Steve Tapley

Tenor Banjo, Drums

When my brothers Graham and Brent, began playing with Legacy, I was too busy with sports to participate.  After I went to a few shows and saw what fun they were all having together, I decided that I too wanted to join the band and have not looked back since.

I have very little recollection of when my Mom played with The Family Spectrum as I was two years old when she quit. I have seen pictures and listened to my aunties and uncles and Grandma and Grandpa playing music, but I didn’t realize that I would become a part of the musical tradition of the Bunkowsky family.

When I was in Grade 2, I had to follow in my brothers’ footsteps and take piano lessons. I was a reluctant student and spent very little time practicing and considerable time concocting plans to get out of lessons. I managed to get my Grade 1 in piano and my parents finally let me stop with the lessons. When I was in Grade 6 I started playing trumpet with the band at school. I did this for Grades 7 and 8, but during this time I had begun playing with Legacy and my Auntie Lisa saw some percussion talent and arranged for me to have my Grandpa Bunkowsky’s drums at our house where I practiced on them frequently! I had also been playing some percussion with the jazz and concert bands at school as trumpet was not too exciting for me. I managed to work my way onto the drum set and found that I really liked doing this and that I was having a lot of fun. Since then I have purchased my own set of drums which I really enjoy playing and accessorizing.

At the same time, at the Legacy practices, I had to decide what I was going to play. There were already duplicates of most instruments, so I decided to take up the tenor banjo and my Uncle Brian has been mentoring me on this instrument ever since. I am in the process of purchasing one of his banjos so that I will have my own. I enjoy playing a lot of the older music and have come to appreciate the importance of preserving this part of my family’s heritage. I feel very lucky that I have someone who is willing to take the time to show me his knowledge of this atypical instrument.

When I am not playing with Legacy or with the school bands now that I am in Grade 9, I enjoy jamming with my brothers in our basement. With Legacy I mainly play the tenor banjo and play the drums on a few songs as well. Getting to be a part of this family band is something I already know is very unique and special. Just being on stage with so many talented musicians is reward enough, but when I see other people coming out and enjoying our music, this is really exciting. I hope I will have the opportunity to continue for many years. Music has come to be very important in my life and I can’t imagine a day without it.

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