Stephen El Rey is an American musician, artist, actor, model, songwriter, and a troubadour of sorts. He was born at the George Air Force base in the high desert of Victorville, California. His folks transferred to San Diego when he was three. At age seventeen he learned the art of hitchhiking and busking the streets of San Francisco before doing a brief stint at San Diego State University and learning the construction trade. In 1998, Rey obtained a publishing deal with Warner Chappell as a songwriter, after which his songs appeared in films and documentaries such as Embrace of the Vampire with Alyssa Milano. 

His grandfather was a self-made, hard working truck driver/owner and rancher who measured the stature of a man by how hard he worked. Rey’s grandmother owned a local Cantina where occasionally live music was brought in. Invariably, a Juke Box would be playing Johnny Cash, Rene/Rene and others.

Rey’s affliction for blues also expanded to jazz and murder ballads. He carries a torch and passion for those things that are slowly disappearing in our American culture. These changes are characterized in his composition, “The Old Fashioned Future.” His songs dangerously tight rope honky tonk, border town barrel house country blues, and at times unpredictable rock & roll with a southern swamp. As MoJo Nixon said, it’s “The Gun Club meets Memphis’ Tav Falco drunk.”

Rey has written and composed hundreds of songs and performed with various musicians from all over the world, including: 

Alice in Chains, Danzig, Hank Williams III, Jesus Lizard, Andrew Bird, Cash'd Out, Jewel, No Doubt, Detroit Cobras, Joan Jett, and Pearl Jam

Stephen Rey has also been featured as the bass player for bands around the country, Those credits include: 

Bartender's Bible, Erika Davies, Lady Dottie & the Diamonds, Schizophonics, Diablo Dimes, and Mad Juana