The Central New York music community is mourning the death of a local artist, sound engineer, lighting tech and performer who was inducted into the SAMMYS Hall of Fame last year.
Steve Schad died Saturday, his bandmate Jimmy Puma announced on Facebook. Schad, a keyboardist also known as “Dr. Johnny Fever,” performed with Puma in The United Booty Foundation.
“His love for music IS an inspiration for so many,” Puma wrote in a tribute. “I bought my first Bass Guitar from Steve at Onondaga Music 40 years ago. 30 years of my music career was spent sharing the stage with his creative genius… Love ya Brother! Thank you for everything! See you at the Great Gig in the Sky. Rest in Peace.”
Schad, a 1972 Jamesville-DeWitt High School graduate, was a staple of the Syracuse music scene for nearly five decades. He performed and recorded with progressive rock groups Steppes and Animation; played keys in The United Booty Foundation and Dangerous Type; and formed the Pink Floyd tribute band Childhood’s End, later known as Radio Floyd.
“Steve Schad was the man, RIP and condolences to his family,” Syracuse-based drummer Jeff Tripoli wrote on Facebook. “I was the biggest fan of ‘Childhoods End’ (the local Syracuse Pink Floyd tribute). He always had great taste in music and enthusiasm for everything in our local music scene.”
Schad was inducted into the Syracuse Area Music Awards (SAMMYS) Hall of Fame in 2024. His long list of accomplishments included building his own recording studio; producing albums for local artists like Ashley Cox and Lisa Romano Ward; investing in intelligent lights for bands like The Shuffling Hungarians with his brother, fellow sound engineer Tim Schad; running sound and lights for artists like New Day, UAD, Mere Mortals, Brass Inc, Gold Dust Gypsies, What About Bob, and REV; plus work on Beatlecuse, Vinyl Albums Live, Magical Mystery Tour and shows at the Ridge Tribute Series.
“We lost our brother Steve today,” Steve Schad’s Facebook page said. “The Schad family believes the best way to celebrate is to share stories .. which album , event, party, work project .. what made your relationship w Steve a classic !! Thanks for all the beautiful posts and all the love you all had w Steve.. he cherished everyone of you.”
A cause of death was not announced, but he had previously posted on social media about health issues including a cancer battle. Schad’s former bandmate Tim Robinson said they had played together for two decades “until he was too sick to continue.”
“We knew this day was coming, but that doesn’t make it any easier. I’m incredibly grateful for the time we spent together—the good times and the bad. I had a chance to visit him a few weeks back, to tell him how much he and his friendship meant to me, and to remind him how much I loved him,” Robinson wrote on Facebook. “He impacted so many people in so many ways. As I told him, his influence will live on far beyond his years. Rest easy, my friend. I am so thankful our paths crossed and stayed linked for as long as they did. I will never forget all that we shared and accomplished together. I will always love you, brother.”
Others playing tribute included The Dinosaur Radio (WSEN-FM); Beatlecuse collaborators Paul Davie and John Freund; Benny Mardones and the Hurricanes guitarist Kevin Farrell; Syracuse Jazz Fest director Frank Malfitano; and local musicians like Bill Ali, Brass Inc. and Ed Vivenzio.
“I admire and look up to this guy,” Ali said of Schad. “I had the utmost pleasure of working with him on one of his passion projects, The Wilson Project. He made you a better musician and most of all a better person. This one hurts a lot. My condolences to his family and friends. I love ya Steve Rest easy…”
“I’am saddened to hear of the passing of my good friend Steve Schad,” Vivenzio wrote on Facebook. “Steve was one of the finest humans on the face of this planet, he would always go out of his way to help anyone. I had visited with Steve over the course of his treatments. He was always upbeat, we would talk about music, synths, gigs, and his beloved Chrysler Imperial. Steve was a whiz on Logic, and he would always give me some great programming tips. He also did audio, and video work, truly a Renaissance Man. My Condolences to his brother Tim, and the entire Schad family. Steve will be missed, and my life is richer for having him as a good friend. Rest well my Brother, love, and miss you.”
“I love you Stevie. I’m shaking with grief since the news of your passing,” Ashley Cox added. “All day, the heavy feeling of heartbreak. A quiet pain that wants to smile, cry, reminisce and scream at the sky. You are so loved.”
“I’ll share more stories as the days pass. That’s what he would’ve wanted. To talk to each other and tell stories. Next time you see me, ask me about how Steve and I recorded my song ‘The Room’ in one take, as we wrote it together in the moment. As the years went by, we would smile and giggle and shake our heads in disbelief of our own child like magic of that moment.. that we were wild enough to release it like that too. The healing it brought to us both. I dreaded this day… but I made sure he knew how much I loved him, how special he will always be to us all. Thinking of everyone that loved him and sending my love out to you all. This is a devastating blow to our musical community. Check on your friends.”