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 3, 2015
This past week on July 30th, Buddy Guy celebrated his 79th birthday!
He is still playing, touring and having fun!
At Summerfest in 2008, I was fortunate to photograph Buddy and those photos are attached here.
This year at Summerfest, Buddy Guy opened up the show for The Rolling Stones!! A few days later, my good friend and musician Jon Paris, opened up the show for Buddy Guy!
So, enjoy a look at man who loves polka dots and loves playing! I did watch his show after photographing the Jon Paris show. Buddy was having fun that night and walked out into the crowd and then backstage and then back onto the stage, playing the whole time!
Have a great week and join me on Facebook at Rich Zimmermann Photography if you haven't already.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
Third Eye Blind, at Summerfest in 2015.
June 15, 2015
It's almost Summerfest time here in Milwaukee! Let's look at Summerfest in 2008.
Today's blog is about Cameo, initially a thirteen member group known as The New York City Players.
They were opening for Buddy Guy on this particular evening at Summerfest.
Cameo is best know for their song "Word Up", but they have done a lot since they formed in 1974.
The list of people in the band through the years, is incredibly long! It is the longest list of band members I have ever seen!
Jonathan Moffett, the drummer in the photos attached here is a legend, like a lot of the people that have been in the band. I first met Jonathan, when he was on Madonna's 1987 tour at Alpine Valley. He has also worked with Michael Jackson.
This is a very colorful band as you will see from my images.
Enjoy the photos and start getting ready for Summerfest!
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, at Summerfest's, Schlitz Country stage in 1972.
April 20, 2015
This week we look at the legend, Curtis Mayfield, who I photographed at Summerfest in 1973.
It's always fun to look at Summerfest's Main Stage on the grass hill here, where the speakers were held together with rope!
His bass player is shown here, throwing his guitar in the air while playing! Anybody remember his name?
Curtis, had a remarkable career, but had a very tough life. In 1990, at a show in New York, some lighting equipment fell on him, paralyzing him from the neck down.
This, did not stop him from writing songs! He would compose, sing and record while on his back!
Famous for being in The Impressions and doing soundtracks for movies like Shaft, he had a great career through a lot of hardship. He lost a leg due to diabetes and finally died from complications of the disease in 1999.
He had his own record label Curtom, and a recording studio, in Chicago for many years.
I will always remember him for his famous song, Superfly!
Miss you Curtis.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
Curtis Mayfield, at Summerfest in 1973.
April 13, 2015
Lately, I have featured some blogs from photographs that I have found, lost in a closet in the house here.
Today, I am featuring Willy Porter and his band from Summerfest in 2009. I found them lost in my digital closet here on the computer! They were in with a bunch of bands from Summerfest in 2009.
At Summerfest, I always try to photograph just about everyone I come across while I am there.
Sorry Willy, you, Carmen, and the band, have been lost for a while! Too many shows photographed at Summerfest by yours truly in 2009!
Willy Porter and Carmen Nickerson are one of Milwaukee's top music artists. Milwaukee is very fortunate to have such quality performers that tour nationally.
I didn't know about Willy, until I was at a gallery opening with my photographs in Minneapolis years ago. Willy and the band were playing in Minneapolis and a friend said that one of Milwaukee's top acts was in town that night. Sorry again Willy, I didn't know who you were!!
You and Carmen are exceptionally talented musicians that need more exposure and shouldn't be lost in a closet!!
So, everyone, enjoy some photographs of Willy, Carmen, and the band, from 2009 and get out there to see them sometime soon.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
