Meet Steev Riccardo | Producer and Host – Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico Podcast

We had the good fortune of connecting with Steev Riccardo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Steev, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
What keeps me going and gets me excited and inspired about my podcast, is a life long dedication to music, mainly original rock n roll music and being able to still do this and talk to musicians, songwriters, producers etc. every week.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
After finishing college, and more importantly, my time at WDJM, the college radio station at Framingham State University just outside Boston I was music director at, I bought a one-way ticket to Los Angeles to follow my dream to work in the music business.

I landed a job at Greenworld Distribution, which was part of Enigma Records in Torrance, California, selling records to retailers over the phone. Eventually, I moved over to the label itself, where I found great success working at what was quickly becoming one of the best independent labels in the country in the flourishing 80’s indie rock scene.

From there, I went on to work with a number of labels including Roadrunner Records, Giant Records, Metal Blade Records, Third Stone Music, and eventually A&M Records. Of course, none of it came easy. There were plenty of challenges along the way, but I loved working with bands and promoting records so much that it always kept me going.

When the major labels started to decline and it was time for a new chapter, I launched Twisted Rico Management, representing artists for the next 20 years. It was a roller coaster ride, but one I have no regrets about.

All of that experience eventually led to the creation of the podcast, where I draw on everything I’ve learned—week after week.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well since I am close to Boston and in the heart of New England, the options are plentiful. The Somerville and Cambridge area have everything so we could start there. It’s as simple as walking around various neighborhoods and taking in the scenery and sights. The Food option is plentiful. You can find anything in these areas but heading up to the North Shore and one of the ocean towns like many Newburyport would mean the best seafood restaurants around. Salem is another cool option, never a dull moment there. Plus there is great Art and music all over the Boston area. Its probably my second favorite part of the Country, behind Los Angeles and the whole West Coast really…

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
It’s hard to credit just one person or group for my lifelong music career and everything that led to the creation of the Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico podcast. But in 2018, my friend Zack Shell definitely played a key role.

At the time, I had just wrapped up a long chapter working with record labels and managing bands, and it felt like my music career might be coming to an end. I was helping Zack with his new taco shop, Baby Loves Tacos, in Pittsburgh, and I often shared stories from my time in the music business. He was always eager to hear more and eventually convinced me that I needed to start a podcast and tell those stories to a wider audience.

So, in January 2019, Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico was born. Now, with over 400 episodes under our belt, it’s clear that was the right move, both personally and professionally.

And I suppose I should also give some credit to Queen and Black Sabbath for blowing my mind as a teenager in the ’70s—and for helping me perfect my air guitar skills on a hockey stick.

Website: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blowing-smoke-with-twisted-rico/id1448387957

Instagram: @blowingsmokewithTR

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steevr

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/twistedrico1

Other: My email is twistedrico@gmail.com

Image Credits
All these photos are from my personal collection