Prior to his 2008 acceptance of the lead role at New River Fellowship, Steve served for several years as the pastor of the radiate))) community - the college / young adult ministry of Belmont Church located on the famed Music Row in Nashville - where he passionately invested much of his time teaching and mentoring next-generation leaders, and a diverse spectrum of 20- and 30-somethings ranging from university students and young urban professionals, to songwriters and ‘starving artists.’  He also served on the Pastoral Leadership Team, and could be found leading worship and preaching for Belmont’s 2,000+ members periodically throughout the year.  

Over 20 years ago, this Philadelphia, PA native began spreading his musical wings.  In time he was soaring to new heights, comfortably leading hundreds in worship every week at his home church, and many more in conferences and youth events on the east coast - all the while mentoring and training up-and-coming worship leaders, and frequently speaking on the topic of worship and the arts.

The move to Music City found Steve pushing for higher elevations as an artist, and the proof was his most recent offering titled “Eavesdropping.”  With shimmering production by Scott Williamson (FFH, Point of Grace, Lincoln Brewster), this was his much-anticipated follow up to his 2003 debut EP “So Long L.A”, and it has proved to be nothing short of a sonic wonder.   

As an artist and worship leader, Steve has already played to thousands in the USA (like leading worship at the Gospel Music Association’s ‘Seminar in the Rockies’ in Estes Park, Colorado) as well as gathering fans internationally in South America, and to a greater extent in Europe – where he has headlined two acoustic tours, sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ (now called CRU). 

His favorite cut on the “Eavesdropping” record?  “Of course I think all eleven songs are outstanding <smiling>, but if I had to pick one I guess it would be ‘Slow Motion Surrender’ or maybe the title track ‘Eavesdropping,’ a song I wrote about my Dad’s battle with cancer…although another real head-turner has been ‘Holy Is The Lord’ ” says Steve.  “It’s a modern worship song inspired by a passage in the book I AM written by Steve Fry in which he explores the wonder of Heaven’s unbroken song and God’s ongoing response to our worship...it’s awesome to think that we will spend eternity praising God and never come to the end of who He is!”  Steve continues, “When I play this song people seem to instantly resonate with it, and spontaneously lift their hands and sing along ‘scratching the surface of your love for me / plunging Your depths could take eternity / but every time You show yourself to me / all I can do is worship / all I can say is holy…’ It doesn’t get any better than that!”

Over the last few years, diverse creative outlets have opened to him, such as singing lead on the rock worship tune “I Will Boast” featured on the most recent Promise Keepers project “Unleashed”, as well as being a guitarist / vocalist with Integrity’s PK7 BAND for some of the live Promise Keepers conference dates throughout the USA.  Add to that numerous lead vocal appearances on Kingsway Music projects, and the 2004 Promise Keepers project ‘Uprising’ featuring his lead vocals on 3 songs – all of which highlight the softer, more intimate side of Steve’s worship style.  This powerful modern worship CD also features popular worship artists such as Jeff Deyo (Sonic Flood), Lincoln Brewster, John Katina (The Katinas) and others.  And if you happen to read liner notes / credits on records coming out of Nashville, you’ll discover that his background vocals are in demand on numerous pop and modern worship projects too.   

Prior to his 2002 venture into solo artistry and Nashville-based pastoral ministry, Steve served as the lead vocalist, guitarist, and principle writer for Pilgrim’s Progress, a pop rock / worship band he started in 1997 along with two of his brothers, Phil (bass) and Dave (drums) and younger sister Reta (vocals, percussion).  Two years later they released their first independent record (produced by David Huff) and started gathering a significant fan base in the northeast playing close to 100 shows and worship events per year. 

Regional radio in PA and NY further fueled the buzz by getting behind a number of radio singles and helping them to score two consecutive top 5 charting singles, in a major CHR market.  Steve and his band went on to open for FFH, and play numerous festivals along with artists such as the Newsboys, Steven Curtis Chapman, and more. 

Steve grew up in a musical family known as the Garretts.  From six to sixteen years of age, he toured the eastern U.S. and parts of Europe and Canada singing alongside his four siblings and parents.  During these years Steve had a growing sense that someday he would go into full time ministry, following in the footsteps of his father, a pastor, gifted preacher, and singer.  “God began to place in me a huge passion for music and preaching,” Steve recalls.

As a young kid on the road, in the summer of ’83, he got his first real guitar in an old antique shop near Savannah, Georgia, taught himself to play, and eventually started writing his own songs.  After High School, Steve honed his preaching and writing craft by studying Theology at University of Valley Forge, and then going on to earn a degree in Political Science at West Chester University of Pennsylvania.  After marrying his college sweetheart, he was ordained, and served on staff at Praise Fellowship Church in suburban Philadelphia for a number of years as the youth pastor and worship pastor, before launching to Nashville.  In Nashville, Steve furthered his ministerial training and graduated from the Pastoral Leadership Academy in 2011. A committed life-long learner, he is currently enrolled in the Theology and Ministry program at Princeton Theological Seminary.     

“More than anything, I want to spread God’s fame,” says Steve.  “A number of years ago I wrote a song called “Stealing Thunder” and it basically talks about how we tend to take a lot of credit for the stuff we make, when in reality, God is the only Creator that is truly original.  I think worship is simply acknowledging that fact.  Jesus put it this way, ‘If I am lifted up, I will draw all people to myself,’ and ultimately every aspect of my ministry, art, and lifestyle should do just that.”

Steve has travelled extensively in the USA and internationally as a recording artist, speaker, and short-term missionary.  After several years as frontman for his family band called Pilgrim’s Progress, he released two solo projects (‘Eavesdropping’ and ‘So Long L.A.’) and then went on to be a featured worship artist and lead vocalist on various projects for Integrity Music, Promise Keepers, Provident, Word Music, Maranatha Music, and Kingsway Music. Steve lives in suburban Nashville with his wife Milissa and their 5 children.