One of the busiest artists on the Edison phonograph label in the 1920's. Ernest L. Stevens obtained basic musical training from Howard Case, and studied the organ with Mark Andrews in Montclair, New Jersey.

The slender, brown haired Stevens, who stood at 5'8",  was hired as Edison's personal pianist-arranger, playing for Mr. Edison songs that came in from all over the world so that Mr. Edison could select "appropriate" material for his recording artists. Stevens recorded extensively for Edison as a solo pianist, as a member of his own trio, and as leader of his own dance orchestra. He also taught piano and organ privately starting in 1919.

He made piano rolls for various companies, (around 1917 he was living in Delaware and arranging for the Rose Valley Co. of Philadelphia, who produced 'Ideal' brand rolls and also perforated rolls for other companies). His final roll performances were made in 1927-8 for the Gulbransen label, under his own name and the "Harry Osborne" pseudonym he also used on certain audio recordings.

His hand-played ragtime rolls for Artempo, under his own name and the "Steve Williams" pseudonym, are highly regarded by collectors.