From the music field to the playing field-it’s all about scoring a hit. While Malibu resident Steve Prudholme’s career in the music industry has blossomed over the last 20 years, it is his love for coaching youth baseball that marks his true “Field of Dreams.”
An avid fan of the game of baseball, Prudholme graduated in 1986 from Edgewood High School in West Covina, where he was a first-team All-CIF shortstop. He went on to play for Rio Hondo Junior College, but an injury abruptly ended his career and any chance of being drafted into the minor leagues.
In 1989 he broke into the music industry when he started to work with his cousin Greg Broussard, better known by his stage name “Egyptian Lover,” at Broussard’s label Egyptian Empire Records/West Coast Record Distributors.
Two years later, Prudholme moved on to one of the world leaders in music, EMI Music Publishing, and ultimately worked his way up to Senior Director/Creative. Four years later he joined Warner Brothers Records as an A&R (Artists and Repertoire) Executive.
He went on to work at Epic Records/Sony and eventually on to Capitol Records in Los Angeles, where he is serving his second stint since 2002 as the current Senior Vice-President of A&R.
Prudholme, 43, has signed or worked with artists such as Jermaine Dupri, Tha Pharcyde, Kriss Kross, Bow Wow, Snoop Dogg, Usher, Letoya, Chingy, Cherish, Mims, Katy Perry and new artists Tito Lopez and NiRe AllDai.
The proud husband of his wife, Sharon, and father to sons Kennon, 16, Stevie, 7, and daughter Sophia, 8, Prudholme has been a coach for the Malibu Little League the last two years and a member on the MLL Board of Directors this season.
The Malibu Times caught up with Prudholme to talk about his passion for baseball and his enjoyment from being involved with Malibu Little League.
Share your love for the game of baseball and how it has influenced your life.
Baseball is my passion. I just love the game. I began playing at the age of seven and grew up listening to games on the radio, going to Dodger games and it being a big part of my life. I love going to Dodger Stadium. I used to pick up ticket stubs and collect them when I was young. Being in baseball enabled me to reach different cultures and be around a lot of caring people. It opened so many doors for me in terms of the sport but also life in general. Baseball helped me as a game but also grow as a man.
Talk about your role as coach for the Malibu Little League and what it means to you.
I’m coaching the minor Dodgers again this season. Last year I managed the 2011 minor champion Dodgers. My daughter Sophia and son Stevie were both on my team. It was my first championship at any level of sports for me. It meant the world to me to be able to share that moment with my kids on that team. There is nothing like having a job where it’s not work for me. It’s my passion and my lifestyle. Working and coaching kids is my passion. I treat all of them as if they are my kids. To see the joy in a kid’s face is incredible. No “I” in team is my motto in coaching. Practice and play hard, but most importantly have fun.
As a member of the MLL Board of Directors, what would you like to see for the present and future of Malibu Little League baseball?
Malibu is a great community and there are so many opportunities for these kids. I’m here to bring ideas to the league to help it go to the next level in terms of the kids, the fields, coaching clinics and all-star teams. I am the coaching coordinator in charge of gathering coaches. This year we had the most coaching applicants we have ever had. The kids need good coaching to be successful. We are trying to give the kids here an opportunity to grow in the sport. I got involved with MLL to hopefully one day help our kids get into the Little League World Series. There is a lot of talent here to work with and be around. I don’t think it’s impossible. I want to see what we can make happen. We want to improve the level of play here all around.
