Stephen Duros – Artist Bio

Early Musical Foundations

Stephen Duros began his musical journey at age four, drawn to the grooves and textures of vinyl records at home. Motown, disco, and soulful pop — including Heatwave, The Commodores, The Emotions, Donna Summer, Olivia Newton-John, and Toto — formed the soundtrack of his early curiosity. By six, he was playing the organ, performing by ear and taking lessons, giving his first recital at six and a half. Those formative years laid the groundwork for a lifelong sensitivity to melody, rhythm, and nuance.

At nine, he expanded into drums, influenced by Genesis, Phil Collins, and the Bee Gees, developing a deep sense of timing and dynamic interplay. Competitions soon followed: between ages ten and twelve, Stephen competed in Yamaha National Keyboard Festivals, earning regional prizes and placing fourth nationally, including a standout performance of War from Rocky IV, programmed with intricate organ and drum arrangements.

It was during this period that the guitar began to captivate him. By his teens, after hearing the electrifying precision of Def Leppard and the emotive depth of Paco de Lucía and Ottmar Liebert, he began to transition to nylon-string guitar, drawn to its rhythmic expressiveness and melodic potential.

Move to Los Angeles and Early Career

At 19, Stephen moved to Los Angeles, eager to immerse himself in the city’s vibrant music scene. He briefly attended Musicians Institute but quickly realized that a strictly technical path wasn’t the right fit. Instead, he found a unique way to blend his musical curiosity with a practical career: lighting design. Starting as an apprentice at Musicians Institute, he honed his craft, developing a keen sense for translating the energy of live performance into visual storytelling.

Stephen’s early professional lighting work took him to iconic Los Angeles venues, including The Roxy Theatre on Sunset Boulevard and Billboard Live (later renamed The Key Club). During this time, he continued his deep dive into flamenco guitar, studying authentic rhythms with Paco Arroyo. Arroyo became a mentor, guiding him through the intricacies of compás and helping him select his first flamenco guitar — a 1995 German Vazquez-Rubio blanca — which would accompany him on early recordings and performances.

Touring with Toto, Olivia Newton-John and Down From the Mountain

At 23, Stephen’s dual expertise in music and lighting opened a remarkable opportunity:

he was hired by Toto as their lighting director. Over the next two decades, he worked closely with the band on tours, television appearances, and live recordings, including Toto: Live in Poland (2013) and Toto: 40 Tours Around the Sun (2018).

During this period, he also toured with the 2002–2003 Down From the Mountain tour — featuring Alison Krauss and Union Station, Emmylou Harris, and Patty Loveless — as well as Olivia Newton-John in 2003-2004, further expanding his experience with diverse musical acts. It was Toto who affectionately nicknamed him “Astro,” later shortened to “Stro,” reflecting his ability to bring stellar visual energy to every stage he touched.

Collaboration with Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra

In 2004, Stephen met Ottmar Liebert while working lighting for one of Liebert’s shows at the Key Club. After hearing a recent solo album Stephen was finishing, Liebert invited him to send a demo, which led to Stephen joining Liebert’s group, Luna Negra. He initially toured as the band’s lighting director for the Winter Rose tour and soon transitioned into the role of guitarist, blending his flamenco foundation with contemporary melodic sensibilities. Over four years with Luna Negra, Stephen toured extensively and contributed to recordings, refining the hybrid style that would later define his solo work.

During this period, Stephen also continued to tour extensively with Toto, contributing creatively both as a musician and lighting director. These years broadened his perspective, taking him across the globe and deepening his understanding of diverse audiences and musical traditions. Across his career, he has toured in approximately 55 countries.

Solo Recordings

In 2002, Stephen released his first solo album, Miranda, showcasing his flamenco-inspired guitar voice and compositional sensibilities. He followed it with Thira in 2006, which expanded his musical palette and earned a spot on the Grammy ballot, signaling wider recognition for his distinctive approach. These early recordings captured the interplay of rhythmic authenticity and melodic experimentation that would become his signature style, bridging tradition and modernity.

Over time, Duros’ solo work culminated in Rhythm Maps, an album anchored by a 1989 Manuel Reyes flamenco guitar, its tone described as “sunlight and dust” — earthy, precise, and alive to the slightest touch. On select tracks, a 2016 Lester DeVoe cedar-top Blanca adds modern warmth, creating a dialogue between classic flamenco resonance and contemporary lyrical depth. Travel has also informed his musical expression, including journeys through Guatemala’s highlands and the November kite festival in Sumpango, experiences that inspired pieces like “Sumpango,” where the interplay of wind, color, and landscape infuses the music with cinematic presence.

Music Production and Composition

Beyond touring, Stephen has expanded his creative work into music production and composition. He contributed to several Billboard-charting songs with guitarist Lawson Rollins and collaborated with composer Shem von Schroeck on compositions for X0dus by Director Dean Yurke. He also did music production on Dean’s first film, Stay Out Stay Alive, demonstrating his versatility and skill across genres.

Later Albums and Key Performances

As a solo artist, Stephen’s later albums explore a range of musical landscapes:
- AEAEA — a cinematic journey that explores immersive soundscapes
- The Manhattan Sessions — focuses on electric guitar work and reflects his connection to New York City, inspired by years of traveling, performing, and working in the city

Highlights from this period include light directing at Radio City Music Hall for the Down From the Mountain tour and performing six nights at The Blue Note, doing two shows per night with Ottmar Liebert — a testament to his stamina, artistry, and versatility as both performer and lighting designer.

In addition to albums, Stephen has released several singles, including Waves of Time with Shahin Shahida, and he is preparing an upcoming double album collaboration with Ottmar Liebert under the Rhythm Maps project, continuing his exploration of rhythm, melody, and hybrid flamenco-inspired expression.

Career Summary

Stephen Duros’ career spans decades of performance, composition, production, and touring across approximately 55 countries. From his early studies in organ and drums to flamenco-inspired guitar mastery, from lighting iconic stages to collaborating with world-class artists, he has forged a unique musical voice that bridges tradition and modernity. His work blends rhythmic precision, melodic nuance, and cinematic sensibility, creating immersive experiences for audiences worldwide. Whether on stage, in the studio, or behind the lighting console, Stephen continues to explore, innovate, and share the universal language of music with clarity, passion, and authenticity.