Donald Rubinstein is a film composer, singer/songwriter, and multi-media artist who is best known for his collaborations with George A. Romero and Avant-garde jazz/rock collaborations with such musicians as

Bill Frisell William Richard Frisell (born March 18, 1951) is an American jazz guitarist, composer and arranger. Frisell first came to prominence at ECM Records in the 1980s, as both a session player and a leader. He went on to work in a variety of contexts ...

Emil Richards Emil Richards (born Emilio Joseph Radocchia; September 2, 1932 – December 13, 2019) was an American vibraphonist and percussionist. Biography Musician Richards began playing the xylophone aged six. In High School, he performed with the Hartf ...

and

Wayne Horvitz Wayne Horvitz (born 1955) is an American composer, keyboardist and record producer. He came to prominence in the Downtown scene of 1980s and '90s New York City, where he met his future wife, the singer, songwriter and pianist Robin Holcomb. He ...

Education

Rubinstein began music studies at Washington University after rejecting his initial studies with Pulitzer Prize winning poet

Howard Nemerov Howard Nemerov (March 1, 1920 – July 5, 1991) was an American poet. He was twice Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress, from 1963 to 1964 and again from 1988 to 1990. For ''The Collected Poems of Howard Nemerov'' (1977) ...

. He taught himself the guitar and piano, transferred to the conservatory, and received a B.A. in music from Washington University in 1972. Rubinstein continued studies for two semesters at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He quit studies after finding the experience to be too constraining for his experimental ideas. Rubinstein then went on to study on private scholarship with noted piano instructor Margaret Chaloff.

Film scoring for George A. Romero

Donald Rubinstein was 24 when he was first introduced to famed horror filmmaker George A. Romero through his brother Richard P. Rubinstein, who had produced ''

Martin Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Austr ...

'' for the writer-director. Rubinstein wrote the music for ''Martin'' and his soundtrack would become a highly sought collector's item that Mojo magazine called "One of the top 100 Coolest Soundtracks of All Time." When Romero next turned Camelot into a motorcycle Renaissance Faire for ''

Knightriders ''Knightriders'' is a 1981 American drama film written and directed by George A. Romero and starring Ed Harris, Gary Lahti, Tom Savini, Amy Ingersoll, Patricia Tallman, and Christine Forrest. It was filmed entirely on location in the Pittsbu ...

'', Donald Rubinstein would compose an equally innovative score, as well as appear in the film as the leader of a musical trio. Rubinstein became close friends with

Ed Harris Edward Allen Harris (born November 28, 1950) is an American actor and filmmaker. His performances in ''Apollo 13'' (1995), '' The Truman Show'' (1998), '' Pollock'' (2000), and '' The Hours'' (2002) earned him critical acclaim and Academy Award ...

on ''Knightriders'', and would later write an unused score for the actor's directorial debut on ''

Pollock Pollock or pollack (pronounced ) is the common name used for either of the two species of North Atlantic marine fish in the genus ''Pollachius''. '' Pollachius pollachius'' is referred to as pollock in North America, Ireland and the United Kingd ...

''. In 2000, Rubinstein composed the score for Romero's allegorical horror film '' Bruiser''. Donald Rubinstein's other soundtrack work includes the main title for the television series ''

Tales From the Darkside ''Tales from the Darkside'' is an American anthology horror TV series created by George A. Romero. Debuting in October 1983 with a pilot episode and then being picked up for syndication in September 1984, the show ran for 4 seasons through Ju ...

'' (as well as its film adaptation). He wrote the main title and episodic music for the television series ''

Monsters A monster is a type of fictional creature found in horror, fantasy, science fiction, folklore, mythology and religion. Monsters are very often depicted as dangerous and aggressive with a strange, grotesque appearance that causes terror and fe ...

''. Rubinstein also co-wrote and performed "Ain't Nothin' Like a Friend" with Ed Harris, for the Harris directed feature soundtrack, ''

Appaloosa The Appaloosa is an American horse breed best known for its colorful spotted coat pattern. There is a wide range of body types within the breed, stemming from the influence of multiple breeds of horses throughout its history. Each horse's colo ...

''. He scored the documentary feature, ''Tangled Up In Bob: Searching For Bob Dylan'' and the German Documentary feature ''Blender'', (2015).

Perseverance Records Perseverance Records is a record label which releases film scores on CD and online. Releases are usually accompanied by extensive booklets. Extras, such as audio interviews with composers, are also sometimes included. Discography * *''No Pass ...

will be releasing selections from that soundtrack along with selections from Rubinstein's soundtrack for '' Bruiser'' in 2016. In March 2014 Perseverance released ''Dawn Imagined'', which included concert works based on Rubinstein's original sketches for George Romero's '' Dawn of the Dead''. Rubinstein's score for ''Martin'' was released for a fourth time in May 2015 by Ship To Shore Phonograph Company.

Recordings

As a prolific jazz composer, Rubinstein has partnered with

Hank Roberts Hank Roberts (born March 24, 1954, Terre Haute, Indiana) is an American jazz cellist and vocalist. He plays the electric cello, and his style is a mixture of rock, jazz, avant-garde, folk, and classical influences. He emerged with the downtown N ...

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, Bob Moses and

Marty Ehrlich Marty Ehrlich (born May 31, 1955) is a multi-instrumentalist (saxophones, clarinets, flutes) and is considered one of the leading figures in avant-garde jazz. Biography Though born in St. Paul, Minnesota, the portion of Ehrlich's youth spent in ...

, among many other notable performers, collaborating with them in both film recording sessions and live performances. Peter Gordon ( Boston Symphony Orchestra) commissioned a work for French Horn and subsequently a jazz trio, including celebrated bassist Anthony Jackson and percussionist Gordon Gottlieb (

New York Philharmonic Orchestra The New York Philharmonic, officially the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc., globally known as New York Philharmonic Orchestra (NYPO) or New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, is a symphony orchestra based in New York City. It is ...

). Jazziz Magazine included the duet "Fingers" by Rubinstein and

on their "Celebration of the Modern Era" special edition 20th anniversary CD in 2003. Also, a critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Donald's work crosses normal boundaries. In 2009 he completed a CD of original songs, "When She Kisses the Ship On His Arm," for Bare Bones Records, which included a vocal-duet with "country outlaw" Terry Allen. Rubinstein has co-written a number of songs with Allen including "Vampires Parade" for his 2010 release "Too Late to Die," which featured long-time Allen collaborator

Lloyd Maines Lloyd Wayne Maines (born June 28, 1951) is an American country music record producer, musician and songwriter. He was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame as one of the first three members, the other two being Willie Nelson and Stev ...

. 2010 saw the release of three new Rubinstein CDs. Rubinstein released five varied recordings on three different labels from 2011-2016. 2020 marked the release of three new additions to Rubinstein's discography via his own Hijo Records Label. They included The ''Famous Singer'', ''Eternity'', and ''36 Year Serenade, The Songs of Donald Rubinstein'' (Various artists). In 2022 Scare Flair Records is releasing a second edition LP of Rubinstein's score for ''Knightriders.'' Second Sight Films (UK) is likewise releasing a fifth edition CD of his score for ''Martin.'' Rubinstein has released 30 CDs of original music to date. Of Rubinstein's musical work, Steve Huey of Allmusic wrote, "Singer/songwriter, pianist, jazz experimentalist, soundtrack composer, beat-style poet -- Donald Rubinstein has somehow juggled all those hats over the lengthy span of his creative career."

Art and theater works

Beginning in the late 70s, Rubinstein's theatrical works often included iconic storyteller

Brother Blue Hugh Morgan Hill (July 12, 1921 – November 3, 2009) who performed as Brother Blue, was an American educator, storytelling, storyteller, actor, musician, and street performer based principally in the Boston area. After serving as First Lieut ...

, with whom he partnered in numerous situations including when they both acted in the movie ''Knightriders''.

and the Met Theatre produced "Buddha Baby" and "Premonitions" in Los Angeles. Rubinstein's third multi-media performance work, "Strum Road" also premiered there in 1997 to critical acclaim. Rubinstein has been exhibited at both The Museum of Modern Art and The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City in collaboration with the famed artist

Kiki Smith Kiki Smith (born January 18, 1954) is a West German-born American artist whose work has addressed the themes of sex, birth and regeneration. Her figurative work of the late 1980s and early 1990s confronted subjects such as AIDS and gender, whil ...

. His single song CD, "Ruby Star," sung in duet with Robin Holcomb, was first sold exclusively at The Museum of Modern Art in 2003. During 2007 The Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, presented a 'thus far' large-scale celebration of Donald's work, including a screening of films he scored, two art exhibits, and a concert performance with special guests

John Densmore John Paul Densmore (born December 1, 1944) is an American musician, songwriter, author and actor. He is best known as the drummer of the rock band the Doors, and as such is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He appeared on every recordi ...

Hani Naser Hani Naser ( ar, هاني ناصر; March 2, 1950 – November 16, 2020) was a Jordanian-American musician. He specialized in the oud and hand percussion instruments, particularly the goblet drum and djembe. Naser was considered by critics to ...

and Terry Allen. It also included Rubinstein's directing premiere, "Tales From the Edge," a short animated film based on his drawings. Donald Rubinstein was awarded, via nomination, a fellowship, and residency from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation in February 2014. His work was subsequently featured in the Boston Print Bicentennial and Fountain Art Fair in NYC. Rubinstein published three books of writings and drawings on his own Hijo Records and Press in 2020, including "The Musician's Book of Miracles", "Joke Book", and "Ancestors."

Personal life

Rubinstein currently lives with his family in Santa Fe, NM.

Awards

* 1997: ASCAP Special Award in Theater Arts * 1999: Banff Centre, Leighton Colony, Composer Residency * 2001: Ucross Foundation, Composer Residency * 2007: ASCAP Plus Award for Jazz/Popular Composition * 2009: ASCAP Plus Award for Jazz Composition * 2010: Fundación Valparaíso, Spain, Composer Residency/Fellowship * 2014: Rauschenberg Foundation Residency (by nomination) * 2022: ASCAP Plus Award for Jazz/Popular Composition

Discography

(LP, Varese Sarabande Records, 1979) * The Witness (Cassette, Desert Link Records, 1984) * Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (GNP Crescendo Records, 1991) * Time Again (Rhombus Records, 1997) * Scars and Dreams (Blue Horse Records, 1998) *

(Levelgreen Records, CD reissue 1999) *

A Man Without Love "A Man Without Love" was the entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1966, performed in English by Kenneth McKellar. The song is a ballad, with McKellar comparing a man without love and a man with love. He explains that a man without love is "on ...

(Blue Horse Records, 1999) * Music For Ocean Travel (Blue Horse Records, 2000) * Long Parade (Blue Horse Records, 2000) *

Maya Maya may refer to: Civilizations * Maya peoples, of southern Mexico and northern Central America ** Maya civilization, the historical civilization of the Maya peoples ** Maya language, the languages of the Maya peoples * Maya (Ethiopia), a popul ...

(Rhombus Records, 2001) * Painted Stranger (Rhombus Records, 2001) * Ruby Star (single song CD, produced for Museum of Modern Art Exhibit with Kiki Smith, 2003) * A Celebration of the Modern Era (Jazziz, 2003) * Bruiser (Black Starlight Records, 2004) * Lost Trail Hymn (Black Starlight Records, 2005) *

Circus Boy ''Circus Boy'' was an American adventure family western that aired in prime time on NBC, and then on ABC, from 1956 to 1957. It was then rerun by NBC on Saturday mornings, from 1958 to 1960. Summary Set in the late 1890s, the title of the ser ...

(Black Starlight Records, 2006) * Acceptance (Rhombus Records, 2007) * Tangled Up In Bob & Other Songs (Rhombus Records, 2007) *

; The Unused Score From

(

, 2007) * Take the Dark Away (Spacebar Recordings, 2008) *

(

, 2008) * When She Kisses the Ship On His Arm ( Bare Bones Records, 2009) * Too Late to Die ( Bare Bones Records, 2010) * Love Hunger ( Bare Bones Records, 2010) * Life Is Orange ( self release MANSTEIN: Jono Manson & Donald Rubinstein, 2010) * Paper PIeces for Key Board ( Bare Bones Records, 2013) * Dawn Imagined (

, 2014) * Bruiser/Blender (

, 2016) * The Famous Singer ( Hijo Records, 2020) *

Eternity Eternity, in common parlance, means infinite time that never ends or the quality, condition, or fact of being everlasting or eternal. Classical philosophy, however, defines eternity as what is timeless or exists outside time, whereas sempit ...

( Hijo Records, 2020) * 36 Year Serenade The Songs of Donald Rubinstein, Various Artists ( Hijo Records, 2020)

References

External links

* *
Donald Rubinstein on Perseverance Records
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rubinstein, Donald 1952 births Living people Musicians from Brooklyn Berklee College of Music alumni Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts alumni American jazz musicians People from Santa Fe, New Mexico American film score composers Varèse Sarabande Records artists Jazz musicians from New York (state) Singer-songwriters from New York (state)