Artist description Singer/songwriter Rosalinde Block, winner of numerous Billboard awards, writes what would be aptly put by today’s terms—neoclassic soul. What she offers is a catchy, hook-filled, mature, positive contemporary sound for the baby-boomer generation who has money to spend and little new music to buy. With a catalog of material comparable to the likes of Laura Nyro, Carole King and Smokey Robinson, her music spans the spectrum from r&b to pop, from jazz to gospel. As the shepherd of her songs, she not only performs them herself, but she joyfully shares them with a selection of exceptional talent, carefully chosen to add just the right signature to each tune. The culmination of this effort is BLOCK PARTY—and indeed it is. Be it in a club or on an outdoor concert stage, halfway into the first song, one feels as though they’re sitting right next to her at the piano—shoes off, hair down….and most definitely singing along.

Musical Influences Becker & Fagen, Motown/Stax/Volt/Philly Intl, Gershwin, Miles, Jarreau, fat gospel choirs

Similar Artists Laura Nyro, Carole King, Smokey Robinson. Gloria Estefan, Sade

Artist History A born-and-bred Jewess from St. Louis, Rosalinde’s roots are planted deep in soul music. She grew up cruising through the black neighborhoods on Sunday mornings, drinking in the sounds of gospel that burst from storefront churches. She worked in record stores which gave her such perks as hanging backstage at Kiel Auditorium during the Motown “Motortown Revue” shows and behind the scenes at the Tivoli Theatre when James Brown and Curtis Mayfield shared the bill for $2.50. For her 13th birthday her father took her to Chicago’s Whiskey A Go-Go, where she shared the microphone and sang duets with Marvin Gaye. Rosalinde kept her radio dial religiously set at KATZ and KXLW up until she left the Midwest and headed to New York where she got her degree from Sarah Lawrence College. Since the mid 70s, Rosalinde has written and recorded for publishers such as CBS/Sony, Jobete (Motown), MCA, Warner/Chappell and BMG. Interestingly, her first song was actually demoed by Cissy Houston. Rosalinde has written and sung on jingles, has worked as an arranger for live acts and studio projects. She toured with Al Kooper and was a keyboardist for many doo-wop revival tours. She has also played in cabarets, night clubs, cruise ships and more piano bars than she'd care to count. In New York Rosalinde has performed at The Bottom Line, The Village Gate, The Bitter End, Tramps, Knickerbockers and Jazz Vespers at St. Peter's Citicorp Center. She has also played in city-sponsored events such as the New York Daily News Summer Concert series, "First Night," and has performed her songs in churches with some of the finest gospel choirs in the NY community. She also spent several years as a member of the BMI Music Theater Workshop, which set off the hot foot for "Block Party—The Musical," an interactive piece for which she wrote book, music and lyrics. Rosalinde is a long-standing partner of the New York Philharmonic Young Composer Series. She has taught music—singing/ writing/ keyboard in inner-city schools and now works with 35 private students each week. She’s considered the "cool" piano teacher, drawing not only from her own classical training, but also helping kids create their own compositions—from writing and arranging to recording. Additionally, the multi-talented Rosalinde is a commissioned artist/illustrator and the author of several books. She lives in New York City with her son Jojo.

Group Members Vocalists: LaRita Gaskin, Bobby Harden, Bil Kurz and Angel Rissoff, Saxophonists: Baron Raymonde and John Hagen, Guitarists: Adam Rogers and Roderick Kohn, Blues Harpist: Rob Papparazzi, Bassist: Randy Landau, Drummer: Andrew Caturano, Percussionist: Danny Sadowski

Location New York, NY - USA

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