ABTC can confirm the passing of Steve Sostak, the saxophone, and vocalist for Chicago-based independent and experimental bands like Sweep The Leg Johnny, Check Engine, and ZZZZ. He was 49.
According to Sostak’s Facebook page, the performer currently resides in Beijing and is originally from Chicago. Inspire Citizens, an organization that “empowers diverse instructors and students toward impactful action,” was co-founded by him more recently.
Steve Sostak Obituary
Sostak, who was currently on the rise in the music industry, attended the University of Notre Dame, where he met guitarist Chris Daly. They both appeared in Check Engine from 1993 to 1994. Later, they moved to Chicago, where they founded Sweep The Leg Johnny with the help of the drummer Scott Anna and the bassist Matt Alicea.
From 1997’s 4.9.21.30 until 2002’s Going Down Swingin’, the band released five albums (including a live CD). After Sweep The Leg Johnny broke up, John Brady of Sostak and Swing Kids, Greg Sharp of Tekulvi, and Ellen Bunch, an electric pianist, created ZZZZ.
They would share the stage alongside groups like TV On the Radio, Skeleton Key, Cheer-Accident, Faun Fables, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, and Faun Fables. 2005 saw the release of Palm Reader, their first full-length album, which was produced by John Congleton and released on Polyvinyl.