The Usual Suspects
Gio Washington-Wright's L.A. Studio Musicians Tribute Site

Steve Schaeffer started his career in New York City. At the age of 14, Steve was part of Marshall Brown's Newport Youth Band, a band made up of the best young Jazz players in the New York and Tri State area's. At 17, Steve joined the Al Cohn/Zoot Sims Quintet at the famed Half Note in NYC. At 19, Steve joined Doc Severinsons Quintet. At 20, Steve joined Sarah Vaughn and stayed for 2 1/2 years. This band also had Chick Corea featured as Sarah's pianist. Steve also worked with jazz greats Joe Henderson, Eddie Daniels, Monty Alexander, Bob Sheppard, Pete Christlieb and Mike Maineri to name a few. Other positions followed with Herb Alpert and the TJB, Roger McQuinn and the Byrds and Dreams with Randy and Michael Brecker.
After 12 years on the road, Steve took the drum chair with "A Chorus Line" at the Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles and stayed for 2 years. It was there he was discovered and became one of Hollywood's most prominent recording musicians. He has played on 1,000 feature films and Sound Tracks including: Jerry Goldsmith, (L.A. Confidential, Air Force One, The Edge, Along Came a Spider, Star Trek Nemesis, Looney Tunes: Back in Action); John Williams, (Indiana Jones, Close Encounters, Amistad, Catch Me If You Can, War of the Worlds); Howard Shore, (Big, Mrs. Doubtfire, Seven, The Truth About Cats and Dogs, The Panic Room, The Score); Alan Silvestri, (Bodyguard, Forest Gump, Mouse Hunt, What Lies Beneath, What Women Want, Castaway, The Mexican, Polar Express); David Newman, (Anasthasia, Bowfinger, Galaxy Quest, Ice Age, How to Loose a Guy in 10 Days, Serenity, Monster-In-Law); James Newton Howard, (The Fugitive, Outbreak, Space Jam, King Kong); Babyface, (Waiting To Exhale); Michael Giacchino, (The Incredibles); Teddy Shapiro, (Fun With Dick and Jane); Randy Newman, (Meet the Fockers, Pleasantville, Monsters Inc., Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Cars); as well as many other films with Bill Conti, Dave Grusin, Patrick Williams and Henry Mancini.
Steve has also been featured on hundreds of television shows including the hit animated shows, "American Dad" and "Family Guy". Dozens of Gold and Platinum records ranging from Barbara Streisand's Broadway albums, both 1 and 2. Toots Thielman's Brazil 2 to GRP recordings with Diane Shurr and Stan Getz(Timeless) and Harry Connick Jr. Steve has also played more than 12 Grammy Award Shows and Academy Award shows.
2011 Arthur [2011] Percussion
2011 The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn [Music from the Motion Picture] Percussion
2010 The Pacific [Original Score] Blake Neely Percussion
2010 Dinner for Schmucks Theodore Shapiro Percussion
2010 Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief Christophe Beck Percussion
2009 Year One [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] Theodore Shapiro Percussion
2008 The Express [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] Percussion
2008 Marley & Me [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] Theodore Shapiro Percussion
2008 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] Percussion
2008 Tropic Thunder [Original Motion Picture Score] Theodore Shapiro Percussion
2007 Hairspray [2007 Original Soundtrack] Musician, Percussion, Performer, Rhythm
2005 Constantine [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] Brian Tyler Percussion
2005 Innerplay Jim Self Drums, Main Personnel, Soloist
2005 Meet the Fockers [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] Randy Newman Percussion
2005 Timeline: Music Inspired by the Film Jerry Goldsmith Percussion
2005 War of the Worlds [Music from the Motion Picture] Percussion
2004 Flight of the Phoenix [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] Marco Beltrami Percussion
2004 I, Robot [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] Marco Beltrami Percussion
2004 Surviving Christmas [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] Randy Edelman Percussion
2003 Elf [Original Motion Picture Score] John Debney Percussion
2003 Identity [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] Alan Silvestri Percussion
2003 Jeepers Creepers 2 [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] Percussion
2003 Looney Tunes: Back in Action [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] Jerry Goldsmith Percussion
2003 The Hunted [Music from the Motion Picture] Brian Tyler Percussion
2003 Under the Tuscan Sun (Original Score) Christophe Beck Percussion
2002 Ice Age [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] David Newman Percussion
2002 Star Trek: Nemesis [Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] Percussion
2002 The Tuxedo [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] John Debney Percussion
2001 Along Came a Spider Jerry Goldsmith Percussion
2001 Black Knight [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] Randy Edelman Percussion
2001 Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back [Original Motion Picture Score] Percussion
2001 The Score (Soundtrack) Howard Shore Drums Drums
2000 Diamonds [1999] Joel Goldsmith Percussion
2000 Music from the TV Series Frasier Drums
1999 Anna and the King Ethnic Percussion, Percussion
1999 Bowfinger David Newman Drums, Percussion
1997 Conspiracy Theory Carter Burwell Percussion
1997 For Richer or Poorer Randy Edelman Drums
1997 The Edge Jerry Goldsmith Drums
1995 Forget Paris [Original Soundtrack] Unknown Contributor Role
1992 Newsies Alan Menken Drums
1991 Switch [Original Score] Henry Mancini Drums
1988 Who Framed Roger Rabbit? London Symphony Orchestra Drums
1984 Country [Original Soundtrack] Percussion
1982 Blade Runner New American Orchestra Drums
1979 Rocky II [Original Motion Picture Score] Bill Conti Drums
Uncle Joe Shannon Bill Conti Drums
Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey: Music from the Motion Picture [Score] Drums, Percussion