October 24, 2016

Steve Goodman's ashes are stirring about in Wrigley Field because the curse is finally over! No more maybe next year for the Chicago Cubs, because they are going to the World Series!!

Musician Steve Goodman was a BIG Chicago Cubs fan and wrote some great songs about his Chicago Cubs. A Dying Cubs Fans Last Request is his most popular. He also wrote, Go Cubs Go and When The Cubs Come Marching In. Great songs and I'm sure they will be played a lot in the next few weeks. His nickname was Chicago Shorty!

He visited the Cubs in the clubhouse and was a frequent visitor to Wrigley Field where his ashes were scattered after his death from leukemia in 1984 at the very young age of 36. Four days after his death, the Cubs won the Eastern Division Title.

Steve also is a good blog subject today because he has some interesting political history. His most famous song that John Prine and many other people sing is City of New Orleans. It was written while he was on the campaign trail with Senator Edmund Muskie.

Going to high school in Chicago at Maine East high school in Park Ridge, Illinois, one of his classmates was none other than Hillary Clinton!!!

Steve Goodman the musician was discovered by Kris Kristofferson who introduced him to Paul Anka. From that introduction his college days were over and he became a full time musician.

I think he is smiling upstairs and will be watching his Cubs for sure. Miss you Steve... Go Cubs Go!! I'm a Milwaukee Brewer fan but I'm cheering for the Cubs now!

These old photos are from a little show in a dark hall at Marquette University with Bonnie Kolac on September 3, 1972.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Steve Goodman in 1972

October 10, 2016

It's finally Fall and leaves are falling, colors are changing in the trees and at last it's cooler outside! The older I get the more I dislike the heat and humidity of Summer.

So it's a good time to sit on your porch and listen to Leo Kottke play June Bug or any of his instrumental music. For that matter, any of Leo's music works on the porch, or in the car, or in the kitchen, or anywhere!

Leo does some amazing things with his 12 string guitars. The 6 string guitars sound pretty good but he is unbelievable on that 12 string. Not bad for a kid who started with trombone playing in basements with a dripping shower in the corner! Seriously, I'm not making this stuff up!!

Anyway, Leo is coming to Milwaukee on October 22 and he is playing at the Marcus Center. The photos here are from a show he opened in 1973 for Loggins and Messina. Too bad Loggins and Messina aren't still together because that would be a great show again!

Enjoy a look back at Leo in his dressing room just relaxing. This was during an interview I was a part of for the Bugle American newspaper way back when. Love the mirrors with Leo here and these photos are some of my personal favorites.

Come hear some great music on October 22 with me. It will be dark and cold outside so come inside for some great music that will warm you up.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

August 29, 2016

This blog is part 2 of the Bill Camplin Band reunion show. Last week I showed you the surroundings and what went on other than the show itself.

So, today's blog shows the band working at what they do best.

Bill Camplin was on vocals and guitar.

Jason Klagstad was also on vocals and guitars. That little one he plays is so cool!!

Bob Knetzger (Sneaky Bob) played pedal steel guitar and dobro. I just love pedal steel guitar and dobro sounds! Anything with a slide or bar added to it I like a lot!

Jamie Sheldon was on bass guitar.

Bob Mueller was on drums.

They are all so good at playing and it's such a pleasure to listen to them.

Enjoy another look at the guys.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

The Bill Camplin Band 2016 reunion at John Ebbott's barn.

August 22, 2016

Last weekend a wonderful reunion took place with the Bill Camplin Band.

Four shows were held and I photographed the show Sunday night at John Ebbott's beautiful barn on the Bonnie Brae Farm near Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. Acoustically it is just a perfect place I think for a concert .

In 2013 a reunion was held and recorded in this wonderful barn and the cd is now available for purchase through Bill Camplin.

The cd is in continuous play in my truck! It's wonderful! Love the song "Northern Lights" a lot.

My photographs here are of the event and farm and next week I will show photos of the show.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

November 9, 2015

At Summerfest in 1974, I had the opportunity tp photograph Harry Chapin. He was a shining star who left us way too early in a car accident in July of 1981.

In 1968, Harry, who at the time wanted to be a documentary film director, directed "Legendary Champions" but music was to become his career.

Harry had such a great voice and his song writing was excellent. He started by playing trumpet and wasn't very good according to a friend who told him that a guitar would be a better instrument for him. At the time, Greenwich Village and New York City where Harry lived, was hot with folk music and guitar players.

In the early 1970's, Harry signed the largest recording contract in history that included free studio time for his nine album contract. That saved Harry a lot of money and that was unheard of to get free studio time.

Benefit concerts and donating money to help fight world hunger were on the top of Harry's interests. The Harry Chapin Foundation was the result of his efforts.

Here are a few photos from a nice summer night at Summerfest in 1974.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Harry Chapin, at Summerfest in 1974.

August 9, 2015

Last week, I forgot to wish happy birthday to my friend Ramblin' Jack Elliott who turned 84 on August 1st! I gave all the birthday attention to Buddy Guy last week, who turned a young 79 years old. Both of them have such an amazing history in music!

This week's blog is on 12 string guitar master Leo Kottke. He will be performing this coming Saturday night about a mile from our house here in Brookfield, Wisconsin at the Sharon Lynn Wilson Center for the Arts. Come check him out and you won't be disappointed. He is such an amazing guitar player and he has a great voice to go with it.

Some of the photos here are from an interview that I was a part of in 1973. Leo was just relaxing before his show at the Performing Arts Center in Milwaukee when we asked him a few questions for the Bugle American newspaper that I worked for. He was very nice and just reading the paper when we came in.

I have to say that the first photo of Leo and the mirrors is one of my personal all time favorites.

So, for today's photos, enjoy three pictures of Ramblin' Jack and then some of Leo, from the 1973 interview and show.

Have a great week!

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

June 29, 2015

With Summerfest going strong right now, I thought a look at the Summerfest grounds in 1975 would be fun. Of course, I have to add a musical act from that year too!

So, here is a look at the Summerfest grounds in 1975, and how some advertising was done for Suburpia back then on a kite! The trailers shown, are what the dressing rooms backstage used to look like!

We are also looking at Mary Travers, from Peter, Paul and Mary fame. Mary, has had a long career in music and that could be a whole blog on it's own.

Enjoy a look at the old Summerfest grounds that look nothing like what I saw last night!

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann