STEVE RICO was born on November 8, 1904 at Capiz Province in the Philippine Islands. The province is located in the region of Western Visayas in the central section of the Philippines.

Steve Rico had come to the Untied States by 1940, most likely during the late 1930s when Hawaiian music became poplar in nightclubs. The 1940 Census shows him as single, working as a musician in an orchestra, and rooming at 1301 North 13th Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He registered for the draft on October 13, 1940. He was then staying at 1831 North 13th Street. He gave his occupation as "Hawaiian Entertainer". Steve Rico was inducted into the United States Army at Philadelphia on April 4, 1942. He served with the 545th Flying Basic Training Squadron at Gardner Field, near Taft, California. He was discharged on May 24, 1943. He married Theresa Crowther at some point after leaving the service. The matriage produced two children, Ellen and Arthur.

Steve Rico was working as a musician in South Jersey as early as 1947. The 1947 Camden City Directory show him living at 9 Robin Terrace in Audubon Park, New Jersey. By January of 1950 he had moved to 1 Turtledove Court in Audubon Park. In 1956 he and his family moved 116 Boyd Street in Camden, New Jersey in the recently built McGuire Gardens public housing project. He had worked steadily as a musician, playing guitar and leading his own band from 1948 into 1957. He may be best remembered as a musician for leading his band at The Cottage Cafe and Restaurant on Route 38 in Delaware Township (present-day Cherry Hill, New Jersey) which in 1950 was renamed the Hawaiian Cottage. After leaving the Hawaiian Cottage in 1950 he worked steadily in South Jersey for several years, and appeared in Atlantic City on occasion as well. In 1956 Steve Rico took a position at the United States Post Office at North 4th and Market Street in Camden, which limited his work as a musician.

Steve Rico was killed in a train-auto accident at North 36th Street and Rosedale Avenue on December 13, 1962. He was buried at Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, New Jersey.