Since 1990 Sternberg has been performing in retirement centers throughout Florida, Georgia and Alabama. He performs for independent living, assisted living (including memory care) facilities, and for rehabilitation and nursing centers. The seniors relive the good and poignant memories with the popular tunes Sternberg sings and plays from 1899 through the 70's. Steve involves the audience with name-the-tune, singing-along and gets the listeners clapping, tapping and moving to the beat. His program is upbeat, energizing, interactive and fun. Steve introduces many songs with historical information and he'll often joke with the audience. His program is especially unique for three reasons: 1) Steve spices up the musical selection with ragtime music from 1899 through 1914. 2) He plays exuberant, rollicking boogie-woogie music from the 30's and 40's throughout his hour-long program. And 3) Sternberg plays harmonica while playing the piano (hmmm, how does he do that?) and throws in a solo harmonica tune or two. He is quite the entertainer! And lastly, after 34 years of performing for senior citizens, Sternberg knows his audience and recognizes that showing compassion is part of his job.
1940's hit by The Andrews Sisters
A resident of a Pensacola assisted living facility gave me this letter he wrote after hearing one of my performances: "Thank you for bringing back memories of my father's piano playing. I really liked the "Maple Leaf Rag;" it brought tears flowing. As I told you Dad played in the Minstrels; he also played the mouth organ (harmonica). My daughter in California has the piano now with the music cabinet with old sheet music in it. It is an upright piano of a beautiful walnut grain. Thanks again; see you next time."
Please read on.
"I won't need any medicine today. You just make us feel so good all over!" Later she added "You must have a doctor's degree, 'cause you make us feel so good!"
and dances to my boogie-woogie tunes. She told me "I don't need any medicine. Your music is my medicine."
exclaimed "You can make that rascal talk!"
a woman excitedly told me "In my 84 years on this earth I have never heard piano playing as good as this!"
After I'd been playing a while, she said "You make that Baldwin (piano brand) sing really well."
is moving, wiggling and jumping in her seat to my boogie-woogie song. When I finished she said "Since we can't get up and dance around anymore, I'm gonna wear out my pants moving in my seat to the music!"
after I'd played an upbeat song a resident exclaimed "You do the boogie and we'll do the woogie!"
When I finished a song she said in a sweet voice "That was good. That was delicious" She repeated those same words after several other songs.
I'd just finished playing my most physically demanding song, "Root Beer Rag." Then an audience member said "Wow, you can make a living doing that!"
said in a clear voice at the end of my program "I tell you one thing. You can make that piano stand up!"
said "You put some whoop into that thing!" I was playing an old upright piano and he was grinning the entire time. Later he said "You don't make that piano talk. You make it shout!"
Scott Joplin's first hit in 1899
By the great 30'3 & 40's pianist Pete Johnson
An instrumental; composer Erroll Garner
The award-winning song by composer S. Sternberg about the popular, laid-back resort/fishing village
Billy Joel's masterpiece; my interpretation of it