If you’re into the funk-music scene that exploded out of the San Francisco Bay Area in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and would like to experience up-close-and-personal visual images and stories of some of the artists and albums most closely associated with that timeless music, you’ve come to the right place.
Bruce Steinberg is one of a kind – or maybe more appropriately, one each of many kinds. Well known for his award-winning album-cover and advertising work in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, Bruce is more than just a photographer. He is the consummate communicator, creating images, designs and words that have transcended the heaps of pop culture and survived the test of time.
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If you’re into the funk-music scene that exploded out of the San Francisco Bay Area in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and would like to experience up-close-and-personal visual images and stories of some of the artists and albums most closely associated with that timeless music, you’ve come to the right place.
Bruce Steinberg is one of a kind – or maybe more appropriately, one each of many kinds. Well known for his award-winning album-cover and advertising work in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, Bruce is more than just a photographer. He is the consummate communicator, creating images, designs and words that have transcended the heaps of pop culture and survived the test of time.
His music-business credits alone represent the full depth and breadth of funk, jazz, blues and classic rock; if you ever bought a record album back in the day, chances are that you already have some of his vintage work in your collection.
As a young photographer and designer coming up in the middle of that scene and deeply drawn into it, Bruce had the uniquely fortunate opportunity to work early on with musicians who’d go on to become known as some of the most legendary – and funkiest – artists of all time.
If you were lucky enough to have been there yourself (or have just done your homework since then!), you already know the names – Tower of Power, Sly, Larry Graham, the Pointer Sisters, Azteca, Lydia Pense and Cold Blood, and Linda Tillery and Loading Zone; jazz-based funksters such as Herbie Hancock, The Headhunters, Eddie Henderson and Tony Williams; and soul-vaccinated blues-rockers like Janis Joplin, John Lee Hooker, Sons of Champlin, Papa John Creach, Elvin Bishop, and Michael McDonald and the Doobies.
Working primarily as a creative director and designer who happened to shoot and use his own photos, Bruce rarely positioned or promoted himself as an assignment or stock photographer. He preferred working directly with musical artists in developing their images and identities to present to their record companies, and ultimately, to their fans. If he didn’t use one of his photos in a given design – even an outstanding photo on its own – it was most likely destined to be archived as an out-take, never to see daylight again. Bruce was always too busy with larger visions of his next projects to look back and exploit his vintage shots.
Now, three decades later, in his new online gallery, Bruce has broken out the funkiest and coolest images in his archives, sharing his experiences and the visual history of that legendary Bay Area funk, jazz, blues and rock scene with fans and players like yourself who’ll especially appreciate it.
What’s more, you’ll have the opportunity to acquire some of those images reproduced like you’ve never seen them before – as signed state-of-the-art archival digital prints for your own collection, enjoyment and inspiration!
To Bruce, it has always been about finding the beauty in the funk, and his historic work is a celebration of that vision.
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