Conversation so far:
how did Steranko learn about illusion?
By his account, Steranko learned stage magic using paraphernalia from his father's stage magician act.
where did he perform his illusions?
Up through his early 20s, Steranko performed as an illusionist, escape artist, close-up magician in nightclubs.
When did he get into music?
Steranko, whose first band, in 1956, was called The Lancers, did not perform under his own name.

Question: what name did he use if not his own name?
Self-contained rewrite: what name did Jim Steranko use if not his own name?