Closing Day 2013 Tribeca Film Festival

Photographed a few legends today-Clint Eastwood, Jerry Lewis, Robert DeNiro and a very sweet Christina Ricci who knows how to pose on the red carpet. I wish everyone posed and carried themselves the way this young woman does. Others walking the red carpet today for the last day of the Tibeca Film Festival were a few Smurfs from the new smurf movie (I have to admit they were a little creepy), Richard Belzer and his dog BeBe (French for Baby), Dean Winters, Grace Hightower

Little Steven Brings Rock and Roll into the Classroom

Most photographers I know, when receiving a call for a shoot, the first thing they want to know is what is the shoot? My first questions are location, and time. For the most part, I don't care what I am shooting-I LOVE what I do and don't care what I am shooting-it's all good to me and always has been. I guess you can say I am the 1%-I REALLY love what I do, even after 29 years professionally in the business. It's still a hobby that I make a living at. But, there are those days when I get to my shoot and it is just joy. This assignment was one of those days-3 hours with Little Steven Van Zandt-guitarist with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and an amazing solo performer and all around amazing man who really gives back. This assignment was for the Rock and Roll Foundation-and it is a program to keep music in the classrooms. When I walked in, I see a name tag with Robert Santelli. I was THRILLED. I told my contact how excited I was-that I knew Bob from decades ago when he was a writer at the NJ Shore where I lived and my images accompanied his words MANY times in newspapers, books and magazines. He also went grad school and got his Master's Degree along side my mother.When I mentioned this to my contact, she told me he just went to the green room and when he saw me, asked her "was that Debra Rothenberg???" I went upstairs and we caught up, making the day just even more magical.

BB King at BB King's

A GREAT night with a great legend Riley B. King (born September 16, 1925), known by the stage name B.B. King, is an American blues musician, singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at No. 3 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. King was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. He is considered one of the most influential blues musicians of all time, earning the nickname 'The King of Blues'. He is also known for performing tirelessly throughout his musical career appearing at 250-300 concerts per year until his seventies. In 1956 it was noted that he appeared at 342 shows, and still at the age of 87 King appears at 100 shows a year. Over the years, King has developed one of the world's most identifiable guitar styles. He borrowed from Blind Lemon Jefferson, T-Bone Walker and others, integrating his precise and complex vocal-like string bends and his left hand vibrato, both of which have become indispensable components of rock guitarists' vocabulary. His economy and phrasing has been a model for thousands of players, from Eric Clapton, and George Harrison to Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. King has mixed blues, jazz, swing, mainstream pop and jump into a unique sound. In King's words, "When I sing, I play in my mind; the minute I stop singing orally, I start to sing by playing Lucille."

"The Rascals: Once Upon A Dream" comes to Broadway

The Rascals: Once Upon a Dream After 40 years apart, the original Rascals have reunited, and on the wonderful Broadway stage at the Richard Rodgers Theater in New York City. The man responsible for putting together this wonderful show is none other than Steven Van Zandt, also a big fan and is the co-director and co-producer. While the band is performing their hits, such as “Good Lovin’” “Lonely Too Long,” “It’s a Beautiful Morning,” “How Can I Be Sure” and “Groovin’,” old video footage is shown on a large screen behind them. My feet were tapping and my head was bobbing the entire time-something that makes it challenging while shooting images at the same time but it surely means I am having a great time when I do this. It will be difficult for anyone to remain seated while they perform their catchy songs. Growing up in New Jersey in a family that loved music and the arts, this was one of the first bands I remember my brothers playing on their stereos and at the time, I didn’t even know that this band was from just a few miles down the road from where I lived. The Rascals: Once Upon A Dream is on Broadway for only 15 performances-get your tickets now to witness not only a great part of musical history, but a great show.