December 28, 2024

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Here we are a few days away from 2025 already and I wish the best of health to all. Been a rough 2024 around here for my wife and me with my bladder cancer and other issues. Thanks to her I have the best nurse 24/7 and I love her a lot.

I was trying to figure out what to do for this blog and I recently found out that a local guitarist, Greg Koch, grew up in my old neighborhood in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Right around the block from us really but I never realized it as he's 12 years younger and we moved when he was 5 years old.

Greg in 2012 was recognized by Fender Guitars as the one of the 10 top unsung guitarists of the world! He has a very unique style and won the 1989 Bluesbreaker Guitar Showdown judged by blues man Buddy Guy. In April of 2023 he was inducted into the Wisconsin Area Music Industry Hall of Fame.

He is a master guitar playing teacher with a lot of videos and has given a lot of lessons worldwide. In 2020, Guitar World called him one of the best guitar teachers.

I photographed Greg in 2009 and 2010 at Summerfest and seen him play a few other times. If you get a chance, go see him play and you won't regret it.

Enjoy a few photos from Summerfest 2009 and 2010.

Have a wonderful 2025 and great health to all.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann