Bio
THE EARLY YEARS
A New York City native, Steve is the son of Roz Vallero, a professional actress/dancer. Steve’s father, Ernesto Bonino, was a famous Italian crooner who was very popular in Europe and who also enjoyed success in America. He was considered the Frank Sinatra of Italy. It was while on tour in America that the famous crooner met the champion dancer/actress and fell in love. Their only offspring, Steve Bonino did not fall too far from the tree. Steve was a professional actor from 1975 to 1985, and is a life-long professional musician. He attended the High School Of Music and Art in New York, sister school to the high school made famous by the movie Fame, as a voice major. He also attended college at The Leonard Davis Center For The Performing Arts, at C.C.N.Y. as a voice / acting major.
THE ACTING YEARS
As a professional actor, he starred in the NBC TV series: "The Kids From C.A.P.E.R.", a Saturday morning kid's show where he was able to display his acting and singing skills. C.A.P.E.R. was produced by Don Kirshner, who also produced the music for the Monkees TV show, which C.A.P.E.R. was emulating. Steve contributed his vocal talents to the show’s album, released on Columbia records.
He was also seen on the big screen in
"Three Days of the Condor", starring
Robert Redford, the summer camp spoof film "G.O.R.P." starring Dennis Quaid and as a repairman in the educational film
"Remember Me".
Steve also appeared in the made for television movies "Friendly Fire" starring Carol Burnett, "Tarantulas, The Deadly Cargo" and the remake of "It’s A Wonderful Life" starring Marlo Thomas.
He appeared in the television shows
"Eight Is Enough" and "One Day At A Time" as an actor / musician, playing guitar and bass, and in "Phyllis" and "Tucker's Witch" as an actor.
In New York, Steve acted in the Off Broadway play "Fire In The Mindhouse". In California, Steve sang and acted at the Mark Taper Forum Lab in the play "Salome" by Kim Milford, and at
The San Bernardino Civic Light Opera in the plays "Man Of La Mancha" and
"I Love My Wife" in which he performed on guitar and banjo as well as acted.
THE MUSIC YEARS
As a professional musician, Steve performed and/or wrote songs on albums by Jimmy Keegan and Gekko Project. Steve also sang on records by Screaming Jay Hawkins & Francis X.
On television, he has performed as a bassist / vocalist with the band "Avtograph", and as a guitarist/ vocalist on KCET with the original band "Tomorrow’s Game" that Steve co-founded.
He also provided guitar accompaniment for KCET specials featuring Barbie Benton and a
Jacques Brel revue.
He has done session vocal work for television shows on NBC, KCET, HBO and The Playboy Channel.
Steve has composed or performed on the music score and original songs for the independent films ("He's Such A Girl", "Maximum Thrust",
"Sexy Movie", "Love Bites" and "Venus Fly Trap") He has been an active musician since the early 90’s on the local club scene in Los Angeles and
Orange Counties with the cover bands: The Trip, Gypsy Beggars & City Lights, as well as the premier Eagles tribute band Desperado. He has also been active on the original music scene with the bands: The Steve Bonino Project, Bomber Goggles, Children Of The Moon, Tony Romero’s Vortex, Peter Matuchniak, Zabocus and as a solo artist.