By Tamara Dourney

Entertainment writer

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Recording artist and performer Teague Stefan is one of those lucky people to have known the answer to that question. He was born to be a musician and his hard work has transformed him into a master of the field.

"I've always loved music, I think it's an amazing art form that has been a part of my life from day one," Mr. Stefan said. "I actually started out playing the trombone when I was nine and I moved to the guitar when I was 16. The trombone was great but some of the old classic rock tunes just don't sound quite right on it."

With musical influences such as American blues guitarists and singers Freddie King, Buddy Guy, Albert King and Albert Collins, it is easy to see why the guitar became Mr. Stefan's instrument of choice. Mr. Stefan speaks of them with a sentimental reference.

"Their music is a place that I'm always trying to reach. How they were able to make a crowd lose control over that one perfectly placed note is pure heart and soul. I have to credit my biggest influence to Jimi Hendrix, though," Mr. Stefan said. "He was amazing. As far as I'm concerned, if you play modern electric guitar of any style, he is your biggest influence. His abilities as a songwriter, poet, and guitar player far exceed anyone to date; he transformed music forever. The controlled insanity of his guitar playing has always been mystifying to me."

That same sense of awe and destiny came to light again as Mr. Stefan's career got a heady start. He spent three years playing guitar on his own, while attending college in Asheville, N.C. Offered an opportunity to participate in an open jam session, he was surprised to find that it was being hosted by long-time jazz aficionado and blues historian Chuck Beattie.

"It turned out that the guy hosting it, Chuck "Dr. Blues" Beattie, was a big deal in the local blues scene. After that night, I was hooked on playing with a band and creating music. Chuck really took me under his wing. I worked with him for about a year and he gave me a good place to get started in music. I've just been hustling ever since," he said.

After relocating to Florida, Mr. Stefan put together The Teague Stefan Band, a classic blues band that played standard covers with the occasional original song added to the list.

"We've grown a lot since then," Mr. Stefan added. "I've really been able to establish a style of my own. I've managed to keep the blues label and still inject a lot of influence from some of my other favorite styles of music, such as soul and classic rock. I feel my song writing has come a long way as well. Most of my song lyrics come from my life, from things that have happened around me or to me. Now our crowds come out to hear the original songs that I play, as opposed to coming out to hear Jimi's Voodoo Chile...again."

During performances, the band members rotate, but Mr. Stefan recently collaborated with two other band members on their first album, "Hard Eight."

The album has received rave reviews and one of the songs was even picked up by the radio station 105.1 FM. Scott McKenzie Erica Lee, hosts of the station's morning show, now use the song "Dance With Me" in their opening.

"For the recording of the album," Mr. Stefan said, "we had Mike Burney on bass and Art McConnell on drums. We recorded all 11 songs in two days. It was absolutely grueling, but we got it done and then took another two days to mix the album. The album turned out to be a perfect mix of rock and blues, and it has gotten quite a bit of national radio airplay on blues programs and public radio. It actually charted on the independent blues charts as high as No. 31."

As The Teague Stefan Band continues to gain popularity, it seems that the sky is indeed the limit for this talented young man. With such strong potential ready to swing him onto the national stage, residents of Vero Beach won't want to miss their chance to hear The Teague Stefan Band performing live at 9:30 p.m. at Undertow. Undertow is located at 1931 Old Dixie Highway, Vero Beach, and admission is free.

For more information on The Teague Stefan Band, visit www.theteaguestefanband.com.