Patti Rothberg

Patti Rothberg (born 1972) is a New York-based singer, songwriter, recording artist, multi-instrumentalist, and painter/artist. Born in New York City, Rothberg grew up in Scarsdale N.Y., playing piano from the age of 3 and writing songs by the age of 15, joining a high school Rod Stewart covers band. She later travelled through Europe and America, busking to support herself (an activity which would later inform the lyrics to the title song of her debut album, "Between the 1 and the 9"). She majored in illustration at Boston University and Parsons School of Design (both in New York and Paris), devoting her time to writing songs and painting, and joining a New York band called Thrust which she played with through 1993 and 1994. Legend has it that while busking at the 14th Street Station in New York she was spotted by a passing EMI America executive, signing to the label in February 1995. In fact Rothberg had hooked up with a manager and shopped her demo to a number of labels. A multi-instrumentalist, Rothberg played all the bass and guitar parts on her debut album, "Between the 1 and the 9," which was released on April 2, 1996. The album title is a reference to the subway platform where she used to busk. The album went on to sell over 250,000 copies in the US and another 200,000 in Europe and Japan. The first single, "Inside", reached number 32 on the Billboard charts. With her band Rothberg toured extensively supporting Chris Isaak, The Wallflowers, Garbage, Midnight Oil and Paul Westerberg; making appearances on high profile TV shows such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night With David Letterman and The Oprah Winfrey Show. February 1997 saw a foray into Europe opening for The Black Crowes. She was also tapped to play at a few Lilith Fair dates. All looked rosy for Patti, until EMI Records USA was closed and she found herself without a record deal. Continuing to play shows Rothberg hooked up with producer Freddie Katz in 2001, recording her sophomore album "Candelabra Cadabra" with him at Long Island's Avalon studios. The album was finally released on CD by indie label Cropduster in 2002. Patti recently completed her third album, "Double Standards", which was released May 13, 2008. She continues to play shows in New York with her band (Freddie Katz - guitars, backing vox; David Leatherwood - bass, backing vox; JP Patterson - drums; Erin Hill - keyboards, guitar, percussion, backing vox), and also tours occasionally up and down the East Coast. While working on "Double Standards", Patti also found the time to write and record a three song holiday EP "Snow is My Downfall" (2002) on the indie label CD Baby, and seven songs for the movie, "Anywhere," as yet unreleased. The soundtrack album was released on the indie label Engine Company Records March 27, 2007. Two of Patti's songs have already appeared in movies: "Inside" in "The Misadventures of Margaret" (1998), and a version of "Kung Fu Fighting" in "Beverly Hills Ninja" (1997).