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Steven Roby

San Francisco-based Steven Roby is a music journalist, best selling author, and host of the Backstage Bay Area.

About Me

From the San Francisco Bay Area to the Big Island of Hawaii, Steven Roby has worked as a music journalist, entertainment photographer, magazine editor, radio host, and video documentarian. Since 1989, he has specialized in performing arts with an intense focus on the world of rock and jazz music. Roby is also the published author of three books, one of which was on the L.A. Times Non-Fiction Hardcover Best Seller List and featured in The New York Times, Rolling Stone (x2), and Billboard. He’s now based in San Francisco. You can find his entertainment reviews on West Hawaii Today and SF Sonic and listen to his musician interviews on Spotify Podcasts. In addition, his interviews with musicians and documentaries can be found on his YouTube channel. Roby now hosts the Songs & Stories podcast (Backstage Bay Area), which is available wherever you stream podcasts.

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My Jazz Story

"For me, jazz has always been about the conversation—both the musical dialogue on stage and the stories that happen offstage. After covering the entertainment world since 1989, I found myself increasingly drawn to jazz not just for the technical mastery, but for its emotional immediacy. I founded Backstage Bay Area because I wanted to capture that specific energy. Whether it's a legendary set at the Miner Auditorium or a discovery at a small club in the Mission, I love the unpredictability of the genre. My 'Jazz Story' is about documenting those fleeting moments and sharing the narratives of the artists who keep this history alive."