Steve Detroy — also rendered Steve DeTroy — started playing piano in the church and with his father, a jazz pianist, and studied under Junior Mance in college. An East Coast native, he found his way to New Orleans and cut his chops with Walter "Wolfman" Washington's Roadmasters and jazz and blues bands.
Today he is a respected music educator and working player, found in clubs around the city — often with trad jazz bands like the New Orleans Catahoulas and the New Orleans Jazz Vipers. He is on piano and vocals on the Vipers' 2020 album Is There A Chance For Me (recorded at Detroy's Discount Piano Emporium), and in January 2026 he was on the bandstand at the National Park Service's French Quarter jazz program with the Betty Shirley Trio.
A note on the name: it is rendered "Steve DeTroy" on WWOZ and the National Park Service listings and "Steve Detroy" in album credits — same working New Orleans pianist either way.
