Luther Allison in Milwaukee at Humpin Hanna's December 2, 1972.

April 10, 2017

On Sunday night April 9th here in Milwaukee, the Elvin Bishop Group and Marshall Tucker bands were doing a show. Wish I could have made it because they are both awesome bands! Too much going on right now.

So, we look back at a show that Elvin Bishop did at Summerfest in 1977. This was when Mickey Thomas was in his band before he went on to Jefferson Starship.

Elvin at this time had two great hits, Travelin' Shoes and Fooled Around and Fell In Love. Mickey Thomas who did the vocals on Fooled Around and Feel In Love that made him famous.

I just heard a story about Elvin's Gibson ES-345 that he has played for years. During his days in the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Louis Meyer traded this Gibson for a Fender Telecaster that Elvin was playing. Elvin has played the Gibson ever since!

Enjoy a look at Elvin doing a daytime show and a few beer barrels from Summerfest! I like the photos of Elvin getting out of the limo with a Schlitz and the one of him sleeping backstage. They had just flown in from Hawaii and were a bit tired.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

The Elvin Bishop group in 1977 at Summerfest! With a few beer barrels!

January 17, 2017

Wow!! Blog #1 was on February 26, 2012, with an effort to scan my rock'n' roll and racing photography. Here we are at blog #250 and still scanning negatives and slides of mine for you.

Hope you all enjoy it.  Something interesting things have happened along the way. Just this past year, photos of mine were published in Jeff Beck's book, "Beck01"!

Today's blog is on Bryan Lee at UW Oshkosh on September 4, 1972, when he opened a show for REO Speedwagon. No stage was made other than getting a flatbed trailer from someone's truck. It was primitive and small, but it worked.

Bryan Lee is called "The Braille Blues Daddy", because he has been legally blind since age eight. He is a Wisconsin boy born in Two Rivers, Wisconsin on March 16, 1943. In the 1980's he made New Orleans his home and continues playing and touring today from there.

A little bit B.B. King, Buddy Guy, a touch of Luther Allison and you have Bryan Lee.  He's a great musician who I'd like to see again sometime soon.

Enjoy a look at some old photos of young blues man, Bryan Lee.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Bryan Lee at UW Oshkosh on September 4, 1972.

April 18, 2016

In June of 1974, I was asked to photograph Eddie Harris for the Bugle American newspaper.

Little did I know what I was in for! I had never heard of Eddie and was amazed at what the man can play!

You see, Eddie was really one of the first guys to take a little rock with some electronics and jazz and mix them all up! I guess that is what they now call fusion.

He was inventing things as he went along and was very good at it. He put a reed mouthpiece on his trumpet for instance! In some of my old photos here, you can see his electronic case full of all kinds of things. Whatever was in there really worked with his saxophone , keyboards and trumpet!

Enjoy a look back at Eddie from a nice June night in 1974 at Teddy's in Milwaukee. Teddy's is now called Shank Hall, and owner Peter Jest keeps bringing in wonderful acts every week.

It's like summer here in Milwaukee this week! Have a good week everyone.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Eddie Harris, at Teddy's nightclub in Milwaukee, in June of 1974.

May 18, 2015

At Summerfest in 1972, on the Schlitz Country Stage, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee performed.

The duo are folk legends, having worked with Woddy Guthrie, Big Bill Broonzy and touring constantly for years.

Brownie McGhee on guitar, and Sonny Terry on harmonica, are both self taught musicians! That's amazing and awesome!

They have appeared on Broadway, and as themselves, with Steve Martin, in the film, The Jerk.

When I photographed them, I did not know about them, but really enjoyed their playing and should have photographed them more!

The photos are old, and not the greatest, but the one photo of the old Schlitz Country Stage, is fun to see what is looked like back then! I'm so old!

Enjoy and have a great week.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, at Summerfest's, Schlitz Country stage in 1972.

November 24, 2014

Just found some old negatives of B. B. King at Summerfest in 1972.

What can I say but he is the master of the blues and he is dressed sharp!

Always interesting to look at the old Main Stage at Summerfest in 1972.

Enjoy some old images of a young B. B. King.

Have a great week.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann