Memorial to Bruce Steinberg

Meeting Bruce Wasn't Hard

Late Winter 1975

I had just started working at the rehearsal studios at SIR with my then boy friend, now husband, Jan. Bruce was in to shoot The Doobies or maybe Tower of Power, but probably The Doobies because my coffee was really making a splash with them. It was an espresso machine and every morning I was revving up everyone's rehearsals from bleary to blaring. Bruce definitely took note. Instant friendship.

Actually I think he tried to improve my coffee technique. I am quite sure I took exception and he loved that. All 5'1" of me telling him I made THE best coffee and he could go right ahead and take to best photographs. We were instantly sibilings and struggled with sibling rivalry. Tge older more knowledgeable Bruce sharing everything even when all I wanted was to give him something.

But I don't want anyone to think he wasn't there for me or me for him. We could not speak for 2 years and just pick up like we were talking over the fence from yesterday's conversation. When album covers were big, his press was down the street from my house and we would sit up, smoke, talk and well...do what people did all night in the 70s and 80s. So...how could I have not known??? How could you leave and I didn't know? How did we travel so far apart?

I will eventally get to where you are...to the flip side and then you will fill me in. School the little girl on what is hip. There will never be anyone like Bruce, and I will miss him as long as I live.

Forever,

Muffie

Your spirit made me come looking

3-31-10

I'd been working on a Michael Bloomfield biography in '96 or '97. I saw Bruce's photo credit on Live Adventures, and thought I'd get in touch and see if he had other photos of Michael we could use in the book. That first call we talked for over an hour and he told me about many of his record cover projects. Me, a Portland kid who loved the San Francisco legends of the sixties could have listened for hours more. His open and friendly nature drew me in, and as a result we talked again at least once, maybe twice. Each time he talked to me like it really mattered and it did, to both of us. He told me about the lawsuit with Macintosh over the flying toasters, and about creating the freeway sign for the Tower of Power record. He never did what I would have done - just start listing all the many albums he created. I found out about those later and realized I'd been in the presence of greatness.

At least ten, maybe twelve years have gone by since we talked, and I had just put on 30 Seconds Over Winterland, tonight. I thought as I was listening that I would like to at least email Bruce and see how he was doing. As I looked up a website for an email link, of course the first thing I saw was an obituary. I fell silent inside. Jefferson Airplane was still spinning on the turntable, but inside I was quiet. What a beautiful and talented man. Those of you who knew and loved him, my heart goes out to you. Thank you Bruce, for sharing so much in such a short time.

Bil Keenom

Northern California Folk-Rock Festival

May 18 & 19 1968

l to r Bruce,"who dat sweet little angel", Chuckie, and Mrs. Brewster back right

Potrero Hill, SF

Dec. 1971

Bruce "Goose" as known to all from nyc and more so Cornell University as an honorary Ithaca townie a photo shoot at our crib. Goose and I were best friends and I miss that soooo much.

Bruce and Chuckie Missouri St. S. F.

December 1967

A photo Bruce set up for our family and friends in New York. l to r The late Dan Stein, The late Tike Kohm, Bruce "Goose" Steinberg, and Chuckie Wells. 252 Missouri St. Potrero Hill SF

Meeting Bruce

2005-2006

I became acquainted with Bruce over eMail when I was digging thru the Internet. I was looking for info on Link Wray for a website I do, WraysShack3Tracks.com. During one of these searches was when I found a great never before seen pic of Link that was taken by Bruce.

So I dropped an eMail to the Gallery that had Bruce's Link photo. They forwarded it along and Bruce responded with an incredibly detailed letter about just some of his time with Link. At the end of the letter he invited me to give him a ring and answer any other questions I may have had.

Needless to say, this was followed by several late night (for me anyway - I was on the East Coast, he on the West) calls with Bruce filling in some long lost details on Link.

Bruce later supplied me with some more fantastic, never before published pics of when he and Link were on the road promoting the LP "The Link Wray Rumble" that Bruce produced.

You can see those pictures here - http://www.wraysshack3tracks.com/linkpics-BruceSteinberg.html

The center color pic is the one that led me to Bruce.

An extra bonus for me is that, thru our eMails, I was able to reconnect Bruce with members of Link's family. They hadn't spoken in decades.

Anyway, fast forward a few months and my family and I are heading out to Santa Cruz to see my wife's family. Being alot closer to San Francisco in Santa Cruz that I was in Florida, I made plans to meet Bruce for a bite to eat.

I headed to San Fran for the first time and met Bruce. Wish I could remember the restaurant he found, it was a small outdoor waterfront place in a warehouse type district. The gravel parking lot maybe held 20 cars tops. The food was great and the atmosphere was even better.

Bruce filled in even more details on his time with Link, as well as his other Rock and Roll exploits. The Doobies, Janis Joplin, Tower of Power, etc. etc. etc.

I looked at my watch and our four hour conversation seemed to pass in about 15 minutes.

My one regret is that Bruce offered to show me a couple spots in San Fran that were off the beaten "tourist" path. I had to decline as it was getting late and I had to make a dinner with the family. We'd do it next time, right?

Several more months went by and Bruce called and we talked even more. I told him the next phone call was on me. Never did make that call, as I found out he passed a month or two later.

I'm sure Bruce is in heaven right now rockin' a nice blues number with Link on guitar, Janis on vocals and Bruce blowin' his harp.

RIP buddy!

7-11 Memories with Bruce

11/19/04

I had been out of touch with the TOP website and Bruce Steinberg for a few years. I just read that he had passed away at the end of 2007 and my heart is breaking.
I went to a TOP show in November of 2004 at the Mystic Theater. I had gotten to know Larry Braggs fairly well and had just left from talking with the two of them after the show. I stopped at a 7-11 just up the street, saw Bruce and had the most amazing exchange with him. I remember we were both buying bad food, and I think he commented on my poor choice of wine as well. He was so open and engaging...so well-spoken, and funny. Bruce made me laugh.
We must have talked for 2 hours in the 7-11 parking lot after we left the store. I was born in Oakland and I sensed the passion and connection he felt as he talked about some of his experiences there in the 60's and 70's. I shared that Mimi had graduated from the same high school, and that Frank Prestia had married my next door neighbor. He told me all about the Back to Oakland sign and he shared what a project it was to get that freeway sign from his head to the album cover. He even had some of his work with him in the car (is that passion, or what?!). He was so proud to show me all of his treasures. He actually had a lot of the pictures that you see at his gallery website, with him in his car, the night we met (black and white pics of TOP, the It's a Beautiful Day album cover design, and a whole bunch of photos taken in the Oakland area). He even showed me the Bump City album cover design in all its evolutionary stages. It was interesting to discover that he'd changed his mind at least a few times before he finally decided on the fist/chicken bone image.
Bruce was a story teller, but he was a good listener too. We talked about our children, how much we love them and hurt for them when they make bad choices. We e-mailed back and forth and even talked on the phone sometimes. From the moment I met Bruce, I felt as though I'd always known him. He was so intelligent, funny, creative, witty and kind. Bruce had a flair for the written and spoken word. He was eloquent, articulate and I always looked forward to reading his posts on the TOP message board.
I'm so very sad that he is not in this world anymore. Of course I'm kicking myself for letting so much time go by. I was actually looking to see if I could find him on Facebook tonight, and was crushed to learn that he had passed away. I had asked him so many times to come to Seattle and go to a show with me--he wanted to but had so many projects going on, and was just so dedicated to the people and things he loved. We always talked and laughed about how classy and cool it was to meet at a 7-11 ; ).
I just wanted to post this message to share other who admired, respected and loved him.
Bruce affected my life for the better in just one brief, but memorable interaction at (I'm so proud to say this) the 7-11, just up the road from the Mystic Theater in Petaluma.
This is very sad news. Rest in peace sweet Bruce-you made such a beautiful impression and my heart will never forget.... Love, Beth

Thinking of you today, Bruce

October 28, 2009

During 20 years, Bruce, you encouraged my historical study of the Port Chicago, California, Naval Magazine explosion and disaster of July 17, 1944. Today President Obama signed H.R. 2647 which enhances the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial (created by Congress 1992) to National Park status. You were gonna do the cover art for my book, which today looks like will be published. Rest in Peace, friend.

The "Christmas Corner"

All year

It's been almost one year since Bruce left us... I still can't believe he's gone, the healing process is slow, but it is getting better, as Bruce would want for us.

Bruce was not a religious man (he told me he couldn't believe in a God who would allow such awful things to happen in the world), but he did enjoy the festivities of the season. In fact, there was one corner of Bruce's house where the Christmas lights and decorations stayed up all year - he called it "the Christmas corner". I think the Christmas corner stayed decorated all year partly because Bruce was too busy to take it down, but also because he just enjoyed the sparkle.

Bruce certainly embodied the giving spirit of the season, year around - he was generous with his time, money, encouragement, advice, support, and his love.

Season's greetings to you, B* - we miss you.

Bruce's many album covers

1955-2008

Bruce contributed to the creation of 97 albums, and was working on another cover when he passed away on December 30, 2007. Bruce's work included designing whole albums, designing album covers, photography, and art direction - and for many albums, he wore all four hats.

Bruce also played harmonica on several albums.

We are all familiar with the covers Bruce designed for Tower of Power and the Doobie Brothers, and I thought it would be nice to acknowledge some of his other album covers. I have scanned and posted just 15 of Bruce's 97 album covers. Scroll down through this tribute site and enjoy the creative genius of Bruce Steinberg.