Internationally renowned jazz drummer, percussionist, clinician, author, and educator, Steve Houghton initially received acclaim at age twenty as the drummer with Woody Herman’s Young Thundering Herd. Since then he has shared stage and studio with luminaries Gary Burton, Clay Jenkins, Shelly Berg, Toots Thielemans, Christian McBride, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Freddie Hubbard, Lyle Mays, Billy Childs, Rosemary Clooney, Peggy Lee, Pat LaBarbara, Arturo Sandoval, Joe Henderson, Karrin Allyson and Maureen McGovern.

As band leader Houghton’s discography includes: The Manne We Love: Gershwin Revisited (TNC), a recent release of John Williams’ charts for big band and quintet, initially recorded by Shelly Manne on Capitol in 1965, the Steve Houghton Quintet Live @ the Senator (JazzCompass), Windsong (SHPERC Records), Remembrances (Warner Bros.), andSteve Houghton Signature (Mesa-Bluemoon). In total Houghton attributes more than one hundred recordings to his credit as a participating artist. As a classical percussionist, Houghton has performed with the Boston, and Philadelphia Pops orchestras, as well as the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. He frequently appears as a soloist with numerous orchestras and wind ensembles throughout the world.

As an author, Houghton’s publications boast more than thirty educational books, videos and DVDs including Kid's Drumset Course, Essential Styles- books 1 & 2 (Alfred), The Ultimate Drumset Chart Reading Anthology, Play and Teach Percussion (GIA), and The Drumset Soloist, and his latest project, Rhythm Section Workshop for Jazz Directors is a DVD-book series that addresses the entire rhythm section.

Houghton is Professor of Percussion and Jazz at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. Along with his professorship, he also serves as Chair of the Department of Percussion. In addition to his academic duties, he presents yearly clinics and master classes to students around the world.

Houghton is President-elect of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) and endorses Pearl Drums, Adams percussion, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks and mallets, and Remo World Percussion products and drumheads.