Stegmeyer was born on December 23, 1951, in
Flushing, Queens,
New York City, New York. In high school, he met
Russell Javors, who at age 15 was performing songs with childhood friend
Liberty DeVitto. Along with Howard Emerson, the boys formed the band Topper, which performed songs by Javors and attracted Billy Joel's attention. Joel hired Stegmeyer to play bass in his backing band on the
Streetlife Serenade tour. At Stegmeyer's recommendation a year and a half later, Emerson, Javors, and DeVitto joined Joel in the studio for his
Turnstiles album and for the accompanying tour. Stegmeyer became a core member of
Billy Joel's band, playing bass on Joel's studio albums from
Turnstiles through
The Bridge and on the live albums
Songs in the Attic and
Kohuept. Stegmeyer was dubbed "The Sergeant Of The Billy Joel Band". Stegmeyer (and Javors) left the band in 1989; according to DeVitto, he was forced out. Stegmeyer subsequently maintained a busy schedule recording and producing. On August 25, 1995, Stegmeyer died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his
Smithtown, New York, home. ==Legacy==