After reading the article Down Beat had about Steve I wrote to him in 1968 and ask him to review some of my chord changes I made to some standard songs. He replied with an autograph picture (I asked for one) which I still have displayed in my music room. He wrote and told me I was on the right track into playing rhythm guitar and to listen closely when choosing chords along with the melody. I still have his letter behind the picture and the sheet corrections he made to the songs. He inspired me to buy an 1949 L 5 which I still have and will never part with. For many years horn players booked me because I was told of my fine rhythm guitar playing I had to use an amp with a DeArmond pickup. Thank you Steve- as you wrote on the photo "Rhythm guitar isn't dead yet"!

Musically Yours,
Joe Guida
PS I also have his book.'    12/08/2008
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I'd like to share this brief story of Steve Jordan:
When I finished reading, "Rhythm Man," by Steve Jordan I decided that I had to speak to him. After getting a phone number from the operator in Alexandria, VA, I telephoned and Mr Jordan answered. My only credentials were that I also played jazz guitar (badly) and that I loved jazz, especially jazz played on guitar. I recall sheepishly asking if he could spare a few minutes to answer a few questions about jazz, acoustic arch-top guitars and his book. He was totally charming and very flattered that I took interest in his career and book. One tidbit that I thought I'd pass on was the story he told me of his youth in Flushing, NY (I lived in Whitestone near Flushing years ago). Steve told me that his real name was Steve Giordano but that the Irish nuns who taught him had trouble pronouncing his name so they changed it to Jordan. The name was put on his school records and it stuck. After 45 minutes of chatter I decided not to wear out my welcome and told him that I had to go. Every time I look at Steve's book it brings back a very fond memory, especially the notation on the first page, Sunday June 28th 1992 and his phone number.
Roger Marchese, San Francisco, CA    5/28/2008
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Knew Steve very well in NY just after he left Fred Waring. He was a phenomenal rhythm guitarist, and an exquisite tailor, working between gigs at a very upscale tailor shop on the East Side, both designing and actually tailoring those fabulous Mens clothes for Manhatten elite. Last I saw him, he had moved to Washington DC. Sorry you're gone.
Love, Suezenne
Suezenne Fordham, pianist, Los Angeles, CA    12/13/2007