SOURCE: Arthur R. [2004] Steddom, manuscript entitled "Descendants of John Stidham-Samuel Steddom and Descendants." dated c1971.

RES: 1976, Belleview, Florida

SOURCE: Arthur Steddom's obit in "Western Star" newspaper, probably of Blue Ash, Ohio, 10/27/1976.

BIRTH: "Man With His Soul in His Music," article in unknown publication, Jul 26, 1959. (See below)

BIRTH-DEATH: Social Security Death Index (rootsweb.com)

OCCUPATION: musician, singing pianist

SOURCE: 1930 Hamilton Co., Ohio census (Norwood)--enumerated with father

MILITARY: World War II, US Army Air Force, 2nd Lt. Flew transport planes from India to China. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal and Purple Heart. - source: National World War II Memorial, Washington, DC, Registry (http://www.wwiimemorial.com) Iinformant was Justine Steddom, his sister-in-law.

PHOTOGRAPHS and SKETCH

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - a Florida newspaper, July 26, 1959
"Man With His Soul in His Music - Travel and a lot of fine music-a little time out of doors-that?s life for Florida?s Art Steddom" - By Norman Thomas
What is it like to be a "wandering minstrel"-to travel among the glamour spots of the world-to play and sing in the most fashionable clubs? We asked this ques­tion of Florida's popular Art Steddom as he played for us one recent evening.
The 34-year-old singing pianist has played such stylish clubs as the Balmoral at Miami Beach, Bluebeard?s Castle in the Virgin Is­lands, the Mars Club' in Paris, the Houston Club and Shamrock International Club at Houston-all in the past few years. His engagements take him abroad, but he prefers to play the "States." He would rather separate his travel from his work.
"In Paris, for instance," he says, "I hardly got to see it. I went on at ten, just when things were beginning to come alive, and got off at dawn. In the daytime I sleep or practice.
But in Paris he found time to learn the language-?just by ear." He picks up a lan­guage as he does a tune-speaks French, Spanish and Italian quite well, sings naturally in all three. In Paris he wrote several songs, including the very pleasant "Paris and I."
The strange thing about Art, for a pianist of his stature, is that he didn't really start playing piano seriously until the age of 26. That was in 1951. Of course, he had pecked around on a piano, played an accordion, but that year he bought a copy of "Rachmaninoff?s Second Concerto" and learned, to play it. Suddenly he was interested in piano. A local teacher recognized his talents and ex­erted her influence to keep him at it. He worked eight to ten hours a day at the keyboard, until he felt he was ready for his pro­fessional debut.
Art Steddom's professional life goes some­thing like this: He plays an average three (illegible) ... his work. In his off-duty hours he practices, does his own arrangements, does some com­posing. He doesn't waste much time. Then he takes a month off to visit his mother, Mrs. Marian L. French, a real estate saleslady, at her home on Smith Lake near Belleview, in Central Florida.
In Florida, the tanned, slender musician relaxes on the water by day. He water skis with the same grace that he runs the key­board, swims, goes boating and camping with friends along the Suwannee. It is a credit to his versatility that he is equally at home in Florida's out-of-doors or in the plushest night club. But even on these prolonged vacations, and after a busy day on the water, Art will sit up until the wee hours of the morning practicing at the piano, playing for friends or just for himself.
Art plays from memory his own arrangements of some 500 pieces, ranging from boogie-woogie to the classics. His own preference is for the classics. His favorite composers are Debussy and Ravel, with Rachmaninoff running a poor third. "I don't like Chopin," he says. "Most pianists do. I don't."
He does a beautiful job of arranging, which he credits to his mastery of the clas­sics. He admits that he doesn't sight-read readily, but by the time he runs through a strange piece and works out his techniques, he has committed it to memory.
"The secret of good piano is in the touch," he continues. "I don't like the organ for that reason. It is all a matter of tone structure-not melody. You can't say, 'How does it go?' This is what it is."
"Do you know something that is getting very popular these days-one we have many requests for? It?s the 'Warsaw Concerto.' In popular music, one of the most requested is (illegible)
Art would like to record (he has taped some beautiful arrangements of his own, and with small combos). "But they are only put­ting Rock 'n Roll on the singles now, and big names on the LP's. I only hope," he quips, "that Rock 'n Roll will die before I get too old to record. It's amazing how much good music there is," he muses. "Shame you can?t get some of it on the airways.?