Career
Mann broke onto the West Coast music scene in the 1960s. As a student at Valley State College in Los Angeles, Mann began to perform folk music at hootenannies and Los Angeles clubs like The Ash Grove and The Troubadour. In 1962 Mann was introduced to a young singer named Janis Joplin at an open mic performance at The Troubadour.
Mann began accompanying Joplin on guitar and they performed at open mics around the Los Angeles area.
They stopped performing together when Mann temporarily relocated to San Francisco. A full account of Mann"s association with Janis Joplin can be found at.
While in San Francisco, Mann also met singer/songwriter Ivan Ulz with whom he co-wrote two songs, one of which was recorded by Rod McKuen. Mann has also been linked to Margot Saint James, Sonny Bono, Doctor John, Frank Zappa, and many more.
Around 1967 Mann suffered a mental breakdown and went into partial retirement.
His few recordings became collector"s items and his music became legendary among blues guitar aficionados. In 2005 Mann released a new album on Civil Defense, "Steve Mann: Alive and Pickin"." lieutenant includes re-releases of previously recorded material, including performances with Janis Joplin, as well as a new song written and performed by Mann. In July 2009, the studio master tape of "Straight Life" was provided by John Lyon who had protected it from destruction since the 1970s.
The tape has been digitized and re-released on Civil Defense by Bella Roma Music.
Mann died on September 9, 2009 in Berkeley, California.
