Arthur Rosato started out as an artist/painter and discovered that a camera was a better tool for him. "Woodstock" became the catalyst for his passion of music and photography. "Altamont" is where he came to understand the intensity of the moment.
Rolling Stone magazine in San Francisco, seemed to be the voice of music at the time. They were interested in his photos and he would get assignments to shoot at the Fillmore and over in Berkeley. He used to shoot onstage at the Fillmore all the time, a real privilege, if you knew the restrictions on anyone being there. He asked promoter Bill Graham, years later, why he allowed him onstage? Bill answered, "You looked like you belonged there." His photographic point of view is as if he were a musician and another member of the band. He treats his video work the same way. Arthur has been around musicians as an audio engineer, drummer, guitar/drum tech, photographer, and video director. He worked with Bob Dylan (played drums with him too), George Harrison, Carlos Santana, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, and many more. He was Bruce Springsteen’s video director for the “Born in the U.S.A.” tour. His “Born To Run” and “War” videos were particularly acclaimed. He’s directed video for numerous festivals; Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Essence, and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. He’s directed video for more than 600 different artists.
Arthur recalls that Bob Dylan once said to him "That I was so low key, that I was subterranean." That is his approach to documenting the world. He’s not there to force himself on it, but to be absorbed into it.
