder, and other prominent figures. His media roles bridged performance, commentary, and production for international television and streaming platforms.
Salas's work has been recognized by Indigenous organizations and music industry bodies. He received honors and nominations from entities and events including Native American Music Awards, music press outlets such as Rolling Stone, and regional arts organizations in California and Oklahoma. Industry recognition includes citations from guitar and music publications linking him to conversations about influential contemporary guitarists alongside names like Joe Satriani, Carlos Santana, and Slash. He has been profiled in features by Guitar Player and cited in lists and retrospectives about cross-cultural contributions to rock and popular music.
Salas is active in advocacy for Native American visibility in arts and media and has partnered with community organizations, cultural institutions, and educational programs that work with tribes, museums, and universities such as UCLA and University of Oklahoma. His activism intersects with cultural heritage initiatives, benefit concerts, and mentorship programs that involve partners like Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of the American Indian, and youth arts organizations. Salas continues to promote representation and access for Indigenous artists across music, television, and education.
Category:American guitarists Category:Native American musicians Category:Living people Category:1964 births