April 3, 2017

I have been compiling a lot of photos of the old days for Summerfest and their 50th anniversary celebration this year.

Here are some pictures from a great show in 1973 of the Doobie Brothers with Leo Kottke as the opening act!

Check them out and enjoy some really old film!

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

December 5, 2016

A long time ago in 1973, I had the great pleasure of meeting, photographing and being part of an interview with Leo Kottke. We did the interview for the Bugle American newspaper in the dressing room of the Performing Arts Center in Milwaukee.  Since that day, I have wanted to see Leo again and redo some of my favorite photos that I have ever taken, like the one with the mirrors in the dressing room. It came out really cool.

Well, thanks to Jan Martin (Leo's manager) and Peter Jest (the local promoter) we have some new photos for you to see and enjoy of Leo. The dressing room is in the same building but a different hall. The previous photos were in Uhlein Hall and these photos are in Vogel Hall. Leo was opening up for Loggins and Messina before and this time it was his own show.

I met Leo outside as he was coming in for the sound check before the show that night. He was so nice and really wanted to duplicate the 1973 photo for me as close as possible. I couldn't have asked for anything more other than to see and photograph his show that night but it was not meant to be I guess.

Enjoy a look at 1973 and 2016 together! We all get a little older and that's life. The last photo is the photographer getting ready to shoot it! Moved a few things around and did a preshoot of myself!

2017 Rich Zimmermann Photography calendars are now available for $30 plus $6 shipping for you or someone you love for Christmas!! Email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we can send them out!

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Leo Kottke in Milwaukee in 2016.

November 28, 2016

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving with family and friends.

Today's blog is a look back at Leo Kottke playing a show at Summerfest in 1973.

Never pictured Leo as a big festival player but here he is in 1973 at Summerfest!!

Enjoy a look at the master of the 12 string guitar.

Don't forget that my 2017 Rich Zimmermann Photography calendars are now available for $30 plus $6 for shipping!! Great holiday gifts for any rocker in your life or for yourself! Email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I can ship one or two today for you!

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Leo Kottke at Summerfest in 1973.

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 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

Leo Kottke, performing at Milwaukee's Performing Arts Center in 1973.

December 15, 2014

My favorite radio station, WMSE, 91.7FM or wmse.org, just finished their 2015 calendar! All the photographs in it are mine from the 1970's!

The photograph for August is of Leo Kottke, so Leo is featured today.

I have featured Leo before in Blog #89 but it's nice to look at Leo here again.

Most of these photos are from a show he did at Milwaukee's Performing Arts Center in 1973. He was the opening act for Loggins and Messina that night.

I was part of an interview that was done before the show while Leo was putting his legs up relaxing. His reflection in the mirror and just a little bit of his guitar showing is neat to look at.

So, enjoy a look back at Leo in some of my favorite photographs.

If you need a calendar, that has more than 12, almost gallery quality prints in it just message me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or through the website here. They are $20.00 each.

It would make a nice Christmas present for anyone on your list who loves music!

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

December 2, 1973

On February 2, 1973, I had the pleasure of photographing Leo Kottke. He opened up a show for Loggins and Messina at Milwaukee's Performing Arts Center that evening.

At the time, I was working for the Bugle American newspaper and we conducted an interview in Leo's dressing room before the show.

In my collection of favorite photographs, a few are shown here with Leo's reflection in the mirror. He was relaxed, reading the paper and just killing time before his performance.

Leo, is to me, the best acoutic 12 string guitar player in the world. Not many people get close to playing like Leo does!

He still plays and if you can catch a performance of his please do so because you will be amazed at his great voice and guitar playing.

Please join me at Facebook at Rich Zimmermann Photography as I try to build up my Facebook group. It is new and I only have 35 people so far! You get a weekly reminder of my blog and more great photos.

Have a great week!

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann