Marsha Stern & Robbie Leslie interviewed by Lenny Fontana for True House Stories # 031 (Part 2)

TRUE HOUSE STORIES W/ MARSHA STERN & ROBBIE LESLIE #031 - PART 2
MARSHA STERN moved to NYC from Florida at not quite 22 years old, to begin a career in the music business. First as a publicist (Howard Bloom Organization, Inc.) then as a record promoter (Ariola Records USA) and a record producer (Midnight Rhythm & The Joe Long Sound), all before her first introduction to lighting in 1979 via the New York City nightclub and discotheque scene. It was during those early years (specifically 1977) when she met DJ Roy Thode at the Ice Palace 57 which had recently been opened by Jimmy Merry, also the owner of Fire Island’s seasonal Ice Palace Cherry Grove where Roy was the house DJ. It was DJ Sharon White that introduced Marsha to Roy just after the IP57 had opened. Sharon and Roy had been dear friends for years, both from Long Island, before either of them had migrated to NYC. A deep loving friendship ensued between Roy and Marsha after that initial meeting and to this day remains one of the most significant relationships of her life. 1980 represented a career shift for Marsha as she added lighting into her professional resume and it soon took over as Marsha’s predominant career to the present.
Recent years have found Marsha returning to her musical roots, working with SiriusXM on a variety of special broadcasts, consulting on Altimeter Films’ “Studio 54 - The Documentary” and most recently contributing to Brooklyn Museum’s “Studio 54: Night Magic” exhibit, which is currently on tour in Toronto, Canada. Marsha continues to maintain her presence in the lighting world as well and she recently did a webinar for Harman/Martin Professional Learning Sessions, available on YouTube.