1965-1967. THE DIFFERENCE, SOMEONE ELSE, PINK SAM & THE SHAKERS etc. Moving on to electric bands with Spike, John Mackay, Alan Palmer, Jerry Castell, Nimrod Ping, Paul Elmidoro, Peter 'Rasher' Robinson, Bonzo Moseley and others. Many bands were featuring keyboards, so Steve taught himself on a Vox Continental organ, moving on to piano.

1968-1969. MAHOGANY GUINNESS, becoming MAHOGANY. John Mackay (guitar), Malcolm Graham then Joe Southall (bass), Paul Hobbs (drums) and Steve on harmonica and piano. An excellent Chicago-style blues band, recognised with a recording contract from CBS Epic (USA) and no less a producer than Tony Clark, famous for producing The Moody Blues' concept albums and King Crimson. Collectors are still locating brand new copies of the Mahogany album in the United States. In Blues Matters magazine a correspondent wrote: "Having listened to the album recently, the sounds stand up well to other recognised blues bands of the era like John Mayall, Chicken Shack, Ten Years After and Savoy Brown". Shame it was never released in the UK then, isn't it! CBS, any comments?

For a while the band became Wildcats, backing Marty Wilde!

1970-1974. BREWERS DROOP. The legendary, infamous, bawdy, risqué, Cajun R&B band with John Mackay (guitar), Malcolm Barrett (bass, violin), Bob Walker (drums), Ron Watts (front man) and Steve on piano, accordion, harmonica, clarinet, sax and organ. The Droop shared stages with the best artists in the world, played in every town in England (twice!) and held a 10 month residency at the world-famous 100 Club, London. For a taste of festival life, look at  Great Western Festival 1972 - what a  line-up! The band's bar bill was about £27,000 that weekend.

There's a great account of just how festivals could go wrong at Buxton Festival 1973

Other members included Derrick Timms, Steve Norchi and Mark Knopfler. Two albums were recorded: "Opening Time" and "The Booze Brothers", the latter with Knopfler, Dave Edmunds and Pick Withers. The band still receives favourable mentions in The Guinness Book Of Rock. In1990 the second album, recorded in 1973/74 and featuring Mark Knopfler, Pick Withers and Dave Edmunds, was re-released. Music Week wrote: "This was the forerunner of Dire Straits".

1974-1976. SHUCKS. Western swing band with Paul Sharman (bass, lead singer), Spike Jones (guitar, banjo), Pete Sharp (guitar, mandolin), Bob Walker (drums), George Ricci (sax), and Steve on piano, harmonica, accordion and clarinet.

1976-1979. Went courting and got married!

1979-1982. ROXON ROADSHOW.  A monster, at times 12 piece country rock band, with three fiddles, dancing girls, The Works! Personnel included Steve Simpson, Bob Pearce, Bob Morledge, Bob Newman & Carol Gordon, Drew Taylor, Scraper Bell, Keith Nelson, Denis Allen, Gerry Hogan, Graham Walker, Gus York, Barry Smith, Jacqui, Jenny Notley, Debbie, Dusty Dunsterville, and many others. Regular favourites at the Easter Wembley C&W Festivals, they were called Britain's top session musicians, playing and recording with many artists. The Roxon Roadshow was the first band ever to feature each week on BBC TV's six week series of the event.

Steve's album “London Picker” found favour on country music programmes around the world, and featured “Cat Tail Chase”, which became the signature tune for over 60 radio programmes. He comments: "This was one of the best times of my life, with my (now ex-)wife Celia and our children Simon and Toni taking a full and active part. Happy Days!"

1983. LONNIE DONEGAN. "A wonderful year with a great guy, The King of Skiffle, an excellent musician and a fantastic singer." Paul Henry (guitar, fiddle), Chris Hunt (drums), Bob Rennie (bass), and Steve on piano. Many legendary guitarists credit Lonnie with being their inspiration.

1983-1986. THE LITTLE BIG BAND. Popular duo with Derek Mandel, a fine singer and guitarist, featuring Steve's first keyboard with automatic accompaniment.

1984-1992. MAGIC. (Middle Aged Gents In Concert!) Collaborations with many different artists Steve had worked with in the past, including Archie Leggett (bass) and Roger Dean (guitar). Inspired a series of gigs entitled "20 Years of Rock... and still no RRolls!"

1993-1999. THE BOOGIE BAND. Paul Sharman (bass, lead vocals), Spike Jones (guitar), Mick Scatley (drums) and Steve on piano and harmonica. A swinging little band which played stately homes, jazz, rock, blues and world music festivals. Steve recorded three albums with them but had to stop touring after an accident.

2000-2002. Resident keyboard at The Gillan Hotel, Swanage.

2000-2007. Occasionally playing solo, sitting in with bands and with Jon Sibthorpe (guitar), Martin Johnson (vocals), Jake Jacobs (guitar), Geoff Wellstead (sax), Willie Bath (bass) and others.

2008-current. Mainly organising the Swanage Blues Festivals for March and October, producing the monthly local gig guide "Swanage - Live!" and playing regularly in and around Swanage.