Steven L. Rosenhaus is, to put things lightly, a man of many talents. Besides writing songs, singing them, and playing a variety of instruments (guitar, mandolin, electric bass, keyboards, pennywhistle, harmonica), Steven composes concert works, musical theater, and film scores; he also conducts and has led the U.S. Naval Academy Band, the 108th Army Reserve Band, as well as his orchestral music in Carnegie Hall), teaches (NYU and Nassau Community College), and writes.
A native New Yorker, Steven has played guitar since he was fourteen. His early experiences were in traditional folk and the folk-rock groups Triangle-ASR, Friends of the Miller, China Clipper, and a short stint with the X-Seaman's Institute (substituting for John Townley in that sea shanty/folk music group).
Along the way he successfully auditioned for a spot in then-unknown Harry Chapin's backup band, but went to college for a degree in music instead. With increasing focus on his classical music, Steven turned away from performing, save for the occasional coffeehouse gig with his girlfriend-then fiance-then wife, Ruth.
In 1986 Steven dipped his toe metaphorically into the waters of musical theater, contributing songs to Jay Michaels' Shakespeare pastiche, "The Bard...Off-Broadway." Two years later he and Michaels wrote the musical "Critic," with Steven's music and lyrics to Jay's book (and direction). The show ran 41 performances at the Judith Anderson Theater in NYC to good reviews.
Around 1997 Steven met violist Alexandra Honigsberg, who was leading the string quartet that was to premiere his "Strange Loops" quartet. She introduced him to her husband David and mentioned that the two of them were in a band called the Don't Quit Your Day Job Players. One thing led to another, and Steven wound up in the band. Over the next two years, DQYDJP performed from New Hampshire to Texas, from Virginia Beach to Chicago. In other words, all over the place. The band also recorded its second CD (Steven's first), "Blues Spoken Here," which includes six of Steven's songs. "Blues Spoken Here" is also available on CDBaby!
With the dissolve of DQYDJP at the end of 2000, Steven took time off to assess things. In June that year he began doing solo gigs, first at the Back Fence and later at the Baggot Inn -- both in NYC. He also began working with James T. Oakar to record a new CD, "A Man Like Me."
The CD's eleven songs have Steven playing acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, piano and other keyboards, electric bass -- even harmonica -- as well as singing all of the lead and backup vocals. Still, even a solo album needs expert help, which is here in the guise of Jim Oakar on classical guitar ("Then The Music Begins") and Keith R.A. DeCandido on percussion ("Have Another Drink On Me," "Then The Music Begins," and "Don't Quit Your Day Job").
For even MORE information, access Rosenhaus' web page.
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